Noise-comfort function for cooling systems with proportional variable speed fans
First Claim
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1. A cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle, the cooling system comprising:
- a coolant source in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack,a variable speed fan adapted to reduce a temperature of a coolant;
at least one power sensor adapted to measure a power output of the fuel cell stack and generate a power output signal; and
at least one velocity sensor adapted to measure a speed of the vehicle and generate a vehicle speed signal; and
a controller having a noise comfort function that selects a fan comfort request based on the power output signal and the vehicle speed signal, the fan comfort request representing a compromise between the temperature of the coolant and a noise emission by the variable speed fan,wherein the controller is in communication with the at least one power sensor and the at least one velocity sensor, the controller adapted to receive the power output signal from the at least one power sensor and the vehicle speed signal from the at least one velocity sensor,wherein the controller is in communication with at least one of the fuel cell stack, a power electronics controller, and a vehicle climate controller, and receives at least one fan request signal from at least one of the fuel cell stack, the power electronics controller, and the vehicle climate controller;
wherein the controller compares the fan comfort request and the at least one fan request and limits the speed of the variable speed fan by generating a fan command to the variable speed fan in response to one of the fan request and the fan comfort request,wherein the noise emission by the variable speed fan is militated against.
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Abstract
A method for operating a cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining a fan request for a variable speed fan disposed in the cooling system; employing a noise-comfort function to select a fan comfort request; and adjusting a speed of the variable speed fan in response to the fan request; wherein a noise emission by the variable speed fan is militated against. A cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle that employs the noise-comfort function is also provided.
31 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle, the cooling system comprising:
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a coolant source in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack, a variable speed fan adapted to reduce a temperature of a coolant; at least one power sensor adapted to measure a power output of the fuel cell stack and generate a power output signal; and at least one velocity sensor adapted to measure a speed of the vehicle and generate a vehicle speed signal; and a controller having a noise comfort function that selects a fan comfort request based on the power output signal and the vehicle speed signal, the fan comfort request representing a compromise between the temperature of the coolant and a noise emission by the variable speed fan, wherein the controller is in communication with the at least one power sensor and the at least one velocity sensor, the controller adapted to receive the power output signal from the at least one power sensor and the vehicle speed signal from the at least one velocity sensor, wherein the controller is in communication with at least one of the fuel cell stack, a power electronics controller, and a vehicle climate controller, and receives at least one fan request signal from at least one of the fuel cell stack, the power electronics controller, and the vehicle climate controller; wherein the controller compares the fan comfort request and the at least one fan request and limits the speed of the variable speed fan by generating a fan command to the variable speed fan in response to one of the fan request and the fan comfort request, wherein the noise emission by the variable speed fan is militated against. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification