Ventilation apparatus and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016087293-A1
Application number	US-201414559165-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2014
Priority date	Sep 18, 2014
Publication date	Mar 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A ventilation apparatus includes: a controller that determines whether insulation resistance between a fuel cell stack and an enclosure including the fuel cell stack is equal to or smaller than a preset value, and varies a degree of opening of a valve provided between an inlet provided on one side of the enclosure and an air blower injecting air to an interior of the enclosure through the inlet based on the determination.

First claim

1 . A ventilation apparatus, comprising:
a controller that determines whether insulation resistance between a fuel cell stack and an enclosure including the fuel cell stack is equal to or smaller than a preset value, and varies a degree of opening of a valve provided between an inlet provided on one side of the enclosure and an air blower injecting air to an interior of the enclosure through the inlet based on the determination; an inlet pipe extending from the inlet to the interior of the enclosure and guiding air injected through the inlet to be distributed to the interior of the enclosure; and an outlet pipe extending from an outlet provided on one side or the other side of the enclosure to the interior of the enclosure and guiding air within the enclosure to be discharged through the outlet.

2 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein before determining whether the insulation resistance is equal to or smaller than the preset value, the controller opens the valve to a reference degree of opening for a preset period of time depending on whether a vehicle is started at an initial stage.

3 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the insulation resistance is equal to or smaller than the preset value, the controller increases the degree of opening of the valve.

4 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 3 , wherein after the valve was opened to the increased degree of opening, when a predetermined period of time has lapsed, the controller determines the insulation resistance again and varies the degree of opening of the valve based on the re-determination result.

5 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the insulation resistance exceeds the preset value, the controller adjusts the degree of opening of the valve to the reference degree.

6 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein after the valve was opened to the reference degree of opening, when the predetermined period of time has lapsed, the controller determines the insulation resistance again and varies the degree of opening of the valve based on the re-determination result.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe have a plurality of holes having a predetermined pattern formed on a surface thereof.

9 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein distances between the plurality of holes are equal.

10 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein distances between the plurality of holes are increased by preset distances each time in one direction.

11 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of holes congregate at predetermined intervals.

12 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged at predetermined intervals and have a rectangular shape.

13 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of holes have a curved shape and are connected to adjacent holes.

14 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air blower receives air discharged through the outlet from the interior of the enclosure.

15 . The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a dehumidifying agent is provided within the enclosure.

16 . A method for controlling a ventilation apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
measuring insulation resistance between a fuel cell stack and an enclosure including the fuel cell stack; determining whether the measured insulation resistance is equal to or smaller than a preset value; and when the insulation resistance is equal to or smaller than the preset value in the determining step, increasing a degree of opening of a valve provided between an inlet provided on one side of the enclosure and an air blower injecting air to the interior of the enclosure through the inlet.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining whether a vehicle is started at an initial stage before the determination operation; and when the vehicle is started at an initial stage, opening the valve to a reference degree of opening for a preset period of time.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
when the insulation resistance exceeds the preset value in the determination operation, adjusting the degree of opening of the valve to the reference degree of opening.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
when the degree of opening of the valve is increased or when the degree of opening of the valve is adjusted to the reference degree of opening, maintaining the degree of opening of the valve for a predetermined period of time, wherein when the predetermined period of time has lapsed, the measuring of the insulation resistance is performed.

20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a controller, the computer readable medium comprising:
program instructions that measure insulation resistance between a fuel cell stack and an enclosure including the fuel cell stack; and program instructions that determine whether the measured insulation resistance is equal to or smaller than a preset value, and if the insulation resistance is equal to or smaller than the preset value, a degree of opening of a valve is increased between an inlet provided on one side of the enclosure and an air blower injecting air to the interior of the enclosure through the inlet.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Wooshin Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yu Jung Han
• Suh Jung Do
• Kum Young Bum
• Kim Duck Whan
• Lee Chang Jun
• Lee Tae Min
• Choi Yong Woo

Classifications

• H01M8/04776 Primary

  at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner · CPC title

• H01M8/04656

  of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors · CPC title

• H01M8/04223

  during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04171

  using adsorbents, wicks or hydrophilic material · CPC title