Method, Device and System for Controlling Fuel Cell and Rail Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019305348-A1
Application number	US-201716315726-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 25, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2016
Publication date	Oct 3, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, device and system for controlling a fuel cell and a rail vehicle are provided. The method includes: an operating power of a target object is detected, wherein the target object is powered by at least two fuel cells (S 102 ); when it is detected that the operating power of the target object is lower than a predetermined power, at least one fuel cell is turned off or a cell component in any one or more fuel cells is turned off according to a gas conversion range corresponding to the fuel cell (S 104 ), wherein the gas conversion range is an output power range value, of the fuel cell, corresponding to a preset range value of a hydrogen conversion rate of the fuel cell.

First claim

1 . A method for controlling a fuel cell, comprising:
detecting an operating power of a target object, wherein the target object is powered by at least two fuel cells; when it is detected that the operating power of the target object is lower than a predetermined power, turning off at least one fuel cell or turning off a cell component in any one or more fuel cells according to a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell, wherein the gas conversion range is an output power range value, of the fuel cell, corresponding to a preset range value of a hydrogen conversion rate of the fuel cell.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when turning off the at least one fuel cell or turning off the cell component in any one or more fuel cells according to the gas conversion range corresponding to the fuel cell, improving an output power of other fuel cells which are not turned off, or improving an output power of other cell components which are not turned off.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein after turning off the at least one fuel cell or turning off the cell component in any one or more fuel cells according to the gas conversion range corresponding to the fuel cell, the method further comprises:
continuing to detect a operating power of the target object; when it is detected that the operating power of the target object is higher than the predetermined power, recovering the fuel cell which is turned off, or recovering the cell component which is turned off; and controlling fuel cells to power evenly.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of fuel cells are used to power the target object; before turning off the at least one fuel cell, the method further comprises:
reading a current operating power of the target object and a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell; according to the current operating power of the target object and the gas conversion range, calculating the turning-off number of fuel cells needing to be turned off; selecting, according to the turning-off number of the fuel cells needing to be turned off, at least one from the plurality of fuel cells as a fuel cell to be turned off, wherein an average power of a fuel cell continuing working is in the gas conversion range, and the gas conversion range is a high conversion range of a conversion rate of a gas input to the fuel cell.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when a plurality of fuel cells are used to power the target object and a whole fuel cell is forbided being turned off, before turning off the cell component in one or more fuel cells, the method further comprises:
reading a current operating power of the target object and a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell; according to the current operating power of the target object and the gas conversion range, calculating the turning-off number of the cell components needing to be turned off; selecting, according to the turning-off number of the cell components needing to be turned off, at least one cell component from each fuel cell as the cell component to be turned off, wherein an average power of a fuel cell of the cell component continuing working is in a predetermined range, and the predetermined range is a high conversion range of a conversion rate of a gas input to the fuel cell.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein while turning off a whole fuel cell, turning off an auxiliary device of the whole fuel cell; when turning off the cell component in the fuel cell, not turning off an auxiliary device of the fuel cell or reducing an operating power of the auxiliary device of the fuel cell.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein after turning off the at least one fuel cell or turning off the cell component in any one or more fuel cells according to the gas conversion range corresponding to the fuel cell, the method further comprises:
after a predetermined period, turning on the fuel cell which is turned off again, or turning on the cell component which is turned off again.

8 . A device for controlling a fuel cell, comprising:
a detecting component, configured to detect an operating power of a target object, wherein the target object is powered by at least two fuel cells; a tuning-off component, configured to, when it is detected that the operating power of the target object is lower than a predetermined power, turn off at least one fuel cell or turn off a cell component in any one or more fuel cells according to a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell, wherein the gas conversion range is an output power range value, of the fuel cell, corresponding to a preset range value of a hydrogen conversion rate of the fuel cell.

9 . A system for controlling a fuel cell, comprising:
a fuel cell, configured to, after a rail vehicle is powered on, power an auxiliary system of the rail vehicle; and a controller, configured to detect an operating power of a target object, and when it is detected that the operating power of the target object is lower than a predetermined power, turn off at least one fuel cell or turn off a cell component in any one or more fuel cells according to a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell, wherein the gas conversion range is an output power range value, of the fuel cell, corresponding to a preset range value of a hydrogen conversion rate of the fuel cell; wherein the target object is powered by at least two fuel cells.

10 . A rail vehicle, comprising the system for controlling the fuel cell as claimed in claim 9 .

11 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a plurality of fuel cells are used to power the target object; before turning off the at least one fuel cell, the method further comprises:
reading a current operating power of the target object and a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell; according to the current operating power of the target object and the gas conversion range, calculating the turning-off number of fuel cells needing to be turned off; selecting, according to the turning-off number of the fuel cells needing to be turned off, at least one from the plurality of fuel cells as a fuel cell to be turned off, wherein an average power of a fuel cell continuing working is in the gas conversion range, and the gas conversion range is a high conversion range of a conversion rate of a gas input to the fuel cell.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a plurality of fuel cells are used to power the target object; before turning off the at least one fuel cell, the method further comprises:
reading a current operating power of the target object and a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell; according to the current operating power of the target object and the gas conversion range, calculating the turning-off number of fuel cells needing to be turned off; selecting, according to the turning-off number of the fuel cells needing to be turned off, at least one from the plurality of fuel cells as a fuel cell to be turned off, wherein an average power of a fuel cell continuing working is in the gas conversion range, and the gas conversion range is a high conversion range of a conversion rate of a gas input to the fuel cell.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein when a plurality of fuel cells are used to power the target object and a whole fuel cell is forbided being turned off, before turning off the cell component in one or more fuel cells, the method further comprises:
reading a current operating power of the target object and a gas conversion range corresponding to a fuel cell; according to the current operating power of the target obj

Assignees

• Crrc Qingdao Sifang Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wu Donghua
• Li Yankun
• Tian Qing
• Zhang Huiqing
• Xiao Chanjuan
• Han Qingjun
• Yao Zhengbin

Classifications

• H01M8/04626

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

• H01M8/04955 Primary

  Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04 Primary

  Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/04619

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title