Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/043—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems applied during specific periods
  • H01M8/04303—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems applied during specific periods applied during shut-down
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
  • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
  • B60L58/30—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
  • B60L58/32—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load
  • B60L58/33—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling fuel cells for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load by cooling
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
  • B60L58/40—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M16/00—Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
  • H01M16/003—Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
  • H01M16/006—Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04223—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
  • H01M8/04228—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells during shut-down
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
  • H01M8/04343—Temperature; Ambient temperature of anode exhausts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
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  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
  • H01M8/0435—Temperature; Ambient temperature of cathode exhausts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
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  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
  • H01M8/04358—Temperature; Ambient temperature of the coolant
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/0438—Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow
  • H01M8/04388—Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/0438—Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow
  • H01M8/04395—Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
  • H01M8/04544—Voltage
  • H01M8/04559—Voltage of fuel cell stacks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
  • H01M8/04544—Voltage
  • H01M8/04567—Voltage of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
  • H01M8/04574—Current
  • H01M8/04589—Current of fuel cell stacks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
  • H01M8/04574—Current
  • H01M8/04597—Current of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
  • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
  • H01M8/04753—Pressure; Flow of fuel cell reactants
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
  • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
  • H01M8/04761—Pressure; Flow of fuel cell exhausts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
  • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
  • H01M8/04768—Pressure; Flow of the coolant
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
  • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
  • H01M8/04783—Pressure differences, e.g. between anode and cathode
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
  • H01M8/04858—Electric variables
  • H01M8/04865—Voltage
  • H01M8/0488—Voltage of fuel cell stacks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
  • H01M8/04858—Electric variables
  • H01M8/04895—Current
  • H01M8/0491—Current of fuel cell stacks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
  • H01M10/44—Methods for charging or discharging
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
  • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02T90/40—Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fuel cell system installed as a power source for driving a fuel cell vehicle, where the fuel cell system has a control which is improved in moving from an idle stop state to an idle state.
• Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-359204 discloses a device for controlling idle of fuel cell vehicle, in which, with an idle stop mode is started according to a traveling state of a fuel cell vehicle, an auxiliary unit and the like (such as an air compressor) for driving the fuel cell is stopped and output of the fuel cell body is also stopped, followed by stopping of certain loads such as an auxiliary unit and the like excluding various controllers, thus improving fuel economy.
• an auxiliary unit and the like such as an air compressor
• Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2004-014159 discloses a power supply device, in which, with a low load, a fuel cell system is detached from a circuit and a power is supplied to the fuel cell system from a capacitor, to thereby implement a low-load operation of the fuel cell system, thus preventing decreased energy efficiency of an entire power system.
• a fuel cell system for generating a power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas
• the fuel cell system comprising: 1) a fuel cell stack for receiving the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas, the fuel cell system implementing the following operations: i) when the power is required, supplying to the fuel cell stack the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas each having a quantity and a pressure which correspond to a current from the fuel cell stack, to thereby generate the power of the fuel cell stack, and ii) when the power is not required, stopping the supplying of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas to the fuel cell stack, to thereby stop the generating of the power of the fuel cell stack, leading to an idle stop state of the fuel cell system; and 2) a controller for controlling the current from the fuel cell stack such that the fuel cell stack has a voltage less than or equal to a certain voltage, the controlling being implemented when the idle stop state is cancelled and thereafter the fuel cell system moves to an idle state.
• a method for generating a power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas comprising: 1) when the power is required, supplying to a fuel cell stack the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas each having a quantity and a pressure which correspond to a current from the fuel cell stack, to thereby generate the power of the fuel cell stack; 2) when the power is not required, stopping the supplying of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas to the fuel cell stack, to thereby stop the generating of the power of the fuel cell stack, leading to an idle stop state of the fuel cell system; and 3) controlling the current from the fuel cell stack such that the fuel cell stack has a voltage less than or equal to a certain voltage, the controlling being implemented when the idle stop state is cancelled and thereafter the fuel cell system moves to an idle state.
