JP2016213113A - Air-intake system of fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-intake system of a fuel cell arranged so as to be able to make a proper determination about filter clogging with stability.SOLUTION: An air-intake system operable to take in outside air through an intake provided on a fuel cell comprises: a cooling fan for taking in the outside air; a controller for controlling the driving of the cooling fan by regulating an electric power passing therethrough; a filter provided on an intake side; and a pressure sensor for detecting an intake pressure applied to the filter. The controller starts a determination process for making a determination about a state of clogging of the filter based on the intake pressure applied to the filter on condition that the electric power (PWM value) passing through the cooling fan is equal to or larger than a predetermined determination power value X%.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an intake system that sucks external air into a fuel cell.

  The fuel cell generates power by reacting oxygen with hydrogen stored in a high-pressure tank. This fuel cell procures oxygen to react with hydrogen by sucking external air with an intake fan. In addition, in order to cool the reaction heat between hydrogen and oxygen, an air-cooled type in which external air is taken in for cooling is proposed for this fuel cell (see Patent Document 1).

  Such an air-cooled fuel cell is provided with a filter so as not to inhale impurities together with external air. In this fuel cell, depending on the degree of clogging of the filter due to trapping of impurities, the intake amount of external air by the intake fan decreases, and the performance deteriorates.

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when it is detected that the amount of movement of the filter has reached a predetermined amount, it is determined that the filter has become clogged, which causes a decrease in the performance of the fuel cell, and appropriate maintenance work is performed. It is devised to be able to do.

JP-A-8-233321

  However, in the fuel cell intake system described in Patent Document 1, since the driving condition of the cooling fan is adjusted according to the operating state of the fuel cell and the external environment, the intake pressure is increased according to the driving state of the cooling fan. May fluctuate and the amount of movement of the filter may also vary. For this reason, it may be detected that the amount of movement of the filter temporarily reaches a predetermined amount even though the filter is not clogged to the extent that maintenance work is necessary.

  In such a case, the filter maintenance work is wasted. Further, if the amount of movement of the filter that detects the occurrence of clogging is set to be large in order to avoid useless maintenance work, performance degradation due to clogging of the filter cannot be eliminated at an appropriate timing.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell intake system that can stably determine the clogging of a filter properly.

  One aspect of the invention of an intake system for a fuel cell that solves the above problems is an intake system for a fuel cell that draws external air into an internal flow path of the fuel cell from an air inlet provided in a casing of the fuel cell. An intake fan that sucks the external air into the flow path, a drive control unit that controls driving of the intake fan by adjusting energization power to the intake fan, and the air introduction of the flow path A filter provided on the mouth side, a pressure detection unit that detects an intake pressure applied to the filter, and a determination unit that determines a clogging state of the filter based on the intake pressure applied to the filter, the determination unit Starts the determination process of the clogged state of the filter when the energization power to the intake fan is equal to or higher than a predetermined determination power value.

  As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an intake system for a fuel cell that can stably determine whether a filter is clogged properly.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an intake system for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a structural diagram showing a schematic overall configuration thereof. FIG. 2 is a graph (map) showing the relationship between the electric power supplied to the cooling fan and the intake pressure applied to the filter. FIG. 3 is a transition diagram for explaining processing for determining clogging of the filter. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the intake pressure applied to the filter according to the energization power to the cooling fan at the start of operation of the intake system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are views showing an intake system for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the fuel cell 10 is mounted on a vehicle M such as a traveling four-wheeled vehicle or a motorcycle. The fuel cell 10 is supplied with hydrogen as a fuel gas from a high-pressure tank (not shown) mounted on the vehicle M, and generates electric power by reacting with oxygen in external air taken in. In the fuel cell 10, reaction heat is generated along with power generation energy by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.

  For this reason, the fuel cell 10 is mounted on the vehicle M together with the intake system 100 that takes outside air as cooling air in order to suppress reaction heat due to hydrogen and oxygen. The intake system 100 functions as an air-cooled cooling system that cools the fuel cell 10 using traveling wind or the like. The intake system 100 also functions as a reaction air intake system that takes in external air containing oxygen to be reacted with hydrogen in the fuel cell 10. In the intake system 100 of the present embodiment, an intake process when external air is used for cooling will be described below.

  Further, the fuel cell 10 has an external air intake port 13 disposed on one surface side of the housing 11 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and the external air taken in at a position facing the intake port 13 of the housing 11. An exhaust port 15 for exhausting air is disposed.

