Fuel cell system, low-temperature startup control method, device and storage medium thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fuel cell system and its low-temperature startup control method, device, and storage medium, which relate to the technical field of fuel cells. Among them, the fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell controller, a heating device, a battery pack, and a temperature sensor disposed in the fuel cell stack. Among them, the heating device is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack. The heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The electric heating component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack, and the warm air component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air; the battery pack is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device, and is used to supply power to the heating device. Through the solution of the present invention, when the ambient temperature is relatively low, the battery pack is controlled to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component and the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air, thereby quickly increasing the temperature inside the fuel cell stack and then quickly starting the fuel cell stack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to the technical field of fuel cells, and in particular, to a fuel cell system, a low-temperature start control method, device, and storage medium thereof. Background Art

[0002] From the perspectives of environmental protection and the non-renewability of conventional energy sources, developing clean and renewable energy sources for people to use has become the development trend of energy utilization in the world today. Among them, hydrogen energy, as a renewable and clean energy source, has attracted wide attention. Currently, there are mainly two forms of hydrogen energy utilization. One is to directly burn hydrogen to convert hydrogen energy into heat or electricity; the other is to convert hydrogen energy into electricity through a power generation device, such as a fuel cell.

[0003] When a fuel cell operates, a large amount of water is generated through electrochemical reactions inside the cell, and at the same time, a large amount of waste heat is produced. When the start temperature of the fuel cell is below zero, the liquid water generated inside the stack will quickly freeze. And before the internal temperature of the fuel cell reaches 0°C, the water generated by the reaction will block the fuel or air (oxygen) intake channels of the cell catalytic layer after freezing, hindering the normal chemical reactions in local areas. At the same time, the volume of the liquid water expands after freezing, damaging the internal structure of the fuel cell, resulting in the failure of the fuel cell to start at low temperature or causing damage to the fuel cell. Existing fuel cell low-temperature cold start methods, such as self-starting, although they can start the fuel cell, the low-temperature start speed is relatively slow and cannot meet the requirements of rapid start in a lower temperature environment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present invention provide a fuel cell system, a low-temperature start control method, device, and storage medium thereof, aiming to solve the problem of the relatively slow start speed of existing fuel cells in a low-temperature environment.

[0005] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present invention provide a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell controller, and a temperature sensor disposed inside the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell controller is configured to control the start of the fuel cell according to the temperature feedback by the temperature sensor. The fuel cell system further includes: a heating device, the heating device is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack. The heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The electric heating component is used to warm the fuel cell stack, and the warm air component is used to warm the fuel cell stack and provide warm air; a battery pack, which is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device, and the battery pack is used to supply power to the heating device.

[0006] Second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a fuel cell low-temperature startup control method, which is applied to a fuel cell controller. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and a temperature sensor disposed in the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell controller is configured to control the startup of the fuel cell stack according to the temperature feedback by the temperature sensor. The fuel cell system further includes a heating device and a battery pack. Among them, the heating device is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack. The heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The battery pack is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device. The control method includes: if the ambient temperature is less than a preset ambient temperature value, controlling the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm the fuel cell stack and provide warm air; if the obtained in-stack temperature is greater than a first preset in-stack temperature, starting the fuel cell stack to generate electricity.

[0007] Third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a fuel cell low-temperature startup control device, including: a first control unit, configured to control the battery pack to supply power to the heating device if the ambient temperature is less than a preset ambient temperature value, so as to turn on the electric heating component to warm the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm the fuel cell stack and provide warm air; a second control unit, configured to start the fuel cell stack to generate electricity if the obtained in-stack temperature is greater than a first preset in-stack temperature.

[0008] Fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell controller, a heating device, a battery pack, a DC / AC conversion module, and an adapter. The fuel cell controller includes a memory and a processor. A computer program is stored on the memory. When the processor executes the computer program, the above-mentioned method is implemented.

