Patent ID: 7419734
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A power supply system, comprising: a first set of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another and operable to produce a first voltage there across; and a second set of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another and operable to produce a voltage there across, where each of the fuel cell systems in the second set of fuel cell systems is electrically coupled in parallel to a respective one of the fuel cell systems in the first set of fuel cell systems, wherein each of the fuel cell systems comprises: a fuel cell stack, an ultracapacitor electrically coupled in parallel with the fuel cell stack, a charging current limiter electrically coupled to limit a charging current from the fuel cell stack to the ultracapacitor, and a charging current limiter bypass device electrically coupled to provide a discharge path from the ultracapacitor bypassing the charging current limiter.