  As described above, the fuel cell 10 is configured to flow the external air by effectively using the internal space of the housing 11 by disposing the intake port 13 and the exhaust port 15 at positions facing each other of the housing 11. The road is constructed with a simple structure. For this reason, the fuel cell 10 exhausts the external air taken in from the intake port 13 on the one surface side of the housing 11 toward the exhaust port 15 on the facing side.

  The intake system 100 includes a filter unit 21, a fan unit 31, and a controller 101. The filter unit 21 is installed in the intake port 13 of the fuel cell 10. The fan unit 31 is installed at the exhaust port 15 of the fuel cell 10. The controller 101 performs overall control of driving of the fuel cell 10 by executing control processing based on various information such as parameters and detection data using a control program in the memory 102. Note that the controller 101 may be configured to perform centralized control by using a unit that performs overall control of driving of the vehicle M on which the fuel cell 10 is mounted. In addition, the cooling control processing is distributed separately from the drive control of the fuel cell 10. It may be constructed as a unit to be controlled.

  The filter unit 21 is constructed by accommodating the filter 23 in a case 25 so as to be replaceable. Since the filter unit 21 is installed on the outer surface side of the fuel cell 10, the filter unit 21 is configured to be thin. The filter unit 21 is formed in an outer shape that can be mounted at the installation location of the vehicle M.

  The filter 23 captures impurities such as dust and gas contained in the external air as removal targets until the inspiring external air passes from the one-side plane 23a to the other-side plane 23b, thereby removing the passing external air. Has the function of cleaning. The filter 23 is made into a flat plate shape having an area equivalent to the entire surface on one side of the outer surface of the fuel cell 10 and is thinned. That is, the filter 23 has a function of capturing an object to be removed while passing through a flow path having a thickness between the flat surfaces 23a and 23b of a large area in a flat plate shape, and passes by shortening the length of the circulation path. The flow resistance of external air is reduced.

  The case 25 is made thin so that the outer plate 26 and the inner plate 27 having the same area as the entire surface of the outer surface of the fuel cell 10 face each other and the filter 23 is accommodated in the inner space. The case 25 has a substantially entire surface of each of the outer plate 26 and the inner plate 27 facing both the flat surfaces 23a and 23b of the filter 23 so that the external air to be sucked in effectively passes between the flat surfaces 23a and 23b of the filter 23. In addition, an intake port 26a and a communication port 27a are opened. The case 25 is fixed so as to be integrated with the housing 11 with the communication port 27 a aligned with the intake port 13 of the fuel cell 10. That is, the case 25 functions as a part of the housing 11 of the fuel cell 10, and the intake port 26 a functions as an air inlet that extends the intake port 13 of the fuel cell 10 and sucks external air. Accordingly, the case 25 constitutes a part of a flow path that extends the flow path in the fuel cell 10 and flows external air.

  Further, the case 25 has the filter 23 in close contact with the outer plate 26 side so that external air can be exposed from the air inlet 26a. The case 25 separates the filter 23 from the inner plate 27 and forms a communication space 29 that expands in the plane direction between the communication port 27a (the intake port 13).

  As a result, the case 25 has a negative pressure in the communication space 29 when external air is sucked from the intake port 13 (communication port 27a) through the flow path in the fuel cell 10 by the fan unit 31 described later. Is done. For this reason, the case 25 can take in the external air from the intake port 26a by effectively utilizing the entire surface of the upstream plane 23a while the intake pressure is applied to the entire surface of the downstream plane 23b of the filter 23.

  The fan unit 31 is constructed by installing a plurality of cooling fans (intake fans) 33 on the opposite side of the filter unit 21 of the fuel cell 10. For the fan unit 31, a thin cooling fan 33 is selected so that the installation location on the vehicle M is not limited, and the fan unit 31 is arranged in parallel on the outer surface side of the fuel cell 10.

  A plurality of cooling fans 33 are arranged in parallel so that the intake port 35 is positioned in the exhaust port 15 of the fuel cell 10. The cooling fan 33 is provided with a discharge port 36 at a position facing the intake port 35.

  As described above, the intake system 100 includes the intake port 13 and the exhaust port 15 arranged at the facing positions of the fuel cell 10, the facing direction of the intake port 26 a and the communication port 27 a of the case 25, and the cooling fan 33. The filter unit 21 and the fan unit 31 are installed such that the intake and exhaust directions are matched.

