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
• • 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
  • H01M8/04955—Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells
• • 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
  • H01M8/02—Details
  • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
  • H01M8/0267—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• • 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
  • H01M8/04223—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
  • H01M8/04225—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells during start-up
• • 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
  • H01M8/04223—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
  • H01M8/04228—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells during shut-down
• • 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
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fuel cell system.
• the external temperature is low, the water generated inside the fuel cell system will freeze and the piping and valves will be damaged. When the external temperature is low, the frozen water will block the gas flow path. When the fuel cell is started up, gas supply is hindered and the electrochemical reaction does not proceed sufficiently.
• temperature information such as the outside air temperature is acquired at a predetermined timing after a fuel cell system stop request (such as an instruction for turning off the ignition key), and water freeze is predicted from the temperature information.
• a fuel cell system stop request such as an instruction for turning off the ignition key
• water freeze is predicted from the temperature information.
• control for low-temperature countermeasures such as warm-up processing
• an expected result for example, “There is a risk of freezing”
• control for low temperature countermeasures is performed only when the user determines that it is necessary.
• fuel such as hydrogen
• Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2 0 0 5-1 0 8 8 3 2 Disclosure of Invention
• the user may be overlooked. If such a message is overlooked, there is a problem that control for low temperature countermeasures is not performed regardless of the user's intention.
• the present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and provides a fuel cell system capable of notifying a user of an input of a control command for low-temperature countermeasures at an appropriate timing when necessary. Objective.
• a fuel cell system is a fuel cell system in which control for low-temperature countermeasures is performed when a low-temperature countermeasure request is input from a user, and a system activation command is input.
• Determining means for determining whether or not the system satisfies the setting condition until a stop command is input from the time point, and if the setting condition is satisfied, a low-temperature countermeasure is required for the user during the system startup.
• a notifying means for prompting input of a request.
• the determination unit repeatedly executes the determination at predetermined time intervals. According to this configuration, it is possible to make a determination according to the usage status of the system.
• the temperature condition related to the system is preferably a temperature condition related to at least one of the outside air temperature of the system and the component temperature of the system.
• the fuel cell system according to the present invention is a fuel cell system in which control for countermeasures against low temperatures is performed, and is related to the system between the input of the system start command and the input of the stop command. Whether the temperature meets the first setting condition First determination means for determining whether or not, a second determination means for determining whether or not a change in temperature over time associated with the system satisfies the second setting condition when the first setting condition is satisfied, Control means for performing control for low-temperature countermeasures when the second setting condition is satisfied.
• the user when control for low-temperature countermeasures (such as scavenging processing at the time of system termination) is performed, the user can be reliably notified by, for example, a text message or voice message, and the user feels uncomfortable or misidentified. It does not cause it.
• low-temperature countermeasures such as scavenging processing at the time of system termination
• the temperature related to the system is an outside air temperature
• the first determination means determines whether the outside air temperature is lower than a set reference temperature
• the second The determining means determines whether or not a change with time in the outside air temperature is equal to or more than a set difference threshold value when the outside air temperature is lower than the set reference temperature.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the fuel cell system according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fuel cell system according to the embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the outside air temperature and the remote component temperature according to the embodiment.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display screen according to the embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fuel cell system according to the second embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fuel cell system according to the third embodiment.
• FIG. 7 is a view showing a change over time in the outside air temperature according to the embodiment.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a fuel cell system 100 according to the first embodiment.
• a fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle such as a fuel cell vehicle (FCHV), an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle is assumed.
• FCHV fuel cell vehicle
• FCHV fuel cell vehicle
• electric vehicle electric vehicle
• hybrid vehicle hybrid vehicle
• mobile objects for example, a ship and a flying vehicle. This can also be applied to stationary machines 1 and the like.
• the fuel cell 40 is a means for generating electric power from the supplied reaction gas (fuel gas and oxidant gas), and uses various types of fuel cells such as solid polymer type, phosphoric acid type, and molten carbonate type. be able to.
• the fuel cell 40 has a stack structure in which a plurality of single cells equipped with ME A or the like are stacked in series.
• the output voltage (hereinafter referred to as F C voltage) and output current (hereinafter referred to as F C current) of the fuel cell 40 are detected by a voltage sensor 14 40 and a current sensor 15 50, respectively.
• the fuel electrode (anode) of the fuel cell 40 is supplied with fuel gas such as hydrogen gas from the fuel gas supply source 10, while the oxygen electrode (power sword) is supplied with the oxidizing gas supply source 70 from the air, etc.
