Fuel cell system and control method

• US 20060088738A1
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Aso, Takeshi
• Application Number:
  US10/540,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04104 Regulation of differential pressures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04298 Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04731 of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

During a normal control (CP) having a fuel supply (3) supplying a fuel (Fg), an air supply (3) supplying an oxidizer (Og), a stack (1) of fuel cells generating power with the fuel and the oxidizer supplied, a battery (7) as a secondary cell operable for power charge and discharge, and a power distributor (4) distributing power from the stack to a main load (5) and operable for distribution of power from the stack to the battery and from the battery to the load, after a startup with the stack and the battery warmed-up, a controller (8) serves for raising a temperature (Ts) of the stack when a possible generation (Gp) of power is reduced and for raising a temperature (Tb) of the battery when a possible charge (Cp) of power or a possible discharge (Dp) of power is reduced, to maintain stable power supply to the load even under a continued low-output condition.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a combination of a fuel cell, a power distributor connected to the fuel cell, and a secondary cell connected to the power distributor;

a load set connected to the power distributor; and

a controller adopted, during distribution of power from the power distributor to the load set after a startup completed with the fuel cell and the secondary cell warmed up,

to raise a temperature of the fuel cell when the fuel cell fails to meet a first criterion for a service thereof, and

to raise a temperature of the secondary cell when the secondary cell fails to meet a second criterion for a service thereof.

2. A fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell has auxiliary equipment therefor as part of the load set, and

the controller is configured to effect an increment of power consumption at

the auxiliary equipment, and to increase power generation of the fuel cell to compensate for the increment, raising the temperature of the fuel cell.

3. A fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the first criterion comprises a threshold for a possible generation of the fuel cell.

4. A fuel cell system according to claim 3, wherein the possible generation is estimated in terms of the temperature of the fuel cell.

5. A fuel cell system according to claim 3, wherein

the fuel cell has a fuel recirculating line for fuel supply thereto, and

the possible generation is estimated in terms of a purge frequency of the fuel recirculating line.

6. A fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the second criterion comprises a threshold for one of a possible charge and a possible discharge of the secondary cell.

7. A fuel cell system according to claim 6, further comprising a vehicular portion including a passenger room, a cell chamber configured to accommodate the secondary cell, and a fan operable to introduce air from the passenger room to the cell chamber, wherein

the controller is configured to operate the fan to raise the temperature of the secondary cell when a third criterion for the passenger room is met, and

the third criterion comprises a decision for a representative temperature of the passenger room to be higher than a representative temperature of the cell chamber.

8. A fuel cell system according to claim 7, wherein the third criterion comprises a threshold for a changing ratio of the representative temperature of the passenger room.

9. A fuel cell system according to claim 7, wherein the fan comprises an air fan operable to cool the secondary cell.

10. A fuel cell system comprising:

a combination of a fuel cell, a power distributor connected to the fuel cell, and a secondary cell connected to the power distributor;

a load set connected to the power distributor; and

control means for, during distribution of power from the power distributor to the load set after a startup completed with the fuel cell and the secondary cell warmed up,

raising a temperature of the fuel cell when the fuel cell fails to meet a first criterion for a service thereof, and

raising a temperature of the secondary cell when the secondary cell fails to meet a second criterion for a service thereof.

11. A control method for a fuel cell system comprising a combination of a fuel cell, a power distributor connected to the fuel cell, and a secondary cell connected to the power distributor, and a load set connected to the power distributor, the control method comprising, during distribution of power from the power distributor to the load set after a startup completed with the fuel cell and the secondary cell warmed up:

raising a temperature of the fuel cell when the fuel cell fails to meet a first criterion for a service thereof; and

raising a temperature of the secondary cell when the secondary cell fails to meet a second criterion for a service thereof.