JPS6142871A - Power source device for automobile - Google Patents

Power source device for automobile

Info

Publication number
JPS6142871A
JPS6142871A JP59164306A JP16430684A JPS6142871A JP S6142871 A JPS6142871 A JP S6142871A JP 59164306 A JP59164306 A JP 59164306A JP 16430684 A JP16430684 A JP 16430684A JP S6142871 A JPS6142871 A JP S6142871A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
fuel
electromotive force
fuel cell
automobile
controller
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP59164306A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Masashi Nakamura
正志 中村
Yasuo Takagi
靖雄 高木
Harunori Urakawa
浦川　春紀
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nissan Motor Co Ltd filed Critical Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Priority to JP59164306A priority Critical patent/JPS6142871A/en
Publication of JPS6142871A publication Critical patent/JPS6142871A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H01M8/04328—Temperature; Ambient temperature of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04186—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04544—Voltage
    • H01M8/04559—Voltage of fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04753—Pressure; Flow of fuel cell reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2250/00—Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
    • H01M2250/20—Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/40—Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make generation of electromotive force steady of a fuel cell which is used as a power source device for an automobile by detecting change of electromotive force caused by change of fuel temperature and supplementing fuel when the electromotive force drops below a specified value. CONSTITUTION:A fuel cell for automobile is formed by accommodating a fuel electrode 2 which electrochemically oxidizes liquid fuel such as methanol, an oxygen electrode 3 which electrochemically reduces oxygen in the air, and a separator 4 interposed between electrodes 2 and 3. A sensor 9 detects liquid fuel temperature and a potentiometer 11 detects electromotive force, and detected signals are inputted to a controller 12 containing a microcomputer. The controller 12 operates an electromagnetic valve 13 to supplement fuel from a fuel tank 14 to the fuel cell. The electromotive force is corrected by temperature signal, and when the electromotive force drops below a specified value, fuel is supplemented. Therefore, the fuel cell is operated with steady electromotive force.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 （イ）産業上の利用分野 本発明は燃料電池の燃料補給を適確に行なうようにした
自動車用電源装置に関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a power supply device for an automobile that refuels a fuel cell appropriately.

（ｑ従来技術 最近燃料電池が注目され、自動車などの電源として車両
に塔載することが考えられている。(q Prior Art Recently, fuel cells have attracted attention, and it is being considered to install them in vehicles as a power source for automobiles, etc.).

現在燃料電池をこは水素−酸素燃料電池、炭化水素燃料
電池、メタノール燃料電池、金属−空気燃料電池など種
々開発されているが、自動車用としては比較的安価なメ
タノールを燃料とするメタノール燃料電池が有効である
。Various types of fuel cells are currently being developed, including hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, hydrocarbon fuel cells, methanol fuel cells, and metal-air fuel cells, but methanol fuel cells, which use relatively inexpensive methanol as fuel, are the most suitable for automobiles. is valid.

しかしながら、燃料電池においては、燃料の化学的変化
により発電を行なうため、電解液中の燃料濃度が変化す
ると発電効率が低下するという問題点があった。However, since fuel cells generate power by chemically changing the fuel, there is a problem in that power generation efficiency decreases when the fuel concentration in the electrolyte changes.

（／１発明の目的および構成 本発明は上記の点にかんがみてなされたもので、燃料電
池の燃料濃度の制御を正確に行なうことを目的とし、こ
の目的を達成するために。(/1 Object and Structure of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has an object to accurately control the fuel concentration of a fuel cell, and to achieve this object.

燃料電池の起電力を検出し、該起電力が所定値以下のと
き燃料供給を行なうように構成した。The electromotive force of the fuel cell is detected and fuel is supplied when the electromotive force is less than a predetermined value.

に）実施例 以下図面に基づいて本発明を説明する。) Example The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

第１図は一本発明による自動車用電源装置の一実施例の
概略線図である。FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an automobile power supply device according to the present invention.

