Systems and methods for controlling a compressor recirculation valve
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling fuel cell system cathode stoichiometry during an operational transient with a compressor recirculation valve, the method comprising:
- identifying an operational transient in a fuel cell stack;
receiving a stack cathode flow setpoint for gas flow supplied by an outlet of a compressor to a cathode of said fuel cell stack;
calculating a recirculation valve flow setpoint value for said supplied gas flow using compressor operational data and said stack cathode flow setpoint;
calculating a feedforward term corresponding to a new recirculation valve position by using said recirculation valve flow setpoint value;
generating a feedback term corresponding to said new recirculation valve position through a PID control strategy based on an error between said stack cathode flow setpoint and said feedback term; and
generating a recirculation valve control command based on said feedforward term and said feedback term that causes actuation of said recirculation valve to maintain cathode stoichiometry during said operational transient.
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Abstract
Systems and methods to control compressor recirculation of a reactant in a fuel cell system. A recirculation valve flow setpoint value for a gas flow to the recirculation valve is calculated based on a received cathode flow setpoint. A value corresponding to a predicted recirculation valve position is generated, and can be used as a control command for changing the position of the recirculation valve to reduce the valve response time during operational transients of the fuel cell system.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling fuel cell system cathode stoichiometry during an operational transient with a compressor recirculation valve, the method comprising:
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identifying an operational transient in a fuel cell stack; receiving a stack cathode flow setpoint for gas flow supplied by an outlet of a compressor to a cathode of said fuel cell stack; calculating a recirculation valve flow setpoint value for said supplied gas flow using compressor operational data and said stack cathode flow setpoint; calculating a feedforward term corresponding to a new recirculation valve position by using said recirculation valve flow setpoint value; generating a feedback term corresponding to said new recirculation valve position through a PID control strategy based on an error between said stack cathode flow setpoint and said feedback term; and generating a recirculation valve control command based on said feedforward term and said feedback term that causes actuation of said recirculation valve to maintain cathode stoichiometry during said operational transient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18)
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8. A vehicular fuel cell system cathode stoichiometry controller comprising:
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at least one processor; and a non-transitory memory in communication with said at least one processor, wherein said memory stores machine instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to; identify an operational transient in a vehicle fuel cell stack; receive a stack cathode flow setpoint for gas flow supplied by an outlet of a compressor to a cathode of said fuel cell stack; calculate a recirculation valve flow setpoint value for a gas flow to a recirculation valve from said outlet of said compressor using a compressor map and said stack cathode flow setpoint, wherein said recirculation valve fluidly connects said outlet of said compressor to an inlet of said compressor; calculate a feedforward term corresponding to a new recirculation valve position by using said recirculation valve flow setpoint value; generate a feedback term corresponding to said new recirculation valve position through a PID control strategy based on an error between said stack cathode flow setpoint and said feedback term; and generate a recirculation valve control command based on said feedforward term and said feedback term that causes actuation of said recirculation valve to maintain cathode stoichiometry during said operational transient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 19)
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13. A vehicular fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells each of which include a cathode; a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, wherein said outlet is fluidly connected to said stack to provide a reactant gas to said cathodes; a recirculation valve operatively connected to said inlet and said outlet of said compressor; and a cathode stoichiometry controller comprising at least one processor and a non-transitory memory in signal communication with said at least one processor, wherein said memory stores instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to; identify a transition of an output of said fuel cell stack; receive a stack cathode flow setpoint for gas flow to said cathodes; calculate a recirculation valve flow setpoint value for a gas flow to said recirculation valve using operational data pertaining to said compressor and said stack cathode flow setpoint; and generate a recirculation valve control command that causes said recirculation valve to change positions valve to maintain cathode stoichiometry during said operational transient. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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Specification