Hybrid hydrogen power module

Abstract

An apparatus for powering trucks including a power module skid and supporting structure for fitting on a truck. The skid housing hydrogen fuel cell modules, battery sub packs, cooling means and cooling management, and integrated power electronics, to provide an electrical drive train of the truck with a constant high voltage DC power supply. An integrated system using renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gases using one or more trucks, in which an integrated system includes: means for providing renewable energy; means for using the renewable energy to synthesise hydrogen; means for storing the synthesised hydrogen. The integrated system includes hybrid hydrogen power modules fitted to each truck including hydrogen fuel cell modules and battery sub packs so that the battery sub packs and the battery sub packs are recharged by the hydrogen fuel cells.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a power module configured to be coupled to an ultra heavy-duty truck, the power module including:
 a plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules; 
 a plurality of battery sub packs; and 
 integrated power electronics coupled to said plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and said plurality of battery packs and configured to provide to an electrical drive train of the ultra heavy-duty truck a constant, high voltage DC electrical output with a power of at least 0.5 MW and a voltage of between 400 V and 1500 V, 
 the integrated power electronics including an individual DC/DC converter coupled to an output of each of the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and configured to boost the output voltage of the hydrogen fuel cell module, the DC/DC converters collectively operable to compensate for phases and output differences between the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and to enable a shared output to be regulated to provide the constant, high voltage DC electrical output. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the power module further includes a cooling system configured to cool the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and the plurality of battery sub packs. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the cooling system includes a multi-zone radiator with integrated fans and coolant fluid loops. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the electrical output has a power of at least 1 MW. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the electrical output has a power of between 1.25 MW and 2.75 MW. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the energy storage capacity of the power module is in excess of 1 MWh. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the energy storage capacity is in the range of 1 MWh to 5 MWh. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the electrical output has a voltage of between 800 and 1500 V. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the electrical output has a voltage of between 1200 and 1500 V. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules includes eight hydrogen fuel cell modules. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the integrated power electronics includes eight DC/DC converters. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules are electrically coupled in parallel with each other so that the integrated power electronics can provide the electrical output to a single DC link voltage. 
     
     
         30 . A system including the apparatus of  claim 18  and an ultra heavy-duty truck, the power module coupled to the ultra heavy-duty truck and the integrated power electronics electrically coupled to the electrical drive train of the ultra heavy-duty truck. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the power module further includes a skid coupled to the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and to the plurality of battery sub packs, the power module coupled to the ultra heavy-duty truck by the skid. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the power module further includes a cooling system having a radiator and configured to cool the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and the plurality of battery sub packs, the radiator disposed at the front of the ultra heavy-duty truck. 
     
     
         33 . An ultra heavy-duty truck, comprising:
 an electrical drive train;   a plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules;   a plurality of battery sub packs;   integrated power electronics coupled to said plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules, said plurality of battery packs, and said electrical drive drain, and configured to provide to the electrical drive train a constant, electrical output with a power of at least 0.5 MW; and   a cooling system including a radiator disposed on the front of face the ultra heavy-duty truck, the cooling system configured to cool the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and the plurality of battery sub packs.   
     
     
         34 . The ultra heavy-duty truck of  claim 33 , wherein the integrated power electronics includes an individual DC/DC converter coupled to an output of each of the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and configured to boost the output voltage of the hydrogen fuel cell module, the DC/DC converters collectively operable to compensate for phases and output differences between the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and to enable a shared output to be regulated to provide the constant, high voltage DC electrical output. 
     
     
         35 . The ultra heavy-duty truck of  claim 34 , wherein the integrated power electronics are configured to provide an electrical output that is a high voltage DC electrical output with a voltage of between 400 V and 1500 V. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a power module including:   a plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules;   a plurality of battery sub packs; and   integrated power electronics coupled to said plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and said plurality of battery packs and configured to provide a constant, high voltage DC electrical output with a power of at least 0.5 MW and a voltage of between 400 V and 1500 V,   the integrated power electronics including an individual DC/DC converter coupled to an output of each of the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and configured to boost the output voltage of the hydrogen fuel cell module, the DC/DC converters collectively operable to compensate for phases and output differences between the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and to enable a shared output to be regulated to provide the constant, high voltage DC electrical output.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the power module further includes a cooling system configured to cool the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and the plurality of battery sub packs. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the cooling system includes a multi-zone radiator with integrated fans and coolant fluid loops. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the electrical output has a power of at least 1 MW. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the energy storage capacity of the power module is in excess of 1 MWh. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the energy storage capacity is in the range of 1 MWh to 5 MWh. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules includes eight hydrogen fuel cell modules. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the integrated power electronics includes eight DC/DC converters. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules are electrically coupled in parallel with each other so that the integrated power electronics can provide the electrical output to a single DC link voltage. 
     
     
         45 . A system including the apparatus of  claim 36  and a vehicle having an electrical drive train, the power module coupled to the vehicle and the integrated power electronics electrically coupled to the electrical drive train of the vehicle. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , further wherein the power module further includes a skid coupled to the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and to the plurality of battery sub packs, the power module coupled to the vehicle by the skid. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the power module further includes a cooling system having a radiator and configured to cool the plurality of hydrogen fuel cell modules and the plurality of battery sub packs, the radiator disposed at the front of the vehicle.