METHODS FOR DETERMINING ANODE INTEGRITY DURING FUEL CELL VEHICLE OPERATION

• US 20160172696A1
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Milacic, Milos, Peterson, Craig Winfield, Schamel, Andreas R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,644,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04574 Current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04679 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• 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

A system and methods are provided for testing anode integrity during vehicle operation. In one example described, the system and methods allow for anode leak tests during vehicle operation based on a flow of hydrogen into a fuel cell, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell maintaining the vehicle power while the leak test is performed. The methods further allow for operational adjustments responsive to the leak test, which may include controlling the vehicle power to manage vehicle operations in the presence of a hydrogen leak in some instances.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying an anode leak during vehicle operation via a leak test that compares a current generated by the fuel cell to a current predicted for a flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell, the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell maintaining a vehicle power.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the vehicle power responsive to identifying the anode leak while providing sufficient power to operate the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein reducing the vehicle power includes actuating a tank valve to reduce the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell, the reduced flow of hydrogen providing the reduced vehicle power that operates the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the anode leak based on a statistical comparison of the current generated and the current predicted for the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell, the statistical comparison being a two-sample t-test.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the current predicted exceeds the current generated when a leak is present, the extent of the current predicted relative to the current generated being further used to determine the size of the leak.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell is adjusted while providing power to the vehicle, the flow of hydrogen being adjusted to supply sufficient fuel for powering the vehicle in the presence of the leak.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising closing the tank valve to shut-off the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell responsive to the leak.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein operational adjustments are made to power the vehicle using an alternate power source responsive to the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the anode leak to a vehicle operator during vehicle operation responsive to identifying the presence of the anode leak.

10. A method for a hydrogen fuel cell, comprising:

determining anode integrity during vehicle operation via a leak test configured to compare a predicted current based on a flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell to a current generated by the fuel cell, the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell providing power to the vehicle during the leak test.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the comparison includes processing a data envelope associated with one or more of the predicted and generated currents, the comparison further including a two-sample t-test that determines anode integrity based on the data envelope.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising estimating an extent of the leak based on a degree of difference between the predicted and generated currents and the data envelope associated therewith.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell responsive to the leak, and performing a confirmatory leak test.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the confirmatory leak test is one or more of an idle leak test and a pressure decay test.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the extent of the leak determines the anode integrity, the anode integrity being further communicated to a vehicle operator

16. The method of claim 15, wherein communicating the leak to the vehicle operator includes illuminating a light on a dashboard.

17. A method for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, comprising:

identifying an anode leak during vehicle operation based on a comparison of a current generated by the fuel cell to a current predicted for a flow of hydrogen delivered to the fuel cell, the flow of hydrogen delivered to the fuel cell maintaining vehicle operation in the presence of the leak;

estimating a size of the leak and setting a flag that communicates the leak to a vehicle operator; and

adjusting the flow of hydrogen responsive to the leak to adjust a vehicle power.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising reducing the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell responsive to the leak and performing a confirmatory leak test responsive to the reduced flow of hydrogen, the confirmatory leak test including one or more of an idle leak test and a pressure decay test.

19. The method of claim 18, further including switching vehicle power to an alternate power source to power the vehicle while the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell is reduced.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising shutting off the flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell responsive to the confirmatory leak test indicating the presence of the leak.