• a fuel cell system for generating a power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas
• the fuel cell system comprising: 1) means for receiving the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas, the fuel cell system implementing the following operations: i) when the power is required, supplying to the receiving means the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas each having a quantity and a pressure which correspond to a current from the receiving means, to thereby generate the power of the receiving means, and ii) when the power is not required, stopping the supplying of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas to the receiving means, to thereby stop the generating of the power of the receiving means, leading to an idle stop state of the fuel cell system; and 2) means for controlling the current from the receiving means such that the receiving means has a voltage less than or equal to a certain voltage, the controlling being implemented when the idle stop state is cancelled and thereafter the fuel cell system moves to an idle state.
• Fig. 1 shows diagrams of an idle stop state and an idle state after the idle stop state being cancelled, according to a related art, in which;
• Fig. 1 -(a) shows a change of a voltage of a fuel cell stack
• Fig. l-(b) shows a change of an SOC (state of charge) of a secondary battery.
• Fig. 2 shows a structure of a fuel cell vehicle provided with a fuel cell system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 3 shows a structure of the fuel cell system, according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of operations, according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of operations for the fuel cell system to move to the idle stop state, according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of operations for the fuel cell system to be canceled from the idle stop state, according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 7 shows diagrams of an idle stop state and an idle state after the idle stop state being cancelled, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which
• Fig. 7-(a) shows a change of a voltage of a fuel cell stack
• Fig. 7-(b) shows a change of a current from the fuel cell stack
• Fig. 8 shows voltage-current characteristics of the fuel cell stack corresponding to a temperature of the fuel cell stack, according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 9 shows voltage-current characteristics of the fuel cell stack corresponding to a stoichiometric ratio of a cathode of the fuel cell stack, according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 10 shows diagrams of the idle stop state and the idle state after the idle stop state being cancelled, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which;
• Fig. 10-(a) shows the change of the voltage of the fuel cell stack
• Fig. 10-(b) shows the change of the current from the fuel cell stack
• Fig. 10-(c) shows a change of rotary speed of an air compressor.
• Fig. 2 shows a basic structure of a fuel cell vehicle on which a fuel cell system 102 is installed, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 3 shows a structure of the fuel cell system 102, according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• the fuel cell vehicle includes a vehicular body 101 on which the fuel cell system 102 is installed as a driving power source.
• the fuel cell vehicle is provided with an inverter 103, a driving motor 104, a driving wheel 105, a vehicle speed sensor 106, a secondary battery 107, a relay 108 and a controller 109.
• the fuel cell vehicle is provided with a shift position sensor 111 (for sensing a position of a vehicular shift), a brake sensor 112 (for sensing whether or not a braking is implemented), and an accelerator opening sensor 113 (for sensing an opening of an accelerator).
• a shift position sensor 111 for sensing a position of a vehicular shift
• a brake sensor 112 for sensing whether or not a braking is implemented
• an accelerator opening sensor 113 for sensing an opening of an accelerator
• a hydrogen pressure adjusting valve 203 (refer to an after-described Fig. 3), an air pressure adjusting valve 213 (refer to the after-described Fig. 3), an air compressor 212 (refer to the after-described Fig. 3) and the like control a pressure, a flowrate and the like of i) hydrogen of a fuel gas and ii) air of an oxidizing gas which are supplied to a fuel cell stack 201 (refer to the after-described Fig. 3), so as to generate i) a power consumed by the driving motor 104 and ii) a power necessary for charging the secondary battery 107.
• the inverter 103 controls the driving motor 104 such that the thus converted alternating current power serves as an output torque which is instructed from the controller 109 for driving the driving motor 104.
• the driving wheel 105 is mechanically connected to the driving motor 104. With a drive torque transmitted from the driving motor 104 to the driving wheel 105, the driving wheel 105 brings about a driving force, thereby driving the vehicle.
• the vehicle speed sensor 106 senses a rotary speed of the driving wheel 105.
• the secondary battery 107 supplies a power to auxiliary units such as the hydrogen pressure adjusting valve 203, the air pressure adjusting valve 213 and the air compressor 212 which are necessary for generating the driving motor 104 and the fuel cell system 102.
