Driving control method and system of fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9768457-B2
Application number	US-201414457428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2014
Priority date	Nov 29, 2013
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A driving control method and system of a fuel cell system are provided. The method includes determining, by a controller, a dry state of a fuel cell stack and stopping an air blower, which supplies air to the fuel cell stack, using different processes based on whether the fuel cell stack is in the dry state. Accordingly, the time for which an open circuit voltage (OCV) is maintained is reduced and durability of the fuel cell is improved by preventing dry-out of the fuel cell stack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driving control method of a fuel cell system, comprising:
stopping, by a controller, operation of a fuel cell stack when a flow rate of air of the fuel cell stack is less than a predetermined reference value, after air supply to the fuel cell stack is stopped; and
removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack,
wherein the removing process includes removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack, using a plurality of voltage removal processes based on the result of comparing electric output generated by a regenerative braking operation of the fuel cell system with a predetermined regenerative braking limit value,
wherein the removing process includes removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack by supplying hydrogen to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack, when the difference between the limit value and the generated electric output is less than a predetermined reference value, as the result of the comparison, and
wherein the removing process includes removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack by charging a battery with the voltage generate in the fuel cell stack, when the difference between the limit value and the generated electric output is greater than a predetermined reference value, as the result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the controller, a dry state of the fuel cell stack; and
stopping, by the controller, air supply to the fuel cell stack by stopping an air blower that is configured to supply air to the fuel cell stack, in different ways based on whether the fuel cell stack is in a dry state or not.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the stopping process includes stopping, by the controller, the air blower using an inertia braking, when a battery does not operate, the charging state of the battery is greater than a predetermined reference state, or a power converter that connects the battery and the fuel cell stack fails.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the stopping process includes stopping, by the controller, the air blower using a regenerative braking, when the fuel cell stack is in a dry state.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the stopping process includes stopping, by the controller, the air blower using an inertia braking, when the fuel cell stack is not in a dry state.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
closing, by the controller, a valve that allows air to flow into the fuel cell stack, before the supply of hydrogen.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing process includes removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack by supplying hydrogen to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack, when a battery does not operate, the charging state of the battery is greater than a predetermined reference state, or a power converter that connects the battery and the fuel cell stack fails.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing process includes removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack, using a plurality of voltage removal processes based on the result of comparing the speed of a fuel cell vehicle using a fuel cell as a main power source with a predetermined reference vehicle speed.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the removing process includes removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack by supplying hydrogen to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack, when the speed of the fuel cell vehicle is greater than a predetermined reference vehicle speed, as the result of the comparison.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
closing, by the controller, a valve that allows air to flow into the fuel cell stack, before the supply of hydrogen.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the removing process includes removing, by the controller, a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack by charging a battery with the voltage generated in the fuel cell stack, when the speed of the fuel cell vehicle is less than a predetermined reference vehicle speed, as the result of the comparison.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing of a voltage is performed by the controller, when the voltage generated in the fuel cell stack is maintained over a predetermined time, after the operation of the fuel cell stack is stopped.

13. A fuel cell system having a driving control system, comprising:
a memory configured to store program instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the program instructions, the program instructions when executed configured to:
stop operation of a fuel cell stack when a flow rate of air of the fuel cell stack is less than a predetermined reference value, after air supply to the fuel cell stack is stopped; and
remove a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack,
wherein the program instructions for the removing of the voltage when executed are further configured to remove a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack, using a plurality of voltage removal processes based on the result of comparing electric output generated by a regenerative braking operation of the fuel cell system with a predetermined regenerative braking limit value,
wherein the program instructions for the removing of the voltage when executed are further configured to remove a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack by supplying hydrogen to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack, when the difference between the limit value and the generated electric output is less than a predetermined reference value, as the result of the comparison, and
wherein the program instructions for the removing of the voltage when executed are further configured to remove a voltage generated in the fuel cell stack by charging a battery with the voltage generated in the fuel cell stack, when the difference between the limit value and the generated electric output is less than a predetermined reference value, as the result of the comparison.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions when executed are further configured to:
determine a dry state of the fuel cell stack; and
stop air supply to the fuel cell stack by stopping an air blower that is configured to supply air to the fuel cell stack, in different ways based on whether the fuel cell stack is in a dry state or not.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Kwon Sang Uk

Classifications

• H01M8/04626

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

• B60L11/1887

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60L7/10

  Dynamic electric regenerative braking (B60L7/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/04529

  of the electrolyte · CPC title

• Y02T90/32

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic