Voltage synchronization method and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9847541-B2
Application number	US-201414450539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2013
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A voltage synchronization method and system are provided. The system includes a main controller that is configured to determine whether voltage synchronization is possible. When the voltage synchronization is determined to be possible, the main controller is configured to transmit a voltage synchronization command to a plurality of auxiliary controllers. The plurality of auxiliary controllers are configured to adjust sensed voltages based on an output voltage of a fuel cell stack when the transmitted voltage synchronization command is received.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A voltage synchronization method, comprising:
determining, by a main controller, whether voltage synchronization is possible;
transmitting, by the main controller, a voltage synchronization command to a plurality of auxiliary controllers when the voltage synchronization is determined to be possible; and
adjusting, by the plurality of auxiliary controllers, sensed input voltages measured by a voltage sensor of each of the auxiliary controllers based on an output voltage of a fuel cell stack when the transmitted voltage synchronization command is received, wherein the auxiliary controllers include a motor control unit, a power converter controller, and at least one blower/pump/accessory control unit.

2. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether the voltage synchronization is possible includes:
determining, by the main controller, whether a change rate of the output voltage of the fuel cell stack and the voltages sensed by the plurality of auxiliary controllers is less than a predetermined change rate.

3. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 2 , wherein the determination of whether the voltage synchronization is possible includes:
determining, by the main controller, that the voltage synchronization is possible when the change rate of the output voltage and the sensed voltages is less than the predetermined change rate.

4. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether the voltage synchronization is possible includes:
determining, by the main controller, whether a communication state between the main controller and the plurality of auxiliary controllers is normal for a purpose of the voltage synchronization.

5. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 4 , wherein the determination of whether the voltage synchronization is possible includes:
determining, by the main controller, that the voltage synchronization is possible when the communication state between the main controller and the plurality of auxiliary controllers is determined to be normal.

6. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the main controller, whether transmitting the voltage synchronization command to the plurality of auxiliary controllers is maintained for a first set time.

7. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
interrupting, by the main controller, the transmitting when transmitting the voltage synchronization command to the plurality of auxiliary controllers is maintained for at least the first set time.

8. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether the voltage synchronization is possible is performed with a highest priority for at least a second preset time by the main controller.

9. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment of the sensed voltages includes:
determining, by the main controller, whether receiving the transmitted voltage synchronization command is maintained for a third set time at each of the plurality of auxiliary controllers.

10. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, by the main controller, whether transmitting the voltage synchronization command to the plurality of auxiliary controllers is maintained for a first set time, the third set time being less than the first set time.

11. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 9 , wherein the adjustment of the sensed voltages includes:
determining, by the main controller, a range of correction for the voltages sensed by the plurality of auxiliary controllers when receiving the transmitted voltage synchronization command is maintained for the third set time.

12. The voltage synchronization method according to claim 11 , wherein the adjustment of the sensed voltages includes:
adjusting, by the plurality of auxiliary controllers, the sensed voltages within the determined range of correction based on the output voltage of the fuel cell stack.

13. A voltage synchronization system comprising:
a main controller programmed to determine whether voltage synchronization is possible; and
a plurality of auxiliary controllers programmed to receive a voltage synchronization command transmitted from the main controller as a result of determination that the voltage synchronization is possible, and adjust sensed input voltages measured by a voltage sensor of each of the auxiliary controllers based on an output voltage of a fuel cell stack, wherein the auxiliary controllers include a motor control unit, a power converter controller, and at least one blower/pump/accessory control unit.

14. The voltage synchronization system according to claim 13 , wherein the main controller is further programmed to:
determine whether a change rate of the output voltage of the fuel cell stack and the voltages sensed by the plurality of auxiliary controllers is less than a predetermined change rate.

15. The voltage synchronization system according to claim 14 , wherein the main controller is further programmed to:
determine that the voltage synchronization is possible when the change rate of the output voltage and the sensed voltages is less than the predetermined change rate.

16. The voltage synchronization system according to claim 13 , wherein the main controller is further configured to:
determine whether a communication state between the main controller and the plurality of auxiliary controllers is normal for a purpose of the voltage synchronization.

17. The voltage synchronization system according to claim 13 , wherein the main controller is programmed to interrupt an operation when transmitting the voltage synchronization command to the plurality of auxiliary controllers is maintained for a first set time.

18. The voltage synchronization system according to claim 13 , wherein the main controller is programmed to determine whether the voltage synchronization is possible with a highest priority for at least a second set time.

19. The voltage synchronization system according to claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of auxiliary controllers is programmed to determine whether receiving the transmitted voltage synchronization command is maintained for a third set time.

20. The voltage synchronization system according to claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of auxiliary controllers is programmed to:
determine a range of correction of the voltages sensed by a corresponding auxiliary controller of the plurality of auxiliary controllers; and
perform a voltage correction within the determined range of correction based on the output voltage of the fuel cell stack.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Chung Sung Jin
• Ryu Chang Seok
• Lee Joon Yong

Classifications

• B60L2270/145

  Structure borne vibrations · CPC title

• B60L58/33

  by cooling · CPC title

• G05B2219/25257

  Microcontroller · CPC title

• B60L50/72

  Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L2240/547

  Voltage · CPC title