• the secondary battery 107 is provided with i) a voltage sensor 114 for sensing a voltage of the secondary battery 107 and ii) a current sensor 115 for sensing a current of the secondary battery 107. Based on the thus sensed voltage and current, a charging quantity of the secondary battery 107 can be estimated.
• a relay 108 Based on an instruction from the controller 109, a relay 108 connects the fuel cell system 102 with a load or cuts the fuel cell system 102 from the load.
• the controller 109 functions as a control center for controlling an operation of the fuel cell system 102.
• the controller 109 is realized, for example, by a microcomputer and the like provided with resources such as CPU, memory, input/output device and the like which are necessary for a computer controlling various operations based on a program.
• the controller 109 reads in a signal from each of the above sensors of the fuel cell vehicle, then sends instructions to each of the structural elements of the fuel cell vehicle based on the thus read various signals and on a pre-retained control logic (program). Then, the controller 109 administratively controls all operations necessary for operating and stopping the fuel cell vehicle, including operations of the fuel cell system 102 in a process of moving to the idle stop state of the fuel cell vehicle, to be described afterward.
• the fuel cell system 102 includes: i) the fuel cell stack 201 for power generation, ii) a hydrogen supply system for supplying to the fuel cell stack 201 hydrogen (or hydrogen rich gas) as a fuel gas, and iii) an air supply system for supplying to the fuel cell stack 201 an air including oxygen as an oxidizing gas.
• the fuel cell stack 201 has a multilayer structure of generator cells in which a hydrogen electrode (to which hydrogen is supplied) and an air electrode ⁇ to which oxygen (air) is supplied ⁇ are overlapped with an electrolyte-electrode catalyst complex sandwiched therebetween, and includes a generating portion for converting chemical energy to electrical energy through electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen and the oxygen.
• the hydrogen is supplied, to thereby dissociate hydrogen ion from electron. Then, the hydrogen ion passes through the electrolyte while the electron passes through an outer circuit, to thereby generate a power, thereafter, the hydrogen and the electron respectively move to the air electrode.
• the oxygen in the thus supplied air
• the hydrogen ion and the electron react, to thereby bring about water, to be exhausted outward.
• the fuel cell stack 201 uses, for example, a solid high molecular electrolyte.
• the solid high molecular electrolyte is made of ion (proton)-conductive high molecule film such as fluorine resin ion exchange film and the like, serving as an ion-conductive electrolyte by hydrous saturation.
• the hydrogen supply system leads the hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen supplier.
• the hydrogen supply system has i) a hydrogen tank 202 which is a hydrogen supplier for storing the hydrogen at a high pressure, 2) the hydrogen pressure adjusting valve 203 for adjusting the pressure of the hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack 201 such that the hydrogen necessary for the power generation by the fuel cell stack 201 can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 201, 3) a hydrogen circulating pump 206 for circulating a hydrogen-off gas (which is exhausted from the fuel cell stack 201) through a hydrogen circulating pipe 205, to thereby return the hydrogen-off gas to an inlet side of the fuel cell stack 201 via an ejector 204, and 4) a hydrogen supply pipe 207 serving as the hydrogen electrode passage.
• a hydrogen tank 202 which is a hydrogen supplier for storing the hydrogen at a high pressure
• the hydrogen pressure adjusting valve 203 for adjusting the pressure of the hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack 201 such that the hydrogen necessary for the power generation by the fuel cell stack 201 can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 201
• a hydrogen pressure sensor 208 for sensing pressure of the hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack 201
• a hydrogen concentration sensor 209 for sensing the hydrogen concentration
• the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen tank 202 (hydrogen supply source) is sent to the hydrogen supply pipe 207 via the hydrogen pressure adjusting valve 203, to thereafter be supplied to the hydrogen electrode of the fuel cell stack 201.
• the pressure of the thus supplied hydrogen gas is adjusted by the hydrogen pressure adjusting valve 203 in such a manner as to be controlled based on the hydrogen pressure sensed by a hydrogen pressure sensor 208, and such that pressures in the hydrogen electrode and hydrogen electrode passage of the fuel cell stack 201 can be varied according to the load.
