Control method for fuel cell, electronic device, vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a control method, an electronic device and a vehicle for a fuel cell. The method comprises the following steps: when a stack loading request of the fuel cell is received, initial control parameters of the fuel cell are acquired; target control parameters are determined according to the initial control parameters, and the fuel cell is controlled for stack loading according to the target control parameters; an undershoot voltage of the fuel cell is acquired, and initial control parameters of next stack loading control are determined according to the undershoot voltage and the target control parameters. The method can improve the service life of the fuel cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more particularly to a control method, electronic equipment, and vehicle for fuel cells. Background Technology

[0002] Fuel cell systems are devices that generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between air and hydrogen. Due to their high efficiency and lack of pollution, they represent one of the important development directions for future new energy vehicle engines.

[0003] While fuel cells offer numerous advantages, their short lifespan significantly limits their widespread adoption. Currently, fuel cell lifespans in related technologies are generally between 5,000 and 10,000 hours. Although significant improvements have been made, this still falls short of the requirements for commercial vehicle use. Therefore, extending the lifespan of fuel cell engines is one of the industry's key research directions.

[0004] Although there are control strategies in related technologies to improve the lifespan of fuel cells, these strategies are all based on the initial lifespan of the fuel cell stack and cannot be adaptively adjusted as the lifespan of the fuel cell declines. As a result, the effect of improving the lifespan of the fuel cell will gradually weaken as the lifespan of the fuel cell declines, leading to accelerated fuel cell degradation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art. Therefore, a first objective of this invention is to provide a control method for fuel cells to improve fuel cell lifespan.

[0006] The second objective of this invention is to provide an electronic device.

[0007] The third objective of this invention is to provide a vehicle.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention provides a control method for a fuel cell, the method comprising: upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, acquiring initial control parameters of the fuel cell; determining target control parameters based on the initial control parameters, and performing stack loading control on the fuel cell based on the target control parameters; acquiring the undershoot voltage of the fuel cell, and determining initial control parameters for the next stack loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameters.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, a second aspect of the present invention provides an electronic device, including a memory, a processor, and a control program for a fuel cell stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the control program for the fuel cell, it implements the above-described control method for the fuel cell.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, a third aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle comprising: a fuel cell and electronic equipment as described above.

[0011] The control method, electronic device, and vehicle for fuel cells according to embodiments of the present invention can acquire initial control parameters of the fuel cell upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, and then determine target control parameters based on these initial control parameters to perform stack loading control on the fuel cell. Furthermore, after performing stack loading control on the fuel cell, the undershoot voltage of the fuel cell is acquired, and the applicability of the current target control parameters is determined based on the undershoot voltage. A new initial control parameter is then determined based on the determination result, thereby enabling the control strategy for the fuel cell to adaptively change as the fuel cell's lifespan degrades.

[0012] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a graph showing the proportion of fuel cell lifespan degradation caused by different operating conditions;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a graph showing the voltage changes during the fuel cell loading process;

[0015] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a control method for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of a control method for a fuel cell, as exemplified by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describes a control method, electronic device, and vehicle for a fuel cell according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0018] Analysis shows that the main operating conditions affecting fuel cell lifespan are: load variation, start-stop, idling, and high-power operation. The specific percentages leading to lifespan degradation can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 1 .

[0019] from Figure 1As can be seen, load variation has the largest impact on the lifespan of fuel cell systems. This is mainly due to the difference between the water content on the proton exchange membrane and the expected content after the load variation, as well as the insufficient flow rate of the reaction gas during the load variation. During the load variation process, the main manifestation of the stack being affected by these factors is the drastic fluctuation of the single-cell voltage.

[0020] According to fuel cell characteristics, the stack voltage decreases during loading. However, under actual operating conditions, the stack voltage drops rapidly at the moment of loading, then gradually recovers and stabilizes, approaching the theoretical value. Excessively low voltage can lead to proton exchange membrane dehydration and catalyst degradation, thus affecting system lifespan. In the first stage of loading, the instantaneous voltage drop is mainly due to the low water content of the proton exchange membrane, resulting in high internal resistance and stack overshoot (i.e., a downshoot voltage). Simultaneously, fuel in the flow channels is consumed and not replenished in time, leading to gas shortage and further voltage drop. In the second stage, the voltage enters a gradual recovery period. During this period, reaction fuel is replenished, and the water content of the proton exchange membrane gradually increases with the increase in reaction product water and fuel humidity, causing the single-cell voltage to slowly rise to the theoretical level. See details... Figure 2 .

[0021] Therefore, the applicability of the current control strategy can be determined based on the down-voltage. Based on this, the present invention proposes a control method, electronic equipment, and vehicle for fuel cells.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a control method for a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] like Figure 3 As shown, the control method for fuel cells includes:

[0024] S31: Upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, the initial control parameters of the fuel cell are obtained.

