Method and system for controlling fuel-cell power for fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle

• US 20040018399A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Jung, Jin-Hwan
• Application Number:
  US10/391,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20040018399A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel-cell power control method for a fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle is provided, which comprises determining a target fuel-cell power based on motor power demand and a state of charge of a battery. Furthermore, the method comprises determining a target fuel-cell voltage responding to the target fuel-cell power and controlling a voltage of a fuel-cell to be the target fuel-cell voltage.

Claims

1. A fuel-cell power control method for a fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

determining a target fuel-cell power based on motor power demand and a state of charge of a battery;

determining a target fuel-cell voltage responding to said target fuel-cell power; and

controlling a voltage of a fuel-cell to be said target fuel-cell voltage.

2. The fuel-cell power control method of claim 1, wherein said determining a target fuel-cell voltage is based on predetermined power-voltage relationships of said fuel-cell.

3. The fuel-cell power control method of claim 1, wherein said controlling a voltage of a fuel-cell comprises:

determining a target battery current such that a current fuel-cell voltage becomes said target fuel-cell voltage;

determining a target inductor voltage such that a battery current becomes said target battery current; and

controlling an inductor voltage to be said target inductor voltage such that a battery current becomes said target battery current.

4. A fuel-cell power control system for a fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle including a fuel-cell and a battery as electric energy sources, comprising:

a DC/DC converter electrically coupled to said battery, and configured to control a battery current and a battery voltage; and

a control unit coupled to said DC/DC converter, said control unit being programmed to execute a control method comprising;

determining a target fuel-cell power based on motor power demand and a state of charge of said battery;

determining a target fuel-cell voltage responding to said target fuel-cell power; and

controlling a voltage of said fuel-cell to be said target fuel-cell voltage.

5. The fuel-cell power control system of claim 4, wherein said determining a target fuel-cell voltage is performed based on predetermined power-voltage relationships of said fuel-cell.

6. The fuel-cell power control system of claim 4, wherein said controlling a voltage of a fuel-cell comprises:

determining a target battery current such that a current fuel-cell voltage becomes said target fuel-cell voltage;

determining a target inductor voltage such that a battery current becomes said target battery current; and

controlling an inductor voltage to be said target inductor voltage such that a battery current becomes said target battery current.