  As a result, in the intake system 100, dust or the like contained in the external air sucked by the suction force of the cooling fan 33 from the intake port 26a of the case 25 is captured by the filter 23 and cleaned. The cleaned external air is introduced into the intake port 13 of the fuel cell 10 while maintaining the intake direction, and after the reaction heat in the fuel cell 10 is cooled, the exhaust air from the cooling fan 33 is exhausted through the exhaust port 15. The air is exhausted from the port 36.

  Therefore, in the intake system 100, the filter unit 21 and the fan unit 31 can take in and exhaust external air with a small flow resistance and execute the cooling process in the fuel cell 10.

  The filter unit 21 includes an outside air temperature sensor 41, a pressure sensor (pressure detection unit) 43, and a cell temperature sensor 45. The outside air temperature sensor 41 is installed near the opening edge of the air inlet 26 a of the case 25 and is connected to the controller 101. The pressure sensor 43 is installed in the communication space 29 in the case 25 and is connected to the controller 101. The cell temperature sensor 45 is installed in a part of the cells (not shown) stacked in the fuel cell 10 and connected to the controller 101.

  The controller 101 executes power generation processing by controlling the operation of the fuel cell 10 in accordance with the power requested from the vehicle M according to the control program in the memory 102. In this power generation process, the controller 101 functions to suppress a temperature increase due to reaction heat generated according to the generated power. At this time, the controller 101 executes a control process for adjusting the electric power supplied to the cooling fan 33 of the fan unit 31 in order to avoid a decrease in power generation efficiency due to the suppression of the temperature rise. .

  At this time, the controller 101 receives temperature information (sensor signal) in the vicinity of the opening edge of the air inlet 26 a of the case 25 detected by the outside air temperature sensor 41, and the cell temperature of the fuel cell 10 detected by the cell temperature sensor 45. The information (sensor signal) is received, and the electric power supplied to the cooling fan 33 is adjusted according to the temperature of the external air and the temperature of the cell of the fuel cell 10. In this manner, the intake system 100 adjusts the intake amount of external air that is sucked from the intake port 26a and cools the reaction heat in the fuel cell 10.

  Here, the controller 101 controls the drive by adjusting the energization power to the cooling fan 33 by the duty ratio (percentage of the energization time per unit time) by pulse width modulation (PWM). The intake air amount of the external air by the cooling fan 33 is adjusted. That is, the controller 101 constitutes a drive control unit. The power adjustment for controlling the driving of the cooling fan 33 is not limited to PWM. What is necessary is just to adjust electric power according to the characteristic of the motor with which the cooling fan 33 is provided.

  In addition, the controller 101 uses the determination program in the memory 102 to execute determination processing based on various information such as parameters and detection data, thereby determining whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced and notifying it. Yes. That is, the controller 101 also constitutes a determination unit.

  Specifically, the controller 101 receives the intake pressure (atmospheric pressure) of the communication space 29 in the case 25 detected by the pressure sensor 43 and adjusts the energization power to the cooling fan 33, and the pressure threshold corresponding to the PWM duty ratio Whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced is determined based on whether or not (pressure determination value) is exceeded.

  Here, the flow resistance of the filter 23 increases according to the amount of dust that is captured when external air passes. For example, as shown in the graph of FIG. 2, the filter 23 has a negative pressure (in the communication space 29 of the case 25 that is generated according to the duty ratio (%) of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 as the trapped amount increases. Pa) approaches the EOL curve of the end of life (End Of Life) from the BOL curve at the beginning of use (Beginning Of Life). The filter 23 is used when the flow resistance increases so that the negative pressure (intake pressure) of the communication space 29 of the case 25 exceeds the EOL curve even if the duty ratio (%) of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 is equal. Need to be replaced. Since the duty ratio (%) in the pulse width modulation is the ratio (%) of the energization time per unit time, the energization power to the cooling fan 33 will be described in the following description including the wording in FIG. The duty ratio may be referred to as a PWM value.

  For this reason, the controller 101 shows that the graph of FIG. 2 showing the flow resistance of the filter 23 based on the correlation between the PWM value of the cooling fan 33 and the intake pressure in the communication space 29 of the case 25 indicates whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced. A map used for determination processing is set in the memory 102 in advance.

  For example, in the determination process of whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced, when the intake pressure in the communication space 29 of the case 25 exceeds the EOL curve in FIG. Judge that. Similarly, the controller 101 determines that the flow resistance is too lower than the set threshold when it is below the BOL curve in FIG.

  That is, when the characteristics of the filter 23 are not between the EOL curve and the BOL curve in FIG. 2, the controller 101 can be replaced because the filter 23 cannot reliably capture dust or the like with an appropriate flow resistance. It is determined that it is necessary. At this time, when the controller 101 determines that the filter 23 needs to be replaced, for example, by turning on the notification lamp 105 provided in the vehicle M or outputting a voice message from the speaker, The driver is notified that the filter 23 needs to be replaced. In addition, the determination process in the case of being below the BOL curve is unlikely that the filter 23 once confirmed to have normal distribution resistance is extremely low in distribution resistance thereafter. This is performed at least once immediately after the replacement of the filter 23.

  Then, the controller 101 determines whether the filter 23 needs to be replaced when the duty ratio (PWM value) of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 is equal to or greater than a preset determination start duty ratio (determination power value) X%. This determination process is executed. As a result, the controller 101 can start determining whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced in a region where the cooling fan 33 is driven with large energized power and the intake pressure in the communication space 29 of the case 25 is stable. For this reason, for example, the controller 101 determines that the replacement is unnecessary even though the filter 23 has passed the use limit, or determines that the replacement is necessary even though it is before the use limit. This can be avoided with high reliability.

  Further, the controller 101 satisfies the following conditions 1 and 2 in addition to the duty ratio of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 being equal to or higher than a preset determination start duty ratio X%. In addition, a process for determining whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced is executed. Accordingly, the controller 101 can determine whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced while the intake pressure in the communication space 29 of the case 25 is more stable, and can improve the reliability of the determination process. Can do.

As the state 1, the controller 101 continues the determination process when the duty ratio of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 satisfies the following three determination continuation conditions 1-1 to 1-3. Thus, the controller 101 can limit the duty ratio of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 when determining whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced within a desired range, and further improve the reliability of the determination process. Can be made.
Condition 1-1: The stability determination lower limit duty ratio (first power value) is larger than the determination start duty ratio X%.
Condition 1-2: The stability determination upper limit duty ratio (second power value) is less than or equal to the stability determination lower limit duty ratio.
Condition 1-3: The state satisfying the condition 1-1 and the condition 1-2 is continued for the start duration T1 or more.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the state 1 is, for example, when the fuel cell 10 is in steady operation, the fluctuation range of the duty ratio of the power supplied to the normal cooling fan 33 varies within a range of Y% (upper limit). Value−lower limit value <Y%). At this time, the lower limit value of the fluctuation range Y% is set as the stability determination lower limit duty ratio, and the upper limit value of the fluctuation range Y% is set as the stability determination upper limit duty ratio. For example, when the duty ratio of the power supplied to the normal cooling fan 33 fluctuates within the fluctuation range Y% around the average value, the average duty ratio −Y / 2%. May be set as the stability determination lower limit duty ratio, and an average duty ratio + Y / 2% may be set as the stability determination upper limit duty ratio.

  The controller 101 calculates the average value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 43 as the intake pressure of the communication space 29 in the case 25 used in the determination process of whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced, and whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced. It comes to judge. Specifically, the controller 101 calculates the average value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 43 from the time when the state 1 is satisfied and the start duration time T1 elapses, and the controller 101 supplies the cooling fan 33 when the start duration time T1 elapses. When the calculated average value is larger than the pressure threshold value on the EOL curve corresponding to the duty ratio of the energized power, it is determined that the filter 23 needs to be replaced. Thus, even if the detected pressure of the pressure sensor 43 fluctuates when determining whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced, the controller 101 captures dust or the like so that the filter 23 needs to be replaced based on the average value. Therefore, the reliability of the determination process can be further improved.

