Behavioral modeling and analysis of galvanic devices

• US 20020120906A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Akron
• Original Assignee: University of Akron
• Inventors: Xia, Lei, Hartley, Tom
• Application Number:
  US09/906,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120906A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 716/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04305 Modeling, demonstration models of fuel cells, e.g. for training purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04447 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04455 of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04552 of the individual fuel cell
• 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 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A new hybrid modeling approach was developed for galvanic devices including batteries and fuel cells. The new approach reduces the complexity of the First Principles method and adds a physical basis to the empirical methods. The resulting general model includes all the processes that affect the terminal behavior of the galvanic devices. The first step of the new model development was to build a physics-based structure or framework that reflects the important physiochemical processes and mechanisms of a galvanic device. Thermodynamics, electrode kinetics, mass transport and electrode interfacial structure of an electrochemical cell were considered and included in the model. Each process of the cell is represented by a clearly-defined and familiar electrical component, resulting in an equivalent circuit model for the galvanic device. The second step was to develop a parameter identification procedure that correlates the device response data to the parameters of the components in the model. This procedure eliminates the need for hard-to-find data on the electrochemical properties of the cell and specific device design parameters. Thus, the model is chemistry and structure independent. Implementation issues of the new modeling approach were presented. The validity of the new model over a wide range of operating conditions was verified with experimental data from actual devices.

Claims

1. A method for improving the design and performance of an actual galvanic device, comprising:

establishing an equivalent circuit that includes electrical components for the galvanic device;

consolidating physical processes for said electrical components;

establishing mathematical relationships describing the behavioral components of each said component; and

identifying parameters of each said component to develop a model of the actual galvanic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

correlating response data to the parameters of said components.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

analyzing the device characteristics for optimizing design of the device.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

manufacturing galvanic devices based on said analyzing step.