[0009] Fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the above-mentioned method can be implemented.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention provides a fuel cell system, including a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell controller, a heating device, a battery pack, and a temperature sensor disposed in the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell controller is configured to control the startup of the fuel cell stack according to the temperature feedback by the temperature sensor. The heating device is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack. The heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The electric heating component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack, and the warm air component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air. The battery pack is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device, and the battery pack is used to supply power to the heating device. An embodiment of the present invention also provides a method for controlling the low-temperature startup of a fuel cell. The control method includes: if the ambient temperature is less than a preset ambient temperature value, controlling the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air; if the in-stack temperature obtained is greater than a first preset in-stack temperature, starting the fuel cell stack to generate electricity. The technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention, when the ambient temperature is less than the preset ambient temperature value, controls the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air, so as to quickly increase the in-stack temperature of the fuel cell stack, and then quickly start the fuel cell stack. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0012] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a fuel cell system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the scenario of a fuel cell system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 3 It is a schematic flowchart of a method for controlling the low-temperature startup of a fuel cell provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 4 It is a schematic flowchart of a method for controlling the low-temperature startup of a fuel cell provided by another embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 5 It is a schematic flowchart of a method for controlling the low-temperature startup of a fuel cell provided by yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 6 A flowchart of a fuel cell low-temperature start control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 7 A schematic block diagram of a fuel cell low-temperature start control device provided by an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019] Figure 8 A schematic block diagram of a fuel cell controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0020] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0021] It should be understood that when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" indicate the presence of the described features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or their combinations.

[0022] It should also be understood that the terms used in this specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used in this specification of the present invention and the appended claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms.

[0023] It should be further understood that the term "and / or" used in this specification of the present invention and the appended claims refers to any combination and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and includes these combinations.

[0024] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "if" can be interpreted as "when", "once", "in response to determining", or "in response to detecting" according to the context. Similarly, the phrase "if determined" or "if detecting [the described condition or event]" can be interpreted as meaning "once determined", "in response to determining", "once detecting [the described condition or event]", or "in response to detecting [the described condition or event]" according to the context.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1It is a schematic diagram of a fuel cell system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 1 shown, the fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell controller, a heating device, a battery pack, and a temperature sensor disposed in the fuel cell stack. Among them, the fuel cell controller is configured to control the startup of the fuel cell according to the temperature feedback by the temperature sensor; the heating device is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack, and the heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The electric heating component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack, and the warm air component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air; the battery pack is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device, and the battery pack is used to supply power to the heating device. It should be noted that in this embodiment, when the ambient temperature is relatively low, the battery pack is controlled to supply power to the heating device, so as to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air, thereby quickly increasing the temperature inside the fuel cell stack, and then quickly starting the fuel cell stack. It should also be noted that in this embodiment, warming up the fuel cell stack can quickly increase the temperature inside the fuel cell stack, and supplying warm air to the fuel cell can keep the temperature inside the stack at the required temperature, such as the first preset temperature inside the stack and the third preset temperature inside the stack described below.

[0026] In this embodiment, the electric heating assembly includes two electric heating plates, the two electric heating plates are attached to both ends of the fuel cell, and each electric heating plate is connected to the fuel cell controller via a first switch and the battery pack. The warm air assembly is connected between the first switch and the battery pack via a second switch. Specifically, the warm air assembly includes an electric heating element and at least one blower. The electric heating element is connected between the first switch and the battery pack via the second switch, and the blower is connected to the fuel cell stack controller. More specifically, the electric heating element includes a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element, and the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element are arranged side by side. Understandably, in other embodiments, the electric heating element may also only include the first heating element and the second heating element, and the number of heating elements in the electric heating element is not specifically limited. When in use, closing the first switch enables the battery pack to supply power to the two electric heating plates, so that the two electric heating plates heat both ends of the fuel cell stack to warm up the fuel cell stack; closing the second switch enables the battery pack to supply power to the electric heating element, and the fuel cell stack controller controls the rotation speed of the at least one blower, and the wind speed of the at least one blower can be adjusted. The wind generated by the at least one blower passes through the electric heating element and is heated to form hot air, which is blown into the fuel cell stack and exchanges heat with the fuel cell stack, thereby increasing the internal temperature of the fuel cell stack and realizing warming up and warm air supply for the fuel cell stack. Understandably, the fuel cell stack can be warmed up and warm air can be supplied through the heating device. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the battery pack is a lithium battery pack, and the current provided by the lithium battery pack is DC current, that is, when the lithium battery pack supplies power to the heating device, it is DC power supply, and at this time, the heating of the fuel cell stack is DC heating. It should also be noted that in this embodiment, there are two blowers; the fuel cell controller is connected to the lithium battery pack through an RS485 interface; the fuel cell controller controls the blower through PWM, where PWM is pulse width modulation. In other embodiments, the number of blowers is not specifically limited.

