Method for the Predictive Operation of a Fuel Cell or a High-Voltage Accumulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017179512-A1
Application number	US-201715449016-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Sep 5, 2014
Publication date	Jun 22, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for the predictive operation of a fuel cell or a high-voltage accumulator, involving the steps of: detecting at least one external parameter, the at least one external parameter representing driving behavior data, navigation data and/or environmental data; and adjusting the at least one current desired fuel cell operating parameter on the basis of the at least one external parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for predictive operation of a fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting at least one external parameter, wherein the at least one external parameter represents driving behavior information, navigation information and/or environmental information; and adapting at least one current setpoint operating parameter of the fuel cell on the basis of the at least one external parameter.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
a setpoint operating parameter is the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell, and the setpoint moisture content is reduced before the end of a journey.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the setpoint moisture content is adapted to take into account a storage location of the fuel cell.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein
before an end of a journey, the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell is reduced if it is to be assumed that a frost start or cold start is to follow.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
the setpoint moisture content and/or a duration of the reduction is adapted to take into account a predicted storage location of the fuel cell and/or the predicted ambient temperature.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
a change in the at least one setpoint operating parameter is based on a load range and a dynamic requirement.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the fuel cell, and/or a fuel cell system comprising the fuel cell, functions itself as a buffer for moisture, cooling capacity for a predictive operating mode of the fuel cell.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein before operation of the fuel cell in an upper load range for an uphill journey:
the setpoint operating temperature of the fuel cell is lowered and/or additional cooling capacity which is not necessary for the instantaneous operation is made available and is buffered in a cooling system of the fuel cell system, and/or additional moisture which is not necessary for the instantaneous operation is introduced into the fuel cell and is buffered in the fuel cell.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
in the case of predicted operation in an upper load range of the fuel cell:
the setpoint temperature of the fuel cell and/or a maximum nitrogen oxide partial pressure at the anode are/is reduced, and/or
the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell and/or the setpoint fuel partial pressure at the anode are/is increased, and/or
in the case of predicted operation in a lower load range of the fuel cells
the setpoint temperature of the fuel cell and/or the maximum nitrogen oxide partial pressure at the anode are/is increased, and/or
the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell and/or the setpoint fuel partial pressure at the anode are/is reduced.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein for the predictive operation of the fuel cell various operating modes are provided, wherein at least two operating modes in at least one characteristic curve differ for at least one setpoint operating parameter, and
wherein the various operating modes are provided for various load ranges and various dynamic requirements, and wherein the operating mode of the fuel cell is selected as a function of the load range and the dynamic requirement.

11 . A method for operating a motor vehicle, wherein the method predictively operates a fuel cell according to claim 1 .

12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
adapting a ratio of the setpoint capacity of the fuel cell to the setpoint capacity of a high-voltage accumulator as a function of the at least one external parameter.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein
the ratio of the setpoint capacity of the fuel cell to the setpoint capacity of the high-voltage accumulator is adapted as a function of the operating mode of the fuel cell and/or of the storage location.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , comprising the step of:
reducing consumption and/or switching off at least one energy consumer.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein
an energy consumer is a passenger-compartment air conditioning system of the vehicle, and in the case of predicted operation in an upper load range, a capacity of the passenger-compartment air conditioning can already be reduced or switched off before operation in the upper load range, with the result that more cooling capacity can be fed to the at least one fuel cell.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Eschenbach Max
• Schmid Johannes

Classifications

• B60L53/14

  Conductive energy transfer · CPC title

• B60L2240/36

  Temperature of vehicle components or parts · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• B60L2240/662

  Temperature · CPC title

• B60L2240/22

  Yaw angle · CPC title