In state 2, the controller 101 continues the determination process and calculates the average value when the duty ratio of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 satisfies the following three calculation continuation conditions 2-1 to 2-3. It is supposed to be. Thereby, the controller 101 can calculate the detection pressure (flow resistance) of the pressure sensor 43 that determines whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced with higher accuracy, and can further improve the reliability of the determination process. .
Condition 2-1: The accuracy determination lower limit duty ratio (third power value) is larger than the stability determination lower limit duty ratio.
Condition 2-2: It is equal to or less than the high accuracy judgment upper limit duty ratio (fourth power value) that is larger than the high accuracy judgment lower limit duty ratio and smaller than the stability judgment upper limit duty ratio.
Condition 2-3: A state satisfying the conditions 2-1 and 2-2 is continued for the calculation duration T2 or more.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the state 2, for example, when the cooling fan 33 is more stable than in the state 1, the fluctuation range of the duty ratio of the energized power varies within a range of Z% (upper limit value−lower limit value < Z%). At this time, the lower limit value of the fluctuation range Z% is set as the high accuracy judgment lower limit duty ratio, and the upper limit value of the fluctuation range Z% is set as the high accuracy judgment upper limit duty ratio. For example, when the duty ratio of the power supplied to the stable cooling fan 33 fluctuates within the fluctuation range Z% around the average value, the average duty ratio −Z / 2% is set. The high precision judgment lower limit duty ratio may be set, and the average duty ratio + Z / 2% may be set as the high precision judgment upper limit duty ratio.

  In the controller 101, the calculated average value of the detected pressures of the pressure sensor 43 corresponds to the duty ratio of the energization power to the cooling fan 33 at the time of starting the measurement time T2 (the time when the start time T1 has elapsed). The number of times it is determined that the pressure is greater than the pressure threshold on the EOL curve is counted to determine whether the filter 23 needs to be replaced. When the average value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 43 exceeds the pressure threshold value on the EOL curve by a predetermined number of replacement determinations, the controller 101 determines that the filter 23 needs to be replaced, and the vehicle M The notification lamp 105 provided is turned on or a voice message is output to notify the driver accordingly.

  In detail, the controller 101 starts the intake of external air by driving the cooling fan 33 together with the start of operation of the fuel cell 10 (ignition ON of the vehicle M). Further, the controller 101 executes the determination program and starts the determination process shown as a transition diagram in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 101 receives the pressure information in the communication space 29 of the case 25 that changes according to the PWM value of the cooling fan 33 from the pressure sensor 43, and the sampling phase shown in FIG. The judgment phase is repeated.

  When the determination process is started, first, after resetting the counter, in the sampling phase, the controller 101 starts data collection (step S11). As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 101 has a stable state 1 in which the PWM value of the cooling fan 33 becomes equal to or greater than the determination start duty ratio X% and fluctuates within the range of the stability determination duty ratio Y%. When it is confirmed that the operation continues beyond T1, pressure information in the communication space 29 of the case 25 is collected (integrated) (step S12).

  In step S12, the controller 101 collects pressure information in the communication space 29 of the case 25, and as shown in FIG. 4, the PWM value of the cooling fan 33 fluctuates within a range of less than the high accuracy determination duty ratio Z%. Thus, when it is confirmed that the more stable state 2 continues beyond the calculation duration T2, the average pressure value is obtained by dividing the collection result of the pressure information in the communication space 29 of the case 25 by the number of integrations. Is calculated (averaging process), and the sampling phase is terminated (step S13).

  In step S12, the controller 101 has a fluctuation range in which the PWM value of the cooling fan 33 exceeds the determination start duty ratio X% or exceeds the high accuracy determination duty ratio Z% before the calculation duration time T2 is exceeded. If state 2 cannot be satisfied, the process returns to step S11 and the same processing is repeated.

  Next, in the determination phase, the controller 101 compares whether or not the average pressure value in the communication space 29 of the case 25 exceeds a set threshold value based on the EOL curve in the memory 102 (step S21). This set threshold is a pressure value on the EOL curve corresponding to the PWM initial value of the cooling fan 33 at the time when the start duration time T1 has elapsed.

  In step S21, when the average pressure value in the communication space 29 of the case 25 is equal to or less than the set threshold value in the EOL curve, the controller 101 returns to step S11 of the sampling phase and repeats the same processing.

  In step S21, when the controller 101 confirms that the average pressure value in the communication space 29 of the case 25 exceeds the set threshold value in the EOL curve, the controller 101 performs a count process to increment (+1) the counter. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the counter has reached the number of exchange determinations (step S22).

  In step S22, if the controller 101 confirms that the counter has not reached the number of replacement determinations, the controller 101 returns to step S11 of the sampling phase and repeats the same processing after the count ends.

  In step S22, when the controller 101 confirms that the counter has reached the number of replacement determinations, the controller 101 performs a setting process for setting a flag for requesting filter replacement to turn on the notification lamp 105 or to send a voice message. To prompt the driver to replace the filter 23 (step S23).

  Therefore, the intake system 100 determines whether or not the filter 23 is clogged so that the intake pressure in the communication space 29 of the case 25 exceeds the EOL curve when the cooling fan 33 is driven stably. It is possible to appropriately notify the driver that the filter 23 needs to be replaced by turning on the notification lamp 105 or outputting a voice message.