[0027] In this embodiment, the fuel cell system further includes a DC / AC conversion module, an adapter, a fourth switch, and a sixth switch. One end of the adapter is connected to the battery pack via a third switch, and the other end is connected to one end of the DC / AC conversion module. The other end of the DC / AC conversion module is connected to the fuel cell stack via a fifth switch. The electric heating element is connected to between the DC / AC conversion module and the adapter via the fourth switch. One end of the sixth switch is connected to between the DC / AC conversion module and the adapter, and the other end is for connecting to an AC load. Specifically, the fuel cell system further includes an intake valve and an exhaust valve. One end of the intake valve is connected to the fuel supply unit, and the other end is connected to the fuel cell stack. The exhaust valve is connected to the fuel cell stack for discharging tail gas. During actual use, by opening the intake valve, hydrogen is introduced into the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack starts to work and outputs electric energy externally. Closing the third switch and the fifth switch can charge the lithium battery; closing the fourth switch, the fuel cell stack can supply power to the electric heating element; closing the sixth switch, the fuel cell stack can supply power to the AC load. It can be understood that the electric energy released by the fuel cell stack is direct current, which is converted into alternating current by the DC / AC conversion module for use by the AC load. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, the fifth switch, and the sixth switch are respectively Figure 1 SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, and SW6 in it. It should also be noted that in this embodiment, the opening time of the exhaust valve can be set according to actual needs and will not be specifically limited here.

[0028] As Figure 2 shown, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the scenario of the fuel cell system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The input end of the fuel cell system is connected to the fuel supply unit, and the output end is connected to the AC load. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the fuel supply unit can be a fuel supply device or a fuel supply pipeline.

[0029] Figure 3It is a schematic flow chart of the fuel cell low-temperature start control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Applied to a fuel cell controller, the fuel cell system of this embodiment includes a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and a temperature sensor disposed in the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell controller is used to control the start of the fuel cell stack according to the temperature feedback by the temperature sensor. The fuel cell system further includes a heating device and a battery pack. Among them, the heating device is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack. The heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The battery pack is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device. As Figure 3 shown, this method includes the following steps S100 - S110.

[0030] S100. If the ambient temperature is less than a preset ambient temperature value, then control the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air.

[0031] In this embodiment, if the fuel cell controller receives a start command, it will obtain the ambient temperature collected by the ambient temperature sensor in the fuel cell system and determine whether the ambient temperature is less than the preset ambient temperature value. Among them, the preset ambient temperature value is 0°C. If the ambient temperature is less than the preset ambient temperature value, it indicates a cold start, and then control the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air. Among them, the heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. Specifically, turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air.

[0032] Further, the electric heating component includes two electric heating plates, and the warm air component includes an electric heating element and at least one blower. The step of controlling the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air includes controlling the battery pack to supply power to the two electric heating plates to warm up the fuel cell stack. Among them, the battery pack is a lithium battery pack. If the preset waiting time is reached, then control the battery pack to supply power to the electric heating element and control the blower to start and stop intermittently to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air. Among them, the preset waiting time is 30s. During actual use, by closing Figure 1 the first switch therein, the lithium battery pack can supply power to the two electric heating plates to warm up the fuel cell stack; by closing Figure 1The second switch in the above can enable the lithium battery pack to supply power to the electric heating element and control the intermittent start and stop of the blower, so as to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air. During actual use, the fuel cell controller controls the blower to start for 3 s first, so that the air blown by the blower enters the electric heating element, and then stops for 5 s. The air can be heated into warm air, and then starts for 3 s again to blow the warm air into the fuel cell stack and exchange heat with the fuel cell stack, so as to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air. This cycle alternates until the in-stack temperature in the fuel cell stack is greater than the first preset in-stack temperature. It should be noted that in this embodiment, by controlling the intermittent start and stop of the blower, it is not necessary for the lithium battery pack to supply power to the electric heating element all the time, which can not only improve the power utilization rate of the lithium battery pack, but also make better use of the heat for warming up the stack.

[0033] Furthermore, if the ambient temperature is not less than the preset ambient temperature value, it indicates that it is not a cold start but a normal temperature start, and there is no need to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air by supplying power through the heating device. Then directly open Figure 1 the intake valve in the above to introduce hydrogen, and the fuel cell stack starts to work. Close the fifth switch and the sixth switch to supply power to the AC load.

[0034] S110: If the obtained in-stack temperature is greater than the first preset in-stack temperature, start the fuel cell stack to generate electricity.

[0035] In this embodiment, after controlling the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to warm up the fuel cell stack and provide warm air, the fuel cell controller obtains the in-stack temperature collected by the temperature sensor in the fuel cell stack and judges whether the in-stack temperature is greater than the first preset in-stack temperature. Among them, the first preset in-stack temperature is -5 °C. If the in-stack temperature is greater than the first preset in-stack temperature, start the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and supply power to the AC load through the DC / AC conversion module. Specifically, control the in-stack temperature to be maintained at 0 °C by adjusting the speed of the blower, and open Figure 1 the intake valve in the above to introduce hydrogen. The fuel cell stack starts to work, and close the fifth switch and the sixth switch to output electric energy to supply power to the AC load. It can be understood that if the in-stack temperature is not greater than the first preset in-stack temperature, still control the intermittent start and stop of the blower.

[0036] Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of a fuel cell low-temperature start control method provided by another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 4As shown, in this embodiment, the method includes steps S200 - S230. Among them, steps S200 - S210 are the same as steps S100 - S110 and will not be elaborated here. The added steps S220 and S230 will be specifically introduced.

[0037] S220. Determine whether the charge - discharge condition is met according to the output power of the fuel cell stack and the power value of the battery pack obtained.

[0038] S230. If the charge - discharge condition is met, control the fuel cell stack to charge the battery pack and supply power to the warm - air component.

[0039] In this embodiment, the fuel cell controller obtains the output power of the fuel cell stack and the power value of the lithium - battery pack, and determines whether the charge - discharge condition is met according to the output power and the power value. Specifically, it is determined whether the output power is greater than a preset output power, where the preset output power is 3 KW. If the output power is greater than the preset output power, it is determined that the charge - discharge condition is met. If the output power is not greater than the preset output power, it is then continued to determine whether the power value is less than a preset charge value, where the preset charge value is 40%. If the power value is less than the preset charge value, it is determined that the charge - discharge condition is met. Conversely, if the power value is not less than the preset charge value, it is determined that the charge - discharge condition is not met. It should be noted that in this embodiment, it is also possible to first determine the magnitude relationship between the power value and the preset charge value, and then determine the magnitude relationship between the output power and the preset output power, that is, the order of judging the power value and the output power is not specifically limited. It should also be noted that in this embodiment, if the output power is greater than the preset output power and / or the power value is less than the preset charge value, it is determined that the charge - discharge condition is met. If the output power is not greater than the preset output power and the power value is not less than the preset charge value, it is determined that the charge - discharge condition is not met. If the charge - discharge condition is met, the second switch is turned on, and the fourth switch and the third switch are closed, so that the fuel cell stack charges the battery pack and supplies power to the electric - heating component in the heating device. It can be understood that at this time, the direct current released by the fuel cell stack is converted into alternating current by the DC / AC conversion module to supply power to the electric - heating element and is used to charge the lithium - battery pack through the adapter.

[0040] Figure 5 It is a schematic flowchart of the fuel - cell low - temperature start - up control method provided by another embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 5 shown, in this embodiment, the method includes steps S300 - S340. Among them, steps S300 - S330 are the same as steps S200 - S230 and will not be elaborated here. The added step S340 will be specifically introduced.

[0041] S340. If the charge-discharge stop condition is satisfied, control the fuel cell to stop charging the battery pack and stop supplying power to the electric heating component;

[0042] In this embodiment, after turning on the second switch, closing the third switch and the fourth switch, and charging the battery pack and supplying power to the electric heating element, if the charge-discharge stop condition is satisfied, control the fuel cell to stop charging the battery pack and stop supplying power to the electric heating component. Among them, the charge-discharge stop condition is that the in-stack temperature is greater than the second preset in-stack temperature and the power value is greater than the preset full charge value. Specifically, first judge whether the in-stack temperature is greater than the second preset in-stack temperature. If the in-stack temperature is greater than the second preset in-stack temperature, turn on the fourth switch to stop supplying power to the electric heating element. Understandably, if the in-stack temperature is not greater than the second preset in-stack temperature, do not turn on the fourth switch and continue to heat the electric heating element; then judge whether the power value is greater than the preset full charge value. If the power value is greater than the preset full charge value, turn on the third switch to stop charging the battery pack and determine that the charge-discharge stop condition is satisfied. Understandably, if the power value is not greater than the preset full charge value, do not turn on the third switch and continue to charge the battery pack. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the second preset in-stack temperature is 50°C and the preset full charge value is 90%; in other embodiments, the second preset in-stack temperature and the preset full charge value can be set according to actual needs and are not specifically limited here.

[0043] Furthermore, after the charge-discharge stop condition is satisfied, that is, after the in-stack temperature is greater than the second preset in-stack temperature and the power value is greater than the preset full charge value, since the fuel cell stack is still working, the in-stack temperature will continue to rise. In order to maintain the in-stack temperature at the third preset in-stack temperature, where the third preset in-stack temperature is 65°C, it can be achieved by adjusting the rotation speed of the fan. Specifically, when the in-stack temperature is greater than the third preset in-stack temperature, increase the rotation speed of the fan; when the in-stack temperature is less than the third preset in-stack temperature, decrease the rotation speed of the fan, and repeat this cycle to maintain the in-stack temperature at 65°C. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the reason for maintaining the in-stack temperature at the third preset in-stack temperature is that too low a temperature affects the performance of the membrane electrode, and too high a temperature will reduce the conductivity efficiency of the membrane electrode, thereby affecting the performance and service life of the fuel cell, and even causing safety accidents. It should also be noted that in this embodiment, the first switch is always in the closed state, that is, the battery pack is always supplying power, because the power of the two heating plates is not much and the power consumption is not much.

[0044] For the convenience of description and understanding, the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, the fifth switch, and the sixth switch are respectively assumed to be SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, and SW6, as Figure 6 shown in a simplified diagram of a fuel cell low-temperature start control method. In Figure 1 it, when the ambient temperature < 0 °C, it indicates a cold start. The fuel cell controller closes SW1 and turns on two electric heating plates to heat the fuel cell stack, that is, to warm up the stack; after waiting for 30 s, close SW2 and turn on the electric heating element. By controlling the intermittent start and stop of the fan, the intermittent start and stop means the fan runs for 3 s and stops for 5 s. The electric heating element heats the air blown out by the fan, and the heated warm air enters the fuel cell to heat the fuel cell, that is, to warm up the stack and provide warm air; if the temperature inside the stack > -5 °C, open the intake valve, close SW4 and SW5, and start the fuel cell stack to output electric energy. Understandably, if the temperature inside the stack is not greater than -5 °C, then continue to control the intermittent start and stop of the fan; after the fuel cell operates, if the output power > 3 KW or the battery pack's power value < 40%, then open SW2, close SW3 and SW4, to supply power to the electric heating element and charge the battery pack; when the temperature inside the stack > 50 °C and the battery pack's power value > 90%, open SW3 and SW4, and stop supplying power to the electric heating element and stop charging the battery pack. Understandably, if the ambient temperature is not less than 0 °C, it indicates a normal temperature start, then directly open the intake valve, close SW4 and SW5, and start the fuel cell stack.