図において、ｌは燃料電池の電槽、２は電槽ｌ内に配置
されメタノールなどの液体燃料を電気化学的に酸化する
燃料極、３は電槽ｌ内に配置され空気中の酸素を電気化
学的に還元する酸素極２と酸素極３との間には隔膜４が
設けられている。５は化学反応により生成される水の排
出口、６は空気取入口、７は燃料極２で発生した炭酸ガ
スの排出０．８は水蒸気や空気中の未反応の窒素ガスの
排出口である。９は電槽′ｌ内に入っている電解液１０
の温度を検出する液温センサ、１１は燃料電池の起電力
を検出するための電位差計、１２は液温センサ９の出力
に基づいて起電力を補正し電磁バルブ１３を開閉する開
閉信号を出力するマイクロコンピュータなどにより措成
されたコントローラで、コントローラ１２自身は燃料電
池で作動する。１４は燃料電池に補給すべき燃料を蓄え
る燃料タンク。In the figure, 1 is a fuel cell container, 2 is a fuel electrode placed in the container 1 to electrochemically oxidize liquid fuel such as methanol, and 3 is a fuel electrode placed in the container 1 to electrochemically oxidize the oxygen in the air. A diaphragm 4 is provided between the oxygen electrode 2 and the oxygen electrode 3 which are chemically reduced. 5 is an outlet for water produced by a chemical reaction, 6 is an air intake port, 7 is an outlet for carbon dioxide gas generated at the fuel electrode 2, and 0.8 is an outlet for water vapor and unreacted nitrogen gas in the air. . 9 is the electrolytic solution 10 contained in the battery container.
11 is a potentiometer for detecting the electromotive force of the fuel cell; 12 is a potentiometer that corrects the electromotive force based on the output of the liquid temperature sensor 9 and outputs an opening/closing signal to open and close the electromagnetic valve 13; The controller 12 is implemented by a microcomputer or the like, and the controller 12 itself is operated by a fuel cell. 14 is a fuel tank that stores fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell.

１４ａは多孔質フィルタ付通気孔、１４ｂは燃料供給開
閉蓋である。14a is a vent hole with a porous filter, and 14b is a fuel supply opening/closing lid.

次に第２図のフローチャートを用いて燃料の補給動作を
説明する。Next, the fuel replenishment operation will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

燃料電池が作動すると、電槽ｌ内の燃料極２のある室に
おける電解液中のメタノール濃度が低下し、これにより
一定負荷に対する燃料電池の起電力が低下する。この起
電力変化は電位差計１１により検出される（Ｆ−１）。When the fuel cell is operated, the methanol concentration in the electrolyte in the chamber containing the fuel electrode 2 in the cell container 1 decreases, thereby decreasing the electromotive force of the fuel cell with respect to a constant load. This electromotive force change is detected by potentiometer 11 (F-1).

ところで自動車は様々な環境の下で使用され。By the way, cars are used under various environments.

しかも比較的頻繁に発進、停止を繰り返したり。Moreover, it starts and stops relatively frequently.

車載負荷の切入を行なうことが多いので、車載燃料電池
の負荷の断続が頻繁となり、電解液の温度変化もはげし
い。このために燃料電池の起電力が安定しにくぐ、特に
低温時には起電力が低下する傾向がある。そこで燃料電
池の温度により起電力を補正する事が必要である。そこ
で液温センサ９により電解液の温度を検出する（Ｆ−２
）。コントローラ１２は所定の動作に従って電位差計１
１から出力される起電力を液温センサ９からの温度信号
により補正しくＦ−３）、この補正された起電力を予め
定めた理論起電力と比較する（Ｆ−４’）。この理論起
電力は、燃料電池の電極の極板面積や電解液濃度などか
ら算出され、コントローラ１２に設定されている。ステ
ップ（Ｆ−４）における比較の結　　　　　ｌ果実際の
起電力（補正した起電力）が理論起電力よりたとえば２
０ｍｖ以上（これはメタノール濃度の約１１５〜１／ｌ
ｏの低下に相当する）と判断したときは、電磁バルブ開
信号を出力するＣＦ−６）。その結果電磁バルブ１３が
開き燃料タ　　−ンク１４から電槽ｌ内に燃料が供給さ
れる。その結果、電槽ｌ内の燃料濃度が上昇して起電力
が増加し、理論起電力との差が２０ｍｖ以下になれば、
コントローラ１２から電磁バルブ閉信号が出力し、電磁
バルブ１３が閉じて燃料の供給が停止する。Since the on-vehicle load is often switched on and off, the load on the on-vehicle fuel cell is frequently interrupted and the electrolyte temperature changes rapidly. For this reason, the electromotive force of the fuel cell is difficult to stabilize, and especially at low temperatures, the electromotive force tends to decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the electromotive force depending on the temperature of the fuel cell. Therefore, the temperature of the electrolyte is detected by the liquid temperature sensor 9 (F-2
). The controller 12 controls the potentiometer 1 according to a predetermined operation.
The electromotive force outputted from the liquid temperature sensor 9 is correctly corrected using the temperature signal from the liquid temperature sensor 9 (F-3), and this corrected electromotive force is compared with a predetermined theoretical electromotive force (F-4'). This theoretical electromotive force is calculated from the electrode plate area of the fuel cell, the electrolyte concentration, etc., and is set in the controller 12. As a result of the comparison in step (F-4), the actual electromotive force (corrected electromotive force) is lower than the theoretical electromotive force by, for example, 2
0 mv or more (this is approximately 115 to 1/l of methanol concentration)
CF-6) outputs an electromagnetic valve opening signal when it determines that this corresponds to a decrease in o. As a result, the electromagnetic valve 13 opens and fuel is supplied from the fuel tank 14 into the battery container l. As a result, the fuel concentration in the container l increases and the electromotive force increases, and if the difference from the theoretical electromotive force becomes 20 mv or less,
A solenoid valve closing signal is output from the controller 12, the solenoid valve 13 is closed, and the supply of fuel is stopped.

ステップ（Ｆ−５）において、実際の起電力と理論起電
力との差が２０ｍｖ以下ならば電磁／＜ルプ１３は閉じ
たままステップ（Ｆ−１）からの動作を繰り返す。In step (F-5), if the difference between the actual electromotive force and the theoretical electromotive force is 20 mV or less, the operation from step (F-1) is repeated with the electromagnetic loop 13 closed.

上記の燃料補給動作は燃料電池の作動温度が低い場合で
も高い場合でも同じである。　　、本発明の詳細 な説明したように１本発明においては、燃料電池の燃料
温度の変化にともなう起電力の変化を検出し、起電力の
低下が所定値以上のときは燃料を供給するようにしたの
夕、燃料の補給が適確にでき燃料電池の作動温度にかか
わらず安定した起電力を得ることができる。The above refueling operation is the same whether the operating temperature of the fuel cell is low or high. As described in detail, in the present invention, a change in electromotive force due to a change in fuel temperature of a fuel cell is detected, and when the decrease in electromotive force is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, fuel is supplied. In the evening, fuel can be refilled accurately and a stable electromotive force can be obtained regardless of the operating temperature of the fuel cell.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第１図は本発明による自動車用電源装置の一実施例の概
略線図、第２図は本発明による燃料補給動作を説明する
フローチャー、トである。 ｌ・・・燃料電池の電槽　　　２・・・燃料極３・・・
酸素極　　　　　　　４・・・隔膜５・・・水排出口　
　　　　　６°°°空気取入ロア・・・炭酸ガス排出口
　　　訃・・窒素ガス排出口９・・・液温センサ　　　
　　１０・・・電解液１１・・・電位差計１２・・・コ
ントローラ１３・・・電磁バルブ　　　　　１４・・°
燃料タンク特許出願人　　日産自動車株式会社 代理人、弁理士　鈴　木　弘　男 ｗｉ図 第２図FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an automobile power supply device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a refueling operation according to the present invention. l...Fuel cell container 2...Fuel electrode 3...
Oxygen electrode 4...Diaphragm 5...Water outlet
6°°°Air intake lower...Carbon dioxide gas outlet Bottom...Nitrogen gas outlet 9...Liquid temperature sensor
10... Electrolyte 11... Potentiometer 12... Controller 13... Solenoid valve 14...°
Fuel Tank Patent Applicant Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Agent, Patent Attorney Hiroshi Suzuki Figure 2

