Apparatus and method for controling air supply into fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016359181-A1
Application number	US-201514875774-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 6, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for controlling an air supply into a fuel cell stack capable of rapidly reducing an air supply up to a required flow rate when it is required to suddenly reduce an air flow rate supplied to the fuel cell stack for a reduction in vehicle power, etc., in a pressurized operation condition. The apparatus includes an air compressor that is configured to compress air and supply the air to a cathode of the fuel cell stack and a back pressure control valve that is installed in a line to which air subjected to reaction in the fuel cell stack is emitted. A controller operates the back pressure control valve and the air compressor based on a current air supply pressure and a required air reduction quantity of the air compressor when required to reduce the air supplied into the fuel cell stack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for controlling an air supply into a fuel cell stack, comprising:
an air compressor configured to compress air and supply the air to a cathode of the fuel cell stack; a back pressure control valve installed in a line to which air subjected to reaction in the fuel cell stack is emitted; and a controller configured to operate the back pressure control valve and the air compressor based on a current air supply pressure and a required air reduction quantity of the air compressor when it is required to reduce the air supplied into the fuel cell stack.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to open the back pressure control valve and decelerate the air compressor when a difference between a current air supply pressure of the air compressor and a preset surge reference pressure is less than a preset threshold value.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to open the back pressure control valve and decelerate the air compressor when the required air reduction quantity is greater than the preset threshold value.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to open the back pressure control valve to a maximum opening value.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to open the back pressure control valve to a maximum opening value.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air compressor is decelerated by regenerative braking.

7 . A method for controlling an air supply into a fuel cell stack, comprising:
monitoring, by a controller, a detection of a current air supply pressure of an air compressor supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell stack by compressing air; receiving, by the controller, a required reduction quantity of air supplied to the fuel cell stack; and operating, by the controller, a back pressure control valve and an air compressor based on a current air supply pressure of the air compressor detected while monitoring the current air supply pressure and the required reduction quantity of air input in the receiving of the required air reduction quantity.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein in the monitoring process, the current supply pressure of air of the air compressor is compared with a surge reference pressure based on the preset operating region of the air compressor, and in the receiving of the required air reduction quantity, the required reduction quantity of air is compared with a preset first threshold value.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein when a difference between the current air supply pressure and the surge reference pressure is less than a preset second threshold value and the required reduction quantity of a flow rate of air is greater than the first threshold value, the back pressure control valve installed in a line to which air subjected to reaction in the fuel cell stack is emitted is opened and the air compressor is decelerated.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the back pressure control valve is first opened and then the air compressor is decelerated.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the air compressor is decelerated by regenerative braking.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
prior to operating the back pressure control valve, storing, by the controller, an opening value of the back pressure control valve; and after the operating the back pressure control valve, returning, by the controller, an opening value controlling the back pressure control valve to have the opening value stored in the storing of the opening value when the flow rate supplied to the fuel cell stack is reduced based on the required air reduction quantity.

13 . A method for controlling an air supply into a fuel cell stack, comprising:
opening, by the controller, a back pressure control valve installed in a line to which air subjected to reaction in the fuel cell stack is emitted and decelerating an air compressor based on a current air supply pressure and a required air reduction quantity of the air compressor configured to compress air and supply the compressed air to a cathode of the fuel cell stack, when it is required to reduce the air supplied into the fuel cell stack.

14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a controller, the computer readable medium comprising:
program instructions that monitor a detection of a current air supply pressure of an air compressor supplied to a cathode of a fuel cell stack by compressing air; program instructions that receive a required reduction quantity of air supplied to the fuel cell stack; and program instructions that operate a back pressure control valve and an air compressor based on a current air supply pressure of the air compressor detected while monitoring the current air supply pressure and the required reduction quantity of air input in the receiving of the required air reduction quantity.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising:
program instructions that compare the current supply pressure of air of the air compressor with a surge reference pressure based on the preset operating region of the air compressor, and compare the required reduction quantity of air with a preset first threshold value.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein when a difference between the current air supply pressure and the surge reference pressure is less than a preset second threshold value and the required reduction quantity of a flow rate of air is greater than the first threshold value, the back pressure control valve installed in a line to which air subjected to reaction in the fuel cell stack is emitted is opened and the air compressor is decelerated.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising:
program instructions that store an opening value of the back pressure control valve prior to operating the back pressure control valve; and program instructions that return an opening value controlling the back pressure control valve to have the opening value stored in the storing of the opening value when the flow rate supplied to the fuel cell stack is reduced based on the required air reduction quantity after the operating the back pressure control valve.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Dong Hun

Classifications

• H01M8/04753 Primary

  of fuel cell reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/04828

  Humidity; Water content · CPC title

• H01M8/04201

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• H01M8/04776

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