[0045] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the fuel cell stack is used to supply power to the electric heating element. On the one hand, it prevents the battery pack's power from being used up all at once, improving the utilization rate of the battery pack's power; on the other hand, it still turns the cold air entering the fuel cell stack into warm air, so as not to reduce the internal temperature of the fuel cell stack. When the temperature inside the fuel cell stack reaches 50 °C, the entire fuel cell system stops supplying power to the electric heating element, and the electrochemical reaction can be maintained by the heat generated by the fuel cell stack itself.

[0046] It should also be noted that, in this embodiment, after closing SW1, turning on two electric heating plates and waiting for 30 s, then closing SW2 and turning on the electric heating element, and controlling the intermittent start and stop of the fan, this is the stack warming-up stage; if the temperature inside the stack is not greater than -5 °C, then continue to control the intermittent start and stop of the fan, this is the DC warm air stage; if the output power is greater than 3 KW or the battery pack's power value is less than 40%, then open SW2, close SW3 and SW4, to supply power to the electric heating element and charge the battery pack, this is the AC warm air stage. Through the stack warming-up stage and the direct warm air stage, the fuel cell stack can be started quickly at low temperature. Through the AC warm air stage, the fuel cell stack can output electric energy to supply power to AC loads.

[0047] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a fuel cell low-temperature startup control device 200 provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 7 shown, corresponding to the above fuel cell low-temperature startup control method, the present invention also provides a fuel cell low-temperature startup control device 200. The fuel cell low-temperature startup control device 200 includes a unit for executing the above fuel cell low-temperature startup control method, and the device can be configured in a fuel cell controller. Specifically, please refer to Figure 7 , the fuel cell low-temperature startup control device 200 includes a first control unit 201 and a second control unit 202.

[0048] Among them, the first control unit 201 is used to control the battery pack to supply power to the heating device if the ambient temperature is less than a preset ambient temperature value, so as to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air; the second control unit 202 is used to start the fuel cell stack to generate electricity if the obtained in-stack temperature is greater than a first preset in-stack temperature.

[0049] In some embodiments, such as this embodiment, the first control unit 201 includes a first control subunit and a second control subunit.

[0050] Among them, the first control subunit is used to control the battery pack to supply power to the two electric heating plates to warm up the fuel cell stack; the second control subunit is used to control the battery pack to supply power to the electric heating element and control the fan to start and stop intermittently if a preset waiting time is reached, so as to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air.

[0051] In some embodiments, such as this embodiment, the fuel cell low-temperature startup control device 200 further includes a judgment unit, a third control unit, and a fourth control unit.

[0052] Among them, the judgment unit is used to judge whether the charge and discharge conditions are met according to the obtained output power of the fuel cell stack and the power value of the battery pack; the third control unit is used to control the fuel cell stack to charge the battery pack and supply power to the warm air component if the charge and discharge conditions are met; the fourth control unit is used to control the fuel cell to stop charging the battery pack and stop supplying power to the electric heating element if the stop charge and discharge conditions are met.

[0053] In some embodiments, such as this embodiment, the judgment unit includes an acquisition unit and a determination unit.

[0054] Wherein, the obtaining unit is configured to obtain the output power of the fuel cell stack and / or the power value of the battery pack; the determining unit is configured to determine that the charge-discharge condition is satisfied if the output power is greater than a preset output power and / or the power value is less than a preset charge amount value.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as this embodiment, the fourth control unit includes a third control subunit.

[0056] Wherein, the third control subunit includes that if the temperature inside the stack is greater than a second preset temperature inside the stack and the power value is greater than a preset full charge value, then control the fuel cell stack to stop supplying power to the electric heating element and stop charging the battery pack.

