Method for controlling power threshold value of fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9947949-B2
Application number	US-201514710973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2015
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A system and method for controlling power of a fuel cell for a vehicle are provided. The method includes measuring a temperature of the fuel cell and when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is within a high temperature range in which a power threshold value of the fuel cell is reduced based on an increase in temperature of the fuel cell and when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is increased and then is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature a power threshold value is reduced from a power value at the predetermined temperature. The high temperature range is a range between a third temperature at which the power threshold value starts to be reduced based on the increase in temperature of the fuel cell and a fourth temperature at which the power threshold value is reduced and then reaches the minimum power threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling power of a fuel cell, comprising:
measuring, by a controller, a temperature of the fuel cell; and
when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is within a high temperature range in which a power threshold value of the fuel cell is reduced based on an increase in temperature of the fuel cell and when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is increased and then is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, reducing, by the controller, the power threshold value from a power value at the predetermined temperature,
wherein the high temperature range is a range between a third temperature at a power of about 70% of an actual power limit and at which the power threshold value is reduced based on the increase in temperature of the fuel cell and a fourth temperature at which the power threshold value is reduced and then reaches a minimum power threshold value of 0%.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reducing of the power threshold value further includes:
reducing, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell between a maximum power threshold value based on the increase in the measured temperature of the fuel cell and a power value of a fifth temperature, when the measured temperature of the fuel cell ranges from the fifth temperature which is preset to be greater than the third temperature and less than the fourth temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reducing of the power threshold value further includes:
reducing, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell between a power value at a fifth temperature and the minimum power threshold value, when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is greater than the fifth temperature which is preset to be greater than the third temperature and less than the fourth temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
fixing, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell to a minimum value when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is greater than the high temperature range.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell based on the increase in temperature of the fuel cell when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is within a low temperature range,
wherein the low temperature range is a range between a first temperature at which the power threshold value of the fuel cell is maintained to be substantially constant and then starts to increase and a second temperature at which the power threshold value is increased and then reaches a maximum power threshold value.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
fixing, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell to a first output threshold value greater than the minimum output threshold value within the high temperature range when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is less than the low temperature range.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first output threshold value is increased when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is maintained to be equal to or greater than a reference value for a reference time.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell to be maintained substantially constant when the measured temperature is within a preset limit temperature range and the measured temperature of the fuel cell is within the high temperature range.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the adjusting includes:
increasing, by the controller, the power threshold value when the power threshold value of the fuel cell is maintained substantially constant during a reduction in the measured temperature of the fuel cell and then deviates from the limit temperature range when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is within the high temperature range and is within the preset limit temperature range; and
reducing, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell when the power threshold value of the fuel cell is maintained substantially constant and then deviates from the limit temperature range when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is increased.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
adjusting, by the controller, the power threshold value of the fuel cell to be maintained substantially constant when the measured temperature is within a preset limit temperature range and the measured temperature of the fuel cell is within the low temperature range.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting includes:
increasing, by the controller, the power threshold value when the power threshold value of the fuel cell is maintained substantially constant during the increase in the measured temperature of the fuel cell and then deviates from the limit temperature range when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is within the low temperature range and is within the preset limit temperature range; and
reducing, by the controller, the power threshold value when the power threshold value of the fuel cell is maintained substantially constant and then deviates from the limit temperature range when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is reduced.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high temperature range is changed based on outdoor temperature and a climbing angle or an operation speed of the fuel cell for a vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third temperature, or a fifth temperature which is preset to be greater than the third temperature and less than the fourth temperature, is decreased when a vehicle speed is reduced, the outdoor temperature increases, or as the climbing angle increases.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third temperature, or a fifth temperature which is preset to be greater than the third temperature and less than the fourth temperature, is decreased when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is maintained at the third temperature or greater for a predetermined period of time and when a vehicle speed is reduced, the outdoor temperature increases, or as the climbing angle increases.

15. The method of claim 5 , wherein the low temperature range is changed based on whether a fuel cell stack is warmed-up prior to being driven.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein when the time period of when the measured temperature of the fuel cell is maintained to be equal to or greater than the second temperature exceeds a predetermined time, the first temperature or the second temperature is decreased or a first power threshold value greater than the minimum power threshold value within the high temperature range is increased.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein a targeted operation temperature which is a reference temperature adjusting revolutions per minute (RPM) of a cooling water pump, RPM of a radiator fan, or an opening of a thermostat is changed based on a change in the high temperature range.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Kwon Sang Uk
• Yoon Sung Gone

Classifications

• H01M8/0494 Primary

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M8/04768

  of the coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/04723

  of the coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/0432 Primary

  Temperature; Ambient temperature · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

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