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 燃料電池の起電力を検出する起電力検出手段と、該起電
力検出手段により検出された起電力が所定値以下のとき
燃料電池に燃料を供給する燃料供給手段とを有すること
を特徴とする自動車用電源装置。An automobile characterized by having an electromotive force detection means for detecting an electromotive force of a fuel cell, and a fuel supply means for supplying fuel to the fuel cell when the electromotive force detected by the electromotive force detection means is less than a predetermined value. power supply.
JP59164306A 1984-08-07 1984-08-07 Power source device for automobile Pending JPS6142871A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP59164306A JPS6142871A (en) 1984-08-07 1984-08-07 Power source device for automobile

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP59164306A JPS6142871A (en) 1984-08-07 1984-08-07 Power source device for automobile

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPS6142871A true JPS6142871A (en) 1986-03-01

Family

ID=15790619

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP59164306A Pending JPS6142871A (en) 1984-08-07 1984-08-07 Power source device for automobile

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS6142871A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6158170A (en) * 1984-08-29 1986-03-25 Shin Kobe Electric Mach Co Ltd Operation device of liquid fuel cell
EP1280218A1 (en) * 2001-07-27 2003-01-29 Abb Research Ltd. Method for adjusting the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells
EP1524713A1 (en) * 1995-12-08 2005-04-20 California Institute Of Technology Methanol fuel cell with fuel delivery system
WO2006028021A1 (en) * 2004-09-06 2006-03-16 Sony Corporation Fuel cell power generating equipment driving method and fuel cell power generating equipment
CN100454643C (en) * 2005-06-09 2009-01-21 本田技研工业株式会社 Fuel cell system

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6158170A (en) * 1984-08-29 1986-03-25 Shin Kobe Electric Mach Co Ltd Operation device of liquid fuel cell
EP1524713A1 (en) * 1995-12-08 2005-04-20 California Institute Of Technology Methanol fuel cell with fuel delivery system
EP1280218A1 (en) * 2001-07-27 2003-01-29 Abb Research Ltd. Method for adjusting the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells
WO2003012904A2 (en) * 2001-07-27 2003-02-13 Abb Research Ltd Method for controlling the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells
WO2003012904A3 (en) * 2001-07-27 2003-09-25 Abb Research Ltd Method for controlling the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells
WO2006028021A1 (en) * 2004-09-06 2006-03-16 Sony Corporation Fuel cell power generating equipment driving method and fuel cell power generating equipment
US8241799B2 (en) 2004-09-06 2012-08-14 Sony Corporation Methods of operating fuel cell power generators, and fuel cell power generators
CN100454643C (en) * 2005-06-09 2009-01-21 本田技研工业株式会社 Fuel cell system

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9034495B2 (en) Fuel cell system
CN102664278B (en) Fuel cell system
CN101529633B (en) Fuel cell system and method for adjusting moisture content in a polymer electrolyte membrane
JP4710246B2 (en) Fuel cell system
US8277990B2 (en) Fuel cell system
EP1233879B1 (en) Fuel cell vehicle
CN102449832B (en) Fuel cell vehicle
US5429885A (en) Hydrogen management system for metal/air fuel cell
EP1798796B1 (en) Fuel cell power generating equipment driving method and fuel cell power generating equipment
US20070212581A1 (en) Fuel cell system and fuel cell starting method
CA2604650A1 (en) Fuel cell system
US20040072042A1 (en) Fuel cell system
JP3638970B2 (en) Reforming raw material liquid supply device for methanol reformer for fuel cell
JP2011015580A (en) Fuel cell system and method of controlling the same
JPS6142871A (en) Power source device for automobile
JP4011429B2 (en) Fuel cell system including gas sensor and fuel cell vehicle including gas sensor
EP1427047B1 (en) Method for controlling flow rate of oxidizer in fuel cell system
KR20040015012A (en) Operating method of fuel cell and power supply
US20140356746A1 (en) Fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle
JP7115679B2 (en) Fuel cell system and electric vehicle
JP2002313385A (en) Fuel cell system
JP5818160B2 (en) Fuel cell system
JP4887561B2 (en) Fuel cell system
CA2206952C (en) Hydrogen management system for metal/air fuel cell
JP2005267937A (en) Fuel cell system