Fuel cell vehicle having a plurality of selectable operating modes

• US 10,449,859 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Brandau, Nils, Schroder, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US15/592,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20170326985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 701 22
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00392 for electric vehicles having only electric drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00735 Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32281 comprising a single secondary circuit, e.g. at evaporator or condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/08 Methods and devices for control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04067 Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04992 characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle (200), in which the driver has more influence on the consumption and the dynamic of the vehicle (200). This is achieved by the fuel cell vehicle (200) comprising at least one sensor for detecting a first driver input and a control unit (60). The control unit (60) is configured to operate the fuel cell vehicle (200) in one of a plurality of operating modes depending on the first driver input, wherein a power consumption P_AC of the air-conditioning system (70), an operating range of the fuel cell stack (10), and a transfer function for determining the power demand P_EM from the second driver input are varied depending on the selected operating mode. It is provided that the driver has at least five different operating modes available, which differ in particular with respect to the available driving dynamic, the fuel consumption, and the adjustable comfort.

Claims

1. A fuel cell vehicle, comprising:

a fuel cell system having a fuel cell stack for providing an electrical power P_stack and at least one auxiliary unit for operating the fuel cell stack with an electrical power consumption P_aux;

an air-conditioning system for regulating a temperature of a vehicle interior space, the air-conditioning system including an electric auxiliary heater and an air-conditioning compressor with a collective electrical power demand P_AC;

an electric motor for driving the fuel cell vehicle with a power demand P_EM;

a plurality of sensors for detecting a temperature outside of the fuel cell vehicle, a first driver input, and a second driver input; and

a control unit that is configured to operate the fuel cell vehicle, based on the first driver input, in one of a plurality of operating modes, each operating mode of the plurality of operating modes provides a power consumption P_AC of the air-conditioning system, an operating point of the fuel cell stack, and a transfer function for determining the power demand P_EM from the second driver input;

wherein the control unit is configured to operate the fuel cell vehicle in a first operating mode that;

provides the air-conditioning system in a first manner based the temperature outside of the fuel cell vehicle;

provides the operating point of e fuel cell stack at or near a first efficient operating point; and

selects the transfer function for determining the power demand P_EM such that the fuel cell stack provides a net power P_net with a first delay based on the second driver input, the first delay being greater than a threshold delay.

2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the fuel cell vehicle in a second operating mode that:

provides the air-conditioning system in a second manner independent of the temperature outside of the fuel cell vehicle;

provides the operating point of the fuel cell stack at or near a second threshold sound emission operating point; and

select the transfer function for determining the power demand P_EM such that the fuel cell stack provides a net power P_net with a second delay based on the second driver input and a threshold power consumption P_aux^max of the at least one auxiliary unit, the second delay being greater than the threshold delay.

3. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is further configured to determine the second delay such that a threshold power consumption P_aux^max of the at least one auxiliary unit is reduced.

4. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the fuel cell vehicle in a third operating mode that:

provides the air-conditioning system in the first manner based on the temperature outside of the fuel cell vehicle;

provides the operating point of the fuel cell stack at a third intermediate operating point; and

select the transfer function for determining the power demand P_EM such that the fuel cell stack provides a net power P_net with a third delay based on the second driver input and a threshold power consumption P_aux^max of the at least one auxiliary unit.

5. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the first manner includes providing the electric auxiliary heater at a temperature below a first predetermined temperature, and providing the air-conditioning compressor at a temperature above a second predetermined temperature.

6. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the fuel cell vehicle in a fourth operating mode that:

provides the air-conditioning system independent of the temperature outside of the fuel cell vehicle in the second manner;

determines the operating point of the fuel cell stack based on a driver, a vehicle, or an environmental parameter; and

selects the transfer function for determining the power demand P_EM based on the driver, the vehicle, or the environmental parameter.

7. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the fuel cell vehicle in a fifth operating that:

provides the air-conditioning system based on a third driver input;

determine the operating point of the fuel cell stack based on a fourth driver input; and

determine the transfer function for determining the power demand P_EM based on a fifth driver input.

8. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors includes:

a first sensor configured to determine the first driver input based on a mechanical, acoustic, or electromechanical input variable; and

a second sensor configured to determine the second driver input based on a pedal value.

9. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, further including an automatic transmission, wherein the control unit is configured to vary control of the automatic transmission based on one of the plurality of operating modes.

10. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the control unit is further configured to determine the second delay such that the threshold power consumption P_aux^max of the at least one auxiliary unit is reduced.

11. A device, comprising:

a fuel cell system having a fuel cell stack;

an air-conditioning system;

an electric motor;

a first sensor that detects in operation a temperature;

a second sensor that detects in operation a first driver input;

a third sensor that detects in operation a second driver input; and

a control unit coupled to the fuel cell system, the air-conditioning system, and the electric motor, the control unit selects one of a plurality of operating modes based on the first driver input and the second driver input, each operating mode provides a power consumption of the air-conditioning system, an operating point of the fuel cell stack, and a transfer function that determines a power demand in response to the second driver input;

wherein the plurality of operating modes includes a first operating mode that;

operates the air-conditioning system in a first manner based on the temperature;

provides the operating point of the fuel cell stack is at or near a first efficient operating point, and

determines the transfer function to provide the fuel cell stack a net power with a first delay in response to the second driver input, the first delay being greater than a threshold delay.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of operating modes includes a second operating mode that:

operates the air-conditioning system in a second manner independent of the temperature;

provides the operating point of the fuel cell stack at or near a second threshold sound emission operating point; and

determines the transfer function to provide the fuel cell stack a net power with a second delay based on the second driver input and a threshold power consumption of an auxiliary unit that operates the fuel cell stack, the second delay being greater than the threshold delay.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the control unit determines in operation the second delay such that the threshold power consumption is reduced.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of operating modes includes a third operating mode that:

operates the air-conditioning system in the first manner based on the temperature;

provides the operating point of the fuel cell stack at a third intermediate operating point; and

determines the transfer function of the power demand such that the fuel cell stack provides a net power with a third delay based on the second driver input and a threshold power consumption of an auxiliary unit that operates the fuel cell stack.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein the plurality of operating modes includes a fourth operating mode that:

operates the air-conditioning system in the second manner independent of the temperature;

provides the operating point of the fuel cell stack; and

determines the transfer function of the power demand based on a driver, a vehicle, or an environmental parameter.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of operating modes includes a fifth operating mode that:

operates the air-conditioning system in response to a third driver input;

provides the operating point of the fuel cell stack in response to a fourth driver input; and

determines the transfer function of the power demand based on a fifth driver input.

17. The device according to claim 11, further including an automatic transmission, wherein the control unit varies in operation control of the automatic transmission based on one of the plurality of operating modes.