• the oxidizing gas is supplied.
• the fuel gas supply source 10 is composed of, for example, various valves such as a hydrogen tank, and controls the amount of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell 40 by adjusting the valve opening, ONZOFF time, and the like.
• the oxidizing gas supply source 70 is composed of, for example, an air compressor, a motor that drives the air compressor, an inverter, and the like, and the amount of oxidizing gas supplied to the fuel cell 40 is adjusted by adjusting the rotational speed of the motor. To do.
• the battery 60 is a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery, and is composed of, for example, a nickel metal hydride battery.
• a chargeable / dischargeable capacitor for example, a capacitor
• the battery 60 is connected in parallel with the fuel cell 40 via a DC / DC converter 13 30.
• Inverter 1 1 0 is, for example, a pulse width modulation type PWM inverter, and DC power output from fuel cell 40 or battery 60 is converted into three-phase AC power in accordance with a control command given from control unit 80.
• Traction motor 1 1 5 is a motor for driving wheels 1 1 6 L and 1 1 6 R (ie, a power source of a moving body), and the rotational speed of the motor is controlled by an impeller 1 1 0.
• the traction motor 1 1 5 and the inverter 1 1 0 are connected to the fuel cell 40 side.
• the D C ZD C converter 1 3 0 is a full-bridge converter composed of, for example, four power transistors and a dedicated drive circuit (both not shown).
• D CZD C converter 1 3 0 is a function that boosts or steps down the DC voltage input from battery 60 and outputs it to the fuel cell 40 side, boosts or decreases DC voltage input from fuel cell 40 etc. It has a function to step down and output to the battery 60 side.
• the charge / discharge of the battery 60 is realized by the function of the D CZD C converter 1 3 0.
• Auxiliary equipment 1 2 0 such as vehicle auxiliary equipment and FC catcher is connected between the battery 60 and the DCZDC converter 13 0.
• the battery 60 is a power source for these auxiliary machines 120.
• Vehicle auxiliary equipment refers to various power equipment (lighting equipment, air conditioning equipment, hydraulic pumps, etc.) used during vehicle operation.
• FC auxiliary equipment The term “electric power devices” used for the operation of the fuel cell 40 (pumps for supplying fuel gas and oxidation gas, etc.).
• the control unit 80 is composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.
• the temperature sensor 50 detects the temperature of the voltage sensor 14 0, current sensor 15 0, fuel cell 40, and battery 60 charge. Each part of the system is centrally controlled based on the sensor signals input from the SOC sensor that detects the state and the accelerator pedal sensor that detects the opening of the accelerator pedal.
• the control unit 80 according to the present embodiment is not only requested after the fuel cell system is requested to stop, but also after the fuel cell system is requested to start (start command). Until the stop command is issued, control for low-temperature countermeasures is performed as necessary (details are described later).
• the display device (notification means) 160 is composed of a liquid crystal display device and various lamps, and the sound output device (notification means) 180 is composed of a speaker, an amplifier, a filter, and the like.
• the control unit 80 uses the display device 160 and the audio output device 170 to notify various messages.
• the notified message includes messages related to control for low-temperature countermeasures such as warm-up processing and scavenging processing (for example, display of a message prompting the input of a control command for low-temperature countermeasures; details will be described later).
• the input device 170 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, various operation switches, and the like.
• the operation switch includes a special switch (hereinafter referred to as low temperature countermeasure switch) SW1 for inputting a control start / control stop command for low temperature countermeasures.
• the user gives an instruction to start or stop the control for low-temperature countermeasures by turning this low-temperature countermeasure switch SW1 on and off.
• the outside air temperature sensor 190 is a sensor for detecting the outside air temperature, and is provided, for example, on the outer periphery of the vehicle.
• the component temperature sensor 1 9 5 is a sensor that detects the temperature of various components (such as various auxiliary machines) mounted on the vehicle. It is attached to the part to be detected.
• the component temperature sensor 1 9 5 for each component (hereinafter referred to as a remote component) installed at a location far from the heat source (eg, a location where the flow rate of gas supplied via a heat source such as an exhaust outlet or a fuel cell is low). Is attached.
• a location far from the heat source eg, a location where the flow rate of gas supplied via a heat source such as an exhaust outlet or a fuel cell is low.
• the temperature sensor 1 95 is attached to.
• the control unit 80 determines the low temperature based on the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 1 90 and the temperature of the remote part detected by the component temperature sensor 1 95 (hereinafter referred to as the remote part temperature). It is determined whether or not a message prompting the user to input a control command for countermeasures should be notified.
• FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fuel cell system 100.
• the control unit 80 detects that a start request for the system (such as “idition on”) is input (step S 1), the outside temperature T detected by the outside temperature sensor 190 is detected. o, Low temperature judgment is performed based on the remote component temperature ⁇ detected by the component temperature sensor 1 95 (step S 2). More specifically, the control unit (determination means) 80 compares the outside air temperature T o and the remote component temperature T p with a preset reference temperature T s (for example, 0 ° C), and the outside air temperature T o Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the remote component temperature T p is lower than the reference temperature T s.
• a preset reference temperature T s for example, 0 ° C
• Figure 3 shows the relationship between the outside air temperature and the remote part temperature.
• the horizontal axis shows the outside air temperature
• the vertical axis shows the remote part temperature.
• the control unit 8 0 determines whether the remote component temperature T is below 0 ° C.
• the temperature T p of the remote part with the lowest temperature falls below 0 ° C. What is necessary is just to judge whether it is. However, which remote component temperature is used is arbitrary.
• control unit 80 determines that control for low-temperature countermeasures is unnecessary and starts normal operation (step S 2—step S 10 )
• the control unit (notification means) 80 determines that the outside air temperature To or the remote component temperature T p is below 0 ° C (see the shaded area in FIG. 3)
• the control unit (notification means) 80 A message prompting the user to input a control command for low temperature countermeasures is displayed on the display device 160, and a voice message prompting the user to input the control command is output from the voice output device 1 80 (Step S2 ⁇ Step S3).
• the user confirms the message displayed on the display device 160, and determines whether or not the control for low temperature countermeasures should be executed.
• the user determines that control for low-temperature countermeasures is necessary, the user turns on the low-temperature countermeasure switch SW1.
• the control unit 80 detects that the low temperature countermeasure switch SW1 is turned on (step S4; YES), the control unit 80 turns on the low temperature countermeasure flag stored in the memory (not shown) (step S5). Stop broadcasting the message. After that, the control unit 80 requests the system to stop.
• step S6 It is determined whether or not (idling off, etc.) has occurred (step S6), and if there is no request, the process returns to step S2. As a result, a series of processing including the low temperature determination is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals.
• step S 4 if the control unit 80 does not detect that the low-temperature countermeasure switch SW 1 is turned on in step S 4 (step S 4; NO), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S 6, and whether a request for stopping the system has been received. Judge whether or not. If it is determined that there is no request, the process returns to step S2 as described above, and the above-described series of processing is executed.
• step S4 If the control unit 80 does not detect that the low-temperature countermeasure switch SW1 is turned on in step S4 (step S4; NO), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S6. Therefore, it is determined whether or not there is a request to stop the system. The control unit 80 proceeds to step S6 even after starting normal operation, and performs the same process (step S10 ⁇ step S6).
• control unit 80 refers to the low temperature countermeasure flag and determines whether or not the low temperature countermeasure switch SW 1 is turned on.
• processing stopping processing
• step processing step processing
• step S8 scavenging processing or the like is executed as a control for low-temperature countermeasures.
• the control unit 80 performs a stop process similar to the above (step S9), and ends the process.
• the present embodiment determines whether or not the outside air temperature To or the remote component temperature Tp is lower than 0 ° C between the start request of the system and the stop request. If any of the temperatures is below 0 ° C, a message prompting the control command for low-temperature countermeasures is issued, so it is possible to suppress problems such as the user overlooking such a message. It becomes.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fuel cell system 100 according to the second embodiment. Steps corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
• step S 1 When the control mute 80 detects that a request for starting the system (such as the ignition on) is input (step S 1), the outside air temperature To detected by the outside air temperature sensor 190 and the component temperature sensor 1 Low temperature judgment is performed based on the remote part temperature Tp detected by 95 (step S 2).
• Step S 2 If the outside air temperature T o or the remote component temperature T p is 0 ° C or higher, the control unit 80 determines that control for low-temperature countermeasures is unnecessary and starts normal operation (Step S 2 ⁇ Step S 10). On the other hand, if the control mute 80 determines that the outside air temperature To or the remote part temperature Tp is lower than 0 ° C, the control mute 80 does not prompt the user to execute control for low temperature countermeasures. Turn on the low-temperature countermeasure switch SW1 (Step S 1 30). When the low temperature countermeasure switch SW1 is turned on, the control unit 80 proceeds to step S6 and determines whether or not a stop request for the system has been received. If you decide that there is no request (Step 56; NO), return to step S2 in the same manner as above, and execute the series of processes described above.