• the hydrogen-off gas exhausted from the fuel cell stack 201 without being consumed is circulated by means of the hydrogen circulating pump 206 via the hydrogen circulating pipe 205, and then is mixed with a fresh hydrogen gas supplied by the ejector 204, to be thereafter supplied to the hydrogen electrode of the fuel cell stack 201.
• stoichiometric ratio (supply flowrate/consumption flowrate) of the hydrogen can be kept more than or equal to 1, thus stabilizing a cell voltage.
• a purge valve 210 On an outlet side of the fuel cell stack 201 of the hydrogen supply system, there is provided a purge valve 210 and a purge pipe 211.
• the purge valve 210 is ordinarily closed, however, is opened with a decrease in cell voltage sensed which decrease is attributable to the fuel cell stack 201's failures such as water clogging, stored inactive gas and the like. Circulating the hydrogen gas may store impurity, nitrogen and the like in the hydrogen circulating pipe 205, thereby decreasing a partial pressure of the hydrogen, leading to a possible decrease in generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack 201. Therefore, providing the outlet side of the fuel cell stack 201 with the purge valve 210 and the purge pipe 211, and when necessary, opening the purge valve 210 for purging can remove the impurity, the nitrogen and the like from the hydrogen circulating pipe 205.
• the air supply system of the fuel cell stack 201 leads the air from an air supplier.
• the air supply system includes i) the air compressor 212 as the air supplier, ii) the air pressure adjusting valve 213, and iii) an air pressure supply pipe 214 serving as an air electrode passage.
• the air compressor 212 sends the air to the air electrode of the fuel cell stack 201.
• an air compressed by driving a motor is supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell stack 201 via the air pressure supply pipe 214.
• the air pressure adjusting valve 213 adjusts the air supplied by the air compressor 212 to the fuel cell stack 201, and is disposed on an exhaust pipe 215 outside the air electrode of the fuel cell stack 201.
• an air pressure sensor 216 In the vicinity of an inlet of the air electrode of the fuel cell stack 201, there is provided an air pressure sensor 216.
• the pressure of the air supplied by the air compressor 212 is adjusted by the air pressure adjusting valve 213 in such a manner as to be controlled based on the air pressure sensed by the air pressure sensor 216, and such that the pressures in the air electrode and air electrode passage of the fuel cell stack 201 can be varied according to the load.
• the oxygen and other components of the air which are not consumed by the fuel cell stack 201 are exhausted from the fuel cell stack 201 via the air pressure adjusting valve 213 and the exhaust pipe 215.
• the fuel cell stack 201 using the above solid high molecular electrolyte film has a proper operating temperature about 80° C (relatively low), and needs cooling when overheated. Therefor, a cooling mechanism for maintaining the fuel cell stack 201 at a proper temperature is provided for the fuel cell stack 201.
• the cooling mechanism ordinarily cools the fuel cell stack 201 by circulating cooling water in the fuel cell stack 201.
• the cooling mechanism includes: i) a cooling water pump 217 as a cooling water supplier, ii) a radiator 218 for properly cooling the cooling water, and iii) a cooling water pipe 219 serving as a passage of the cooling water.
• a cooling water temperature sensor 220 for sensing a temperature of the cooling water supplied to the fuel cell stack 201. Based on the cooling water temperature sensed by the cooling water temperature sensor 220, the cooling water pump 217 is controllably driven, adjusting the flowrate of the cooling water in such a manner that the temperature of the cooling water distributed in the cooling water pipe 219 is kept at about 80° C.
• At least any one of the following can be regarded as the temperature of the fuel cell stack 201 :
• a temperature sensor 221 for sensing the temperature of the hydrogen-off gas exhausted from the fuel cell stack 201.
• a temperature sensor 222 for sensing the temperature of the air-off gas exhausted from the fuel cell stack 201.
• a temperature sensor (not shown) for sensing the outer temperature is to be provided in the vicinity of the fuel cell stack 201.
• the fuel cell system 102 is provided with a voltage sensor 223, a current sensor 224, and a system controller 225.
