Fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11791481-B2
Application number	US-202217571853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2022
Priority date	Jan 14, 2021
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

An ECU of a fuel cell system determines whether or not temperature information exceeds a temperature threshold for determination when receiving a signal related to power generation stop of a fuel cell stack during operation of a moving body. When the temperature information exceeds the determination temperature threshold, the ECU performs a stop control for stopping power generation of the fuel cell stack. On the other hand, when the temperature information is equal to or lower than the determination temperature threshold, the ECU performs an idle control for generating electric power smaller than electric power consumed by the air pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell system provided in a moving body, the fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell stack;
a cathode supply path configured to supply cathode gas to the fuel cell stack;
a cathode discharge path through which cathode off-gas is discharged from the fuel cell stack;
a bypass passage connecting the cathode supply path and the cathode discharge path so as to bypass the fuel cell stack; and
an air pump configured to supply the cathode gas to the cathode supply path;
one or more stop valves provided between a connection point of the bypass passage on the cathode supply path or the cathode discharge path and the fuel cell stack;
a bypass valve provided in the bypass passage; and
a control device configured to control operations of the air pump, the one or more stop valves, and the bypass valve,
wherein the control device is configured to:
acquire temperature information related to a temperature of the fuel cell stack, from a temperature detection unit provided in the fuel cell system;
determine whether or not the acquired temperature information exceeds a predetermined temperature value when a signal related to stoppage of power generation of the fuel cell stack is received during operation of the moving body;
perform a first control of stopping power generation of the fuel cell stack by closing the one or more stop valves and opening the bypass valve, if it is determined that the temperature information exceeds the predetermined temperature value; and
perform a second control of generating, with the fuel cell stack, electric power smaller than electric power consumed by the air pump, by operating the air pump, if it is determined that the temperature information is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature value.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to perform the second control when it is determined that the temperature information is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature value during traveling of the moving body.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to open all of the one or more stop valves in the second control.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to stop rotation of the air pump in the first control.

5. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to stop the first control and switch to the second control when the temperature information becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature value during execution of the first control.

6. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to stop the second control and switch to the first control when the temperature information exceeds the predetermined temperature value during execution of the second control.

7. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an abnormality detection unit configured to detect whether the one or more stop valves operate normally or abnormally,
wherein the control device is configured to prohibit the first control and perform the second control when the control device acquires a closing abnormality in which any of the one or more stop valves cannot be closed, from the abnormality detection unit.

8. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to:
acquire pressure information related to a pressure at an anode and a pressure at a cathode of the fuel cell stack, from a pressure detection unit provided in the fuel cell system;
determine whether or not an electrode differential pressure between the pressure at the anode and the pressure at the cathode exceeds a predetermined pressure value; and
when the electrode differential pressure exceeds the predetermined pressure value, prohibit the first control at least temporarily.

9. The fuel cell system according to claim 8 , wherein
the control device is configured to, in a case where the first control is prohibited based on the electrode differential pressure exceeding the predetermined pressure value while it is determined that the temperature information exceeds the predetermined temperature value, wait until the electric power of the fuel cell stack decreases to a predetermined value or until the electrode differential pressure becomes equal to or less than the predetermined pressure value, and perform the first control after the waiting.

10. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to:
fully open the bypass valve in the first control; and
adjust an opening degree of the bypass valve in accordance with a power generation amount of the fuel cell stack in the second control.

11. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to continue flowing of anode gas to the fuel cell stack during execution of the first control.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sakai Ryoji
• NAKAGAWA Takuto
• Akabori Sho
• Inoue Tomoyuki

Classifications

• H01M8/04134 Primary

  by coolants · CPC title

• H01M8/04228

  during shut-down · CPC title

• H01M8/04253

  Means for solving freezing problems · CPC title

• H01M8/04358

  of the coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/04619

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title