• Step S if it detects that the system has been requested to stop (Step S
• the low-temperature countermeasure switch SW1 is automatically turned on, so the control for low-temperature countermeasures can be executed reliably.
• low-temperature countermeasures may be set in two stages, such as “necessary” and “absolutely necessary” depending on the temperature threshold.
• “Necessary” a notification is made to prompt the switch to turn on, but low temperature processing is not performed during the switch OF F.
• “Absolutely Necessary” it will be judged that there is an adverse effect due to low temperature when the switch is off, and low-temperature countermeasures are automatically executed even when the switch is off. Such control may be performed.
• the control for the low temperature countermeasure when the outside air temperature ⁇ ⁇ or the remote part temperature ⁇ ⁇ is below 0 ° C, the control for the low temperature countermeasure is automatically executed. Rapid changes in temperature may occur, for example, when a vehicle running in the season stops in an indoor parking lot. If the vehicle is sufficiently warmed due to a sudden temperature change, the control for the low temperature countermeasure is not necessary, but if the control for the low temperature countermeasure is performed until there is such a sudden temperature change, it is useless. Problems such as the consumption of fuel gas occur.
• the third embodiment shown below is made to solve such a problem, and prevents unnecessary control for low-temperature countermeasures, thereby causing unnecessary fuel gas consumption.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system that can suppress this problem.
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fuel cell system 100 according to the third embodiment. Steps corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
• the outside air temperature sensor 1 90 detects the outside air temperature.
• the first low temperature judgment is performed based on the remote component temperature T p detected by To and the component temperature sensor 1 95 (step S 2). More specifically, the control unit 80 compares the outside air temperature T o and the remote component temperature T p with a preset first reference temperature T s 1 (for example, 0 ° C), and the outside air temperature To and Determine whether the remote component temperature T p is below the first reference temperature (eg 0 ° C) T s 1.
• the detected outside air temperature To is stored in a temperature detection memory (not shown) in chronological order.
• Control unit 80 determines that control for low-temperature countermeasures is unnecessary if outside air temperature To or remote component temperature Tp is 0 ° C or higher, and starts normal operation (step S 2 ⁇ step S Ten ) . On the other hand, if the control unit 80 determines that the outside air temperature To or the remote component temperature Tp is below 0 ° C, the control unit 80 After turning on the first low temperature judgment flag stored in (not shown) (step S 2 ⁇ step S Ten ) .
• Step S 230 go to step S 6.
• step S6 the control unit 80 determines whether or not there is a request to stop the system. If it is determined that there is no request (step S 6; NO), the process returns to step S 2 as described above, and the above-described series of processing is executed. After that, if it detects that the system has been requested to stop (Step S
• the control unit 80 determines that the obtained differential temperature Td is equal to or higher than the preset differential threshold Tt, or the detected outside air temperature To is 0 ° C or higher. If it is determined that, the system is stopped without performing control of measures against low temperatures.
• step S250 it is determined whether or not the first low temperature determination flag is on.
• the control unit 80 stops the system without performing the low temperature countermeasure control. On the other hand, if the first low temperature judgment flag is on, the control unit (control means) 80 turns on the low temperature countermeasure switch SW1 (step S260), As a control, a scavenging process is executed (step S8). By performing such a scavenging process, the amount of water accumulated in the piping can be reduced, and problems such as freezing and damage of water accumulated in the piping can be suppressed. When the control for countermeasures against low temperature is completed, the control unit 80 performs a stop process similar to the above (step S9) and ends the process.
• “0 ° C” is exemplified as the first reference temperature T s 1 and the second reference temperature T s 2, but at other temperatures (for example, 5 ° C.).
• the reference temperatures T s 1 and T s 2 may be different.
• the obtained difference temperature Td is equal to or greater than a preset difference threshold value T t, or the currently detected outside air temperature T or is the second value set in advance. Control of low temperature countermeasures was performed when the reference temperature T s 2 or higher, but control of low temperature countermeasures may be performed when both conditions are satisfied.

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• 2006
  • 2006-05-23 JP JP2006142783A patent/JP5152614B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-04-19 KR KR1020087028152A patent/KR101047521B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-04-19 US US12/301,284 patent/US20090191438A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-04-19 CN CN2007800186920A patent/CN101449415B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-04-19 WO PCT/JP2007/058999 patent/WO2007135839A1/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2007-04-19 DE DE112007001182.3T patent/DE112007001182B4/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

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