• the voltage sensor 223 senses a stack voltage generated by the fuel cell stack 201.
• the current sensor 224 senses a current I 201 from the fuel cell stack 201.
• the system controller 225 functions as a control center for controlling the operation of the fuel cell system 102.
• the system controller 225 is realized, for example, by a microcomputer and the like provided with resources such as CPU, memory, input/output device and the like which are necessary for a computer controlling various operations based on a program.
• the system controller 225 is realized, for example, as part of a function of the controller 109 in Fig. 2.
• the system controller 225 reads in the signal from each of the above sensors of the fuel cell system 102, then sends instructions to each of the structural elements of the fuel cell system 102 based on the thus read various signals and on the pre-retained control logic (program).
• the system controller 225 administratively controls all operations necessary for operating and stopping the fuel cell system 102, including operations of the fuel cell system 102 in the process of moving between the idle state and the idle stop state, to be described afterward.
• Controlling operation Hereinafter described referring to a flow chart in Fig. 4 is a controlling operation between the idle state and the idle stop state of the fuel cell system 102.
• the controlling operation is implemented by the system controller 225.
• controlling operation in Fig. 4 is to be repeatedly implemented at a preset period.
• a routine determines whether or not the fuel cell system 102 is in the idle stop state.
• the routine determines whether or not an allowable condition (for example, the SOC of the secondary battery 107) is established for moving the fuel cell system 102 to the preset idle stop state. (S303) When Yes at S302, the routine implements a treatment for moving the fuel cell system 102 to the idle stop state.
• an allowable condition for example, the SOC of the secondary battery 107
• the routine For moving the fuel cell system 102 to the idle stop state, the routine implements operations shown by a flow chart in Fig. 5. (S41) In Fig. 5, at first, the routine closes the hydrogen pressure adjusting valve 203, to thereby stop supplying the hydrogen.
• the routine determines whether or not the hydrogen pressure of the fuel cell stack 201 is less than or equal to a certain pressure, for example, a certain negative pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure. (S43) When Yes at S42, the routine closes the purge valve 210 and stops driving the hydrogen circulating pump 206.
• the routine stops driving the air compressor 212 and closes the air pressure adjusting valve 213, to thereby stop supplying the air.
• the routine stops driving the cooling water pump 217. Thereby, the routine stops generating the fuel cell stack 201, to thereafter move the fuel cell system 102 to the idle stop state.
• the routine moving the fuel cell system 102 to the idle stop state stops the operation of the auxiliary units such as the hydrogen circulating pump 206 and the air compressor 212, thereby improving fuel economy, improving noise-vibration performance and decreasing power consumption.
• the routine determines whether or not the idle stop state is to be canceled (determination 1).
• the determination 1 determines whether or not the vehicle requires the fuel cell system 102 for a driving force.
• Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of operations for restarting the fuel cell system 102 from the idle stop state.
• the routine opens the air pressure adjusting valve 213, to thereby start supplying the air.
• the routine starts the generation, to thereby take out the power from the fuel cell stack 201.
• the routine opens the purge valve 210 to thereby aggressively exhaust impurities such as the nitrogen and the like.
• the routine determines whether or not the idle stop state is to be canceled (determination 2).
• the determine 2 determines whether or not the idle stop is to be canceled regardless of the vehicle's requirement for the driving force. For example, the routine determines whether or not the SOC of the secondary battery 207 is decreased to such an extent as to become lower than an idle stop state cancellation level which is preset through an experiment, study and the like.
• a power generation quantity is to be controlled in the following manner:
• the fuel cell stack 201 has a voltage less than or equal to a certain voltage (Vdp), specifically, less than or equal to a deterioration-promoting potential Vdp (for example, about 0.7 V) which promotes deterioration of the fuel cell stack 201.
• Vdp a certain voltage
• Vdp a deterioration-promoting potential
• the current I 2O1 from the fuel cell stack 201 is so set as to allow the fuel cell stack 201 to have the voltage less than or equal to the deterioration-promoting potential Vdp, contrary to the ordinary idle state showing the voltage more than the deterioration-promoting potential Vdp.
• the current I201 taken out from the fuel cell stack 201 in the idle state after the idle stop state being canceled is, as shown in Fig. 7-(b), larger in quantity than the current I 2 0 1 in the generation in the ordinary idle state in which the fuel cell stack 201 has the voltage more than the deterioration-promoting potential Vdp.
• the current I 201 from the fuel cell stack 201 is set based on a voltage-current characteristic of the fuel cell stack 201 in Fig. 8.
• the voltage-current characteristic in Fig. 8 is set in advance through an experiment and the like according to the temperature of the fuel cell stack 201, and is memorized in the system controller 225. Therefore, the current I 201 from the fuel cell stack 201 can be variably set according to the temperature of the fuel cell stack 201. As is seen in Fig. 8, the higher the temperature of the fuel cell stack 201 is, the more
• the current I 201 is. Moreover, the taken-out current I 201 causing the voltage of the fuel cell stack 201 to be less than or equal to the deterioration-promoting potential Vdp is feedbacked and is set according to the voltage of the fuel cell stack 201 based on the voltage-current characteristic in Fig. 8.
• an air quantity (oxidizing gas quantity) supplied to the fuel cell stack 201 is so rendered as not to increase according to the power generation quantity, that is, the taken-out current I 201 .
• the above air quantity is like the one in the ordinary idle state, namely, the air quantity in the idle state other than the idle state after the idle stop being cancelled.
• the rotary speed of the air compressor 212 is set as low as that in the ordinary idle state.
• the air stoichiometric ratio (supply flowrate/consumption flowrate) of the cathode is decreased within such an extent that a difference between the air pressure in the cathode and the hydrogen pressure in the anode is allowable, to thereby generate the power with decreased generation efficiency.
• the current I 201 from the fuel cell stack 201 is set based on a voltage-current characteristic of the fuel cell stack 201 shown in Fig. 9.
• the voltage-current characteristic in Fig. 9 is set in advance through an experiment and the like according to increase or decrease in the stoichiometric ratio of the cathode of the fuel cell stack 201, and is memorized in the system controller 225. Therefore, the current I 201 from the fuel cell stack 201 can be variably set according to the stoichiometric ratio of the cathode. As is seen in Fig. 9, the less the stoichiometric ratio of the cathode is, the less the above current I 201 is.
• decreasing the stoichiometric ratio of the cathode can decrease the rotary speed of the air compressor 212 in the idle state, thereby preventing repetitions of calm states (the idle stop state) and noisy states (the idle state) of the air compressor 212, to thereby suppress deterioration of the noise- vibration performance.
• decreasing the generation efficiency decreases the power generated in the idle state, thereby suppressing increase in the SOC of the secondary battery 107 when the secondary battery 107 is charged with the power through the above generation, to thereby increase the power generation quantity, that is, the taken-out current I 201 .
• SOC (in other words, upper limit of SOC) of the secondary battery 107 is to be set, for example, about 5% to 10% more than the one in the ordinary idle state. With this, the charge quantity to the secondary battery 107 is increased, thereby increasing the taken-out current L 201 , leading to an increase in the power generation quantity. Moreover, in the idle state after the idle stop being cancelled, another idle stop state is highly probable thereafter. Therefore, when the SOC of the secondary battery 107 is high in the idle state, and then the fuel cell system 102 moves to the idle stop state in the above high-SOC idle state, the idle stop state can be maintained for a long time. Moreover, even when the idle stop state is cancelled with the SOC of the secondary battery 107 being high, the secondary battery 107 can be charged.
• the embodiment of the present invention can be summarized below: The operation according the embodiment is implemented in a state where the vehicle does not require the driving force.
• increasing the current I 201 from the fuel cell stack 201) to more than the current L 201 in the ordinary idle within such an extent as to keep the voltage of the fuel cell stack 201 less than or equal to the deterioration-promoting potential Vdp can prevent the deterioration of the fuel cell stack 201 from being promoted when the fuel cell system 102 moves to the idle state.
• the fuel cell system 102 can be more often moved to the idle stop state.

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