[0025] Specifically, the aforementioned control parameters include at least one of fuel excess coefficient, fuel pressure, and fuel moisture. Upon receiving a stack loading request, the initial fuel excess coefficient, initial fuel pressure, and initial fuel moisture are obtained.

[0026] S32, determine the target control parameters based on the initial control parameters, and perform stack loading control on the fuel cell based on the target control parameters.

[0027] Specifically, the initial control parameter is the preset value of each obtained parameter, and the target control parameter is the actual adjustment target during the fuel cell stack loading control process. That is, after obtaining the preset values ​​of each parameter, the target control parameter used in the fuel cell stack loading control process can be obtained according to the preset values ​​of each parameter using a preset method. For example, the preset values ​​can be directly used as the target control parameter, and then the parameters of the fuel cell stack can be adjusted with the target control parameter as the target value. For example, the fuel cell stack can be pre-supplyed with gas, pre-humidified, or the load variation amplitude can be reduced with the target control parameter as the target value.

[0028] S33: Obtain the undershoot voltage of the fuel cell, and determine the initial control parameters for the next stack loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameters.

[0029] Specifically, since a downshoot voltage occurs during fuel cell loading, this downshoot voltage can be acquired and its normality determined. If the current downshoot voltage is normal, it indicates that the current initial control parameters are correct, and these initial control parameters can still be used for the next fuel cell loading. If the current downshoot voltage is abnormal, it indicates that the current target control parameters are no longer applicable, and the target control parameters need to be adjusted to obtain the initial control parameters for the next fuel cell loading control.

[0030] Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the initial control parameters need to be adjusted based on the down-thrust voltage, so that the control strategy of the fuel cell changes as the fuel cell's lifespan degrades, thereby better improving the lifespan of the fuel cell.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method for determining whether the undershoot voltage is normal can be to determine whether the undershoot voltage is less than a voltage threshold. In this case, the method for determining the initial control parameters for the next fuel cell loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameters can be: determining whether the undershoot voltage is less than a voltage threshold; if the undershoot voltage is greater than the voltage threshold, then increasing the target control parameters and using the increased target control parameters as the initial control parameters for the next fuel cell loading control.

[0032] The aforementioned increase in the target control parameter can be achieved by: obtaining the current stack lifespan of the fuel cell and calculating the increment of the control parameter based on the current stack lifespan; and then increasing the target control parameter based on the increment of the control parameter. The timing of obtaining the current stack lifespan can be adjusted; for example, it can be obtained when it is determined that the target control parameter needs to be increased, or it can be determined first when a stack loading request for the fuel cell is received, or it can be at other possible times. The increment of the control parameter calculated based on the current stack lifespan can be calculated based on the current lifespan status of the fuel cell and a preset table, such as Table 1 below.

[0033] Table 1

[0034] Attenuation ≤5% δ+0.2 p+5kPa n+5 Attenuation <10% (pile life ends when attenuation reaches 10%) δ+0.4 p+8kPa n+10

[0035] Therefore, when the current control strategy is no longer applicable, the control strategy can be adaptively adjusted according to the current stack life of the fuel cell, thereby enabling the control method for fuel cells in this embodiment of the invention to adaptively adjust the control strategy according to the life of the fuel cell.

[0036] It should be noted that after increasing the target control parameter, the above-mentioned control method for fuel cells also includes: obtaining the target adjustment range based on the current stack life; determining whether the increased target control parameter is within the target adjustment range; and if the increased target control parameter is not within the target adjustment range, issuing a fault warning.

[0037] In other words, after increasing the target control parameters, the target adjustment range can be determined based on the current battery stack life. If the actual target control parameters exceed the target adjustment range, it indicates that the battery life is degrading too quickly, and a fault alarm will be triggered.

[0038] This allows for the determination of whether the fuel cell stack lifespan is declining too rapidly, thereby triggering a fault alarm when the fuel cell stack lifespan declines too rapidly. This enables technicians to adjust the increase in the aforementioned control parameters or adjust the aforementioned target adjustment range.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the initial control parameter should initially be set to a value less than the corresponding target limit. However, after determining the initial control parameter for the next stack loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameter, this new initial control parameter may exceed the corresponding target limit. Therefore, in the process of determining the target control parameter based on the initial control parameter, it is also necessary to determine whether the initial control parameter is less than the corresponding target limit; if the initial control parameter is less than the target limit, the initial control parameter is used as the target control parameter; if the initial control parameter is greater than or equal to the target limit, the target limit is used as the target control parameter.

[0040] Specifically, to protect the fuel cell stack and facilitate the operation of other components within the fuel cell system, such as the air compressor, water pump, and thermostat, various parameters within the fuel cell have limits. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the target control parameters do not exceed these limits, which could compromise system safety. Based on this, when determining the target control parameters from the initial control parameters, it is necessary to determine whether the initial control parameters are below their corresponding limit values. This prevents adjustments to the fuel cell control strategy from causing the initial control parameters to exceed their limit values, thus avoiding any safety impact.

[0041] If the initial control parameter is less than the target limit, it indicates that the initial control parameter is correct and can be used for control, thereby obtaining the undershoot voltage of the fuel cell. The method for determining the initial control parameter for the next stack loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameter in the above embodiment can be referred to to determine the initial control parameter for the next stack loading control.

[0042] If the initial control parameter is greater than or equal to the target limit, it indicates a problem with the initial control parameter and it cannot be used for control. The target limit will then be used as the target control parameter. In this case, determining the initial control parameter for the next fuel cell loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameter includes using the target control parameter as the initial control parameter for the next fuel cell loading control. That is, when the initial control parameter is greater than or equal to the target limit, the target limit will be used as both the target control parameter and the initial control parameter for the next fuel cell loading control.

[0043] Optionally, if the initial control parameter is greater than or equal to the target limit, the control parameter can be set as the target limit, and the value of the control parameter will not be adjusted subsequently.

[0044] It should be noted that after setting the index limit as the target control parameter, it is also necessary to determine whether the down-thrust voltage is less than the voltage threshold. If the down-thrust voltage is greater than the voltage threshold, the current stack life of the fuel cell is obtained, and the target adjustment range is obtained based on the current stack life. It is then determined whether the target control parameter is within the target adjustment range. If the target control parameter is not within the target adjustment range, it indicates that the stack life is decreasing too rapidly, and a fault warning is issued so that technicians can analyze and optimize the increase in the target adjustment range or the target control parameter.

[0045] The following is combined with Figure 4 The specific examples shown illustrate the control method for fuel cells according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0046] Specifically, upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, the current stack lifetime is first determined to obtain the current stack lifetime status. Then, initial control parameters are obtained, and target control parameters for the system are determined based on these initial control parameters, enabling the system to load according to the target control parameters.

[0047] Furthermore, before performing stack loading control on the fuel cell based on the target control parameters, it is necessary to determine the relationship between the initial control parameters and the corresponding target limits. If the initial control parameters are less than the target limits, the target control parameters are equal to the initial control parameters. Then, stack loading control is performed on the fuel cell based on these target control parameters, and the voltage undershoot value is obtained. If the voltage undershoot value meets the preset requirements, the initial control parameters for the next stack loading control will still be the same as those for the current stack loading control. If the voltage undershoot value does not meet the requirements, an adjustment value is obtained based on the current stack lifetime, and this adjustment value is used as an increment. That is, the target control parameters for the current stack loading control are increased using this adjustment value, and the increased target control parameters are used as the initial control parameters for the next stack loading control.

[0048] Furthermore, the target control parameters can be recorded as initial control parameters for the next stack loading control, and the recorded values ​​can be looked up in a table to determine whether they are within the target adjustment range for the current stack life. If they are within the adjustment range, this process ends. If they are not within the adjustment range, a level one fault is reported, only a warning is issued, and technicians are required to re-analyze and optimize the target adjustment range or the increase in the target control parameters, or reassess the battery life.

[0049] If the initial control parameter is greater than or equal to the target limit, the target control parameter is equal to that target limit. The fuel cell stack loading is then controlled based on this target limit, and the downshoot voltage value is obtained. If the downshoot voltage value does not meet the requirements, it is determined whether the target limit is within the target adjustment range for the current stack lifespan. If it is within the target adjustment range, this process ends. If it is outside the target adjustment range, a Level 1 fault is reported, providing only a warning. Technical personnel then re-analyze and optimize the target adjustment range or the increase in the target control parameter, or reassess the battery lifespan.

[0050] In summary, the control method for fuel cells according to embodiments of the present invention can acquire initial control parameters of the fuel cell upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, and then determine target control parameters based on these initial control parameters to perform stack loading control on the fuel cell. Furthermore, after performing stack loading control on the fuel cell, the undershoot voltage of the fuel cell is acquired, and the applicability of the current target control parameters is determined based on the undershoot voltage. A new initial control parameter is then determined based on the determination result, thereby enabling the control strategy for the fuel cell to adaptively change as the fuel cell's lifespan declines. Moreover, the adjusted target control parameters can be recorded, and the relationship between the target control parameters and the target adjustment range can be used to determine whether the stack lifespan is declining too rapidly. This allows technicians to manually adjust the control strategy when the stack lifespan declines too rapidly, thereby further improving the fuel cell's lifespan.

[0051] Furthermore, the present invention proposes an