[0057] The above fuel cell low-temperature start control device can be implemented in the form of a computer program, and this computer program can run on a fuel cell controller as shown in Figure 8 shown.

[0058] Please refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 which is a schematic block diagram of a fuel cell controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Refer to Figure 8 , the fuel cell controller 300 includes a processor 302, a memory, and a network interface 305 connected through a system bus 301. Among them, the memory may include a non-volatile storage medium 303 and an internal memory 304.

[0060] The non-volatile storage medium 303 can store an operating system 3031 and a computer program 3032. When the computer program 3032 is executed, the processor 302 can be made to execute a fuel cell low-temperature start control method.

[0061] The processor 302 is configured to provide computing and control capabilities to support the operation of the entire fuel cell controller 300.

[0062] The internal memory 304 provides an environment for the operation of the computer program 3032 in the non-volatile storage medium 303. When the computer program 3032 is executed by the processor 302, the processor 302 can be made to execute a fuel cell low-temperature start control method.

[0063] The network interface 305 is used for network communication with other devices. Those skilled in the art can understand, Figure 8The structure shown is only a block diagram of some of the structures related to the solution of the present invention, and does not constitute a limitation on the fuel cell controller 300 to which the solution of the present invention is applied. Specifically, the fuel cell controller 300 may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have a different component arrangement.

[0064] Among them, the processor 302 is used to run the computer program 3032 stored in the memory to implement any embodiment of the above fuel cell low-temperature start control method.

[0065] It should be understood that in the embodiment of the present invention, the processor 302 may be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processor 302 may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), off-the-shelf programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Among them, the general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0066] Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of implementing the above embodiments can be completed by instructing relevant hardware through a computer program. The computer program can be stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium. The computer program is executed by at least one processor in the computer system to implement the process steps of the embodiments of the above method.

[0067] Therefore, the present invention also provides a storage medium. The storage medium may be a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the processor is caused to execute any embodiment of the above fuel cell low-temperature start control method.

[0068] The storage medium may be a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc, etc., which are all computer-readable storage media that can store program codes.

[0069] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of the two. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the composition and steps of the examples have been generally described according to functions in the above description. Whether these functions are executed in a hardware or software manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of the present invention.

[0070] In several embodiments provided by the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of each unit is only a logical function division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed.

[0071] The steps in the method embodiments of the present invention can be adjusted, combined, and deleted according to actual needs. The units in the device embodiments of the present invention can be combined, divided, and deleted according to actual needs. In addition, the functional units in each embodiment of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically alone, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0072] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to enable a fuel cell controller to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the various embodiments have their own emphases. For the parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0074] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalent technologies, the present invention also intends to include these changes and modifications.

[0075] As described above, it is only the specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention can easily think of various equivalent modifications or substitutions, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system, the fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell controller, and a temperature sensor disposed within the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller being configured to control the startup of the fuel cell according to the temperature feedback by the temperature sensor, wherein, The fuel cell system further includes: a heating device, which is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack. The heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The electric heating component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack. The electric heating component includes two electric heating plates, and the two electric heating plates are attached to both ends of the fuel cell. The warm air component is used to warm up and provide warm air to the fuel cell stack. The warm air component includes an electric heating element and at least one blower. The air emitted by the at least one blower is heated by the electric heating element to form hot air and is blown into the fuel cell stack; a battery pack, which is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device. The battery pack is used to supply power to the electric heating plates and the electric heating element.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the electric heating plates is connected to the fuel cell controller via a first switch and the battery pack. The warm air component is connected between the first switch and the battery pack via a second switch.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 2, wherein The electric heating element is connected between the first switch and the battery pack via the second switch. The blower is connected to the fuel cell controller.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The electric heating element includes a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element, and the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element are arranged side by side.

5. The fuel cell system according to claim 3, wherein The fuel cell system further includes a DC / AC conversion module and an adapter. One end of the adapter is connected to the battery pack via a third switch, and the other end is connected to one end of the DC / AC conversion module. The other end of the DC / AC conversion module is connected to the fuel cell stack via a fifth switch.