  As described above, in the intake system 100 of the present embodiment, the case 25 caused by the intake of the cooling fan 33 on condition that the PWM value of the cooling fan 33 is equal to or greater than the determination start duty ratio X% and satisfies the state 1 and the state 2. The number of times the average value of the intake pressure in the communication space 29 exceeds the EOL curve is counted, and when the count becomes so large that the replacement is necessary, the replacement request can be notified to the driver by the notification lamp 105 or a voice message.

  Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced in an unstable situation and to avoid unnecessary maintenance work, and to properly clog the filter 23 at a stable and appropriate timing. Thus, it is possible to provide the intake system 100 of the fuel cell 10 that can prompt the replacement with the determination.

  As a first other aspect of the present embodiment, for example, the number of replacement determinations (threshold value) is changed according to the temperature of the external air near the opening edge of the air inlet 26a of the case 25 detected by the outside air temperature sensor 41. Anyway. For example, since the energization power (PWM value) to the cooling fan 33 increases as the temperature of the external air increases, the number of replacement determinations for determining that the filter 23 is clogged is increased, and the determination accuracy is further increased. You may do it.

  In addition, the second other mode is not limited to when the fuel cell 10 is generating power or is not generating power, but a filter replacement determination mode in which the cooling fan 33 is driven with a predetermined energization power (PWM value) for a predetermined determination time. It may be set to be executable. For example, in order to execute power generation of the amount of power required by the fuel cell 10, a condition for driving the cooling fan 33 with a predetermined PWM value for a predetermined time is set, and the filter replacement determination mode is set during power generation under the corresponding condition. The determination may be made with high accuracy whether or not the filter 23 needs to be replaced under certain conditions. Note that this filter replacement determination mode is not limited to during power generation, and may be executed while the fuel cell 10 is stopped. Here, the timing for executing the filter replacement determination mode can be executed, for example, when the power output to the vehicle M is small and the remaining battery level is low, or when generating the amount of power required for idling, A switch or the like for executing the filter replacement determination mode at an arbitrary timing may be installed.

  While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

10 Fuel Cell 11 Housing 13 Inlet (Air Inlet)
23 Filter 25 Case (housing, flow path)
26 Outer plate 26a Air inlet (air inlet)
27 Inner plate 27a Communication port 29 Communication space 33 Cooling fan (intake fan)
41 Outside temperature sensor 43 Pressure sensor (pressure detector)
45 Cell temperature sensor 100 Intake system 101 Controller (drive control unit, determination unit)
102 Memory 105 Notification lamp M Vehicle

Claims (5)

A fuel cell intake system that draws external air into an internal flow path of the fuel cell from an air inlet provided in a fuel cell housing,
An intake fan for sucking the external air into the flow path;
A drive control unit that controls the drive of the intake fan by adjusting the energization power to the intake fan;
A filter provided on the air inlet side of the flow path;
A pressure detector for detecting an intake pressure applied to the filter;
A determination unit that determines a clogging state of the filter based on an intake pressure applied to the filter;
The determination unit is an intake system for a fuel cell, which starts a determination process for a clogged state of the filter when energization power to the intake fan is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination power value.   The determination unit determines a state in which energization power to the intake fan is equal to or greater than a first power value greater than the determination power value and equal to or less than a second power value greater than the first power value. 2. The fuel cell intake system according to claim 1, wherein the determination process of the clogged state of the filter is started when the start continuation time of elapses.   The determination unit calculates an average value of the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit in the determination process of the clogged state of the filter, and the average value is applied to the intake fan at the start of pressure detection by the pressure detection unit. The fuel cell intake system according to claim 2, wherein the clogging state of the filter is determined based on whether or not the pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure determination value corresponding to the energized power.   After the pressure detection by the pressure detection unit is started, the determination unit is configured such that energization power to the intake fan is greater than or equal to a third power value larger than the first power value and the second power. 4. The fuel cell intake system according to claim 3, wherein an average value of pressures detected by the pressure detection unit is calculated when a predetermined calculation duration has elapsed in a state that is equal to or less than a fourth power value that is smaller than the value. The determination unit needs to replace the filter when the number of times that the average value of the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit is determined to be greater than the pressure determination value is equal to or greater than a predetermined replacement determination number. The fuel cell intake system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the intake system of the fuel cell is notified.

Images