Method and apparatus for cutting off fuel of a fuel cell vehicle

• US 6,591,924 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/870,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/277, 180/274, 180/284, 180/279, 180/282, 429/22, 429/23, 429/13
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0015 Prevention of collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• 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 8/04228 during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04303 applied during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• 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 occurrence of degradation and damage to a fuel cell when power supply to accessories for driving the fuel cell is stopped, is prevented. Respective collision judgment sections read in an acceleration signal output from corresponding acceleration sensors and judge if the acceleration signal is greater than a predetermined first threshold acceleration, and if the judgment result is “YES”, close a hydrogen control valve. They then judge if the acceleration signal exceeds a predetermined second threshold acceleration greater than the first threshold acceleration, and if the judgment result is “YES”, stop power supply from a power storage unit to an air compressor for driving the fuel cell.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting off fuel of a fuel cell vehicle having a solid polymer type fuel cell which includes an air electrode to which air is supplied and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and which circulates said fuel by returning said fuel from a fuel outlet of said fuel cell to a fuel inlet of said fuel cell, comprising:

an acceleration detector which detects an acceleration acting on a fuel cell

vehicle having a fuel cell power generation system as a power supply;

a power supply cutoff section which cuts off at least one of a power supply line of a propulsion system of said fuel cell vehicle, and a power supply line of an accessory drive system of said fuel cell power generation system;

a fuel supply cutoff section which cuts off fuel supplied from a fuel supply device to said fuel cell of said fuel cell power generation system; and

a cutoff control section which operates said power supply cutoff section after said fuel supply cutoff section has been operated, based on said acceleration detected in said acceleration detector.

2. An apparatus for cutting off fuel of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said cutoff control section comprises a delay section which delays operation of said power supply cutoff section for a predetermined time after said fuel supply cutoff section has been operated.

3. An apparatus for cutting off fuel of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said cutoff control section comprises:

a first judgment device which judges if said acceleration exceeds a predetermined first threshold acceleration,

a second judgment device which judges if said acceleration exceeds a predetermined second threshold acceleration larger than said first threshold acceleration,

a fuel supply cutoff control section which operates said fuel supply cutoff section in accordance with a judgment result from said first judgment device, and

a power supply cutoff control section which operates said power supply cutoff section in accordance with a judgment result from said second judgment device.

4. A method of cutting off fuel of a fuel cell vehicle having a solid polymer type fuel cell which includes an air electrode to which air is supplied and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and which circulates said fuel by returning said fuel from a fuel outlet of said fuel cell to a fuel inlet of said fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

an acceleration detection step for detecting an acceleration acting on a fuel cell having a fuel cell power generation system as a power supply;

a fuel supply cutoff step for cutting off fuel supply from a fuel supply device to said fuel cell of said fuel cell power generation system based on said acceleration detected in said acceleration detection step; and

a power supply cutoff step for cutting off at least one of a power supply line of a propulsion system of said fuel cell vehicle, and a power supply line of an accessory drive system of said fuel cell power generation system, after said fuel supply cutoff step has been executed, based on said acceleration detected in said acceleration detection step.

5. A method of cutting off fuel of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said power supply cutoff step is executed after a predetermined time has elapsed from after execution of said fuel supply cutoff step.

6. A method of cutting off fuel of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

said fuel supply cutoff step involves judging if said acceleration has exceeded a predetermined first threshold acceleration, and in the case where said acceleration has exceeded said first threshold acceleration, cutting off fuel supply from said fuel supply device to said fuel cell, and

said power supply cutoff step involves judging if said acceleration has exceeded a predetermined second threshold acceleration greater than said first threshold acceleration, and in the case where said acceleration has exceeded said second threshold acceleration, cutting off said power supply line.