6. The fuel cell system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fuel cell system further includes a fourth switch and a sixth switch. The electric heating element is connected between the DC / AC conversion module and the adapter via the fourth switch. One end of the sixth switch is connected between the DC / AC conversion module and the adapter, and the other end is used to connect to an AC load.

7. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell system further includes an intake valve and an exhaust valve. One end of the intake valve is connected to the fuel supply unit, and the other end is connected to the fuel cell stack. The exhaust valve is connected to the fuel cell stack and is used to discharge exhaust gas.

8. A low-temperature start-up control method for a fuel cell, which is applied to a fuel cell controller. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and a temperature sensor disposed in the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell controller is configured to control the start-up of the fuel cell stack according to the temperature feedback by the temperature sensor, and is characterized in that, The fuel cell system further includes a heating device and a battery pack. Among them, the heating device is connected to the fuel cell controller and the fuel cell stack. The heating device includes an electric heating component and a warm air component. The electric heating component is used to warm up the fuel cell stack. The electric heating component includes two electric heating plates, and the two electric heating plates are attached to both ends of the fuel cell. The warm air component is used to warm up and provide warm air to the fuel cell stack. The warm air component includes an electric heating element and at least one blower. The air emitted by the at least one blower is heated by the electric heating element to form hot air and is blown into the fuel cell stack. The battery pack is connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell controller, and the heating device. The battery pack is used to supply power to the electric heating plates and the electric heating element. The method includes: If the ambient temperature is less than the preset ambient temperature value, control the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air. If the in-stack temperature obtained is greater than the first preset in-stack temperature, start the fuel cell stack to generate electricity.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The electric heating component includes two electric heating plates, and the warm air component includes an electric heating element and at least one blower. The step of controlling the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air includes: Control the battery pack to supply power to the two electric heating plates to warm up the fuel cell stack. If the preset waiting time is reached, control the battery pack to supply power to the electric heating element and control the blower to start and stop intermittently to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein The method further includes: Judge whether the charge-discharge condition is satisfied according to the output power of the fuel cell stack obtained and the power value of the battery pack. If the charge-discharge condition is satisfied, control the fuel cell stack to charge the battery pack and supply power to the warm air component.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The step of judging whether the charge-discharge condition is satisfied according to the output power of the fuel cell stack obtained and the power value of the battery pack includes: Obtain the output power of the fuel cell stack and / or the power value of the battery pack. If the output power is greater than the preset output power and / or the power value is less than the preset charge amount value, it is determined that the charge-discharge condition is satisfied.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein After the step of, if the charge-discharge condition is satisfied, controlling the fuel cell stack to charge the battery pack and supply power to the warm air component, further includes: If the stop charge-discharge condition is satisfied, control the fuel cell to stop charging the battery pack and stop supplying power to the electric heating element.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein The step of, if the stop charge-discharge condition is satisfied, controlling the fuel cell to stop charging the battery pack or stop supplying power to the electric heating component includes: If the in-stack temperature is greater than the second preset in-stack temperature and the power value is greater than the preset full charge value, control the fuel cell stack to stop supplying power to the electric heating element and stop charging the battery pack.

14. A fuel cell low-temperature start control device, characterized in that, It includes a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 8-13. The device at least includes: A first control unit, configured to, if the ambient temperature is less than the preset ambient temperature value, control the battery pack to supply power to the heating device to turn on the electric heating component to warm up the fuel cell stack and turn on the warm air component to warm up the fuel cell stack and supply warm air. A second control unit, configured to, if the in-stack temperature obtained is greater than the first preset in-stack temperature, start the fuel cell stack to generate electricity.

15. A fuel cell system, characterized in that, The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell controller, a heating device, a battery pack, a DC / AC conversion module, and an adapter. The fuel cell controller includes a memory and a processor. A computer program is stored on the memory. When the processor executes the computer program, the method according to any one of claims 8-13 is implemented.

16. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program which, when executed by a processor, can implement the method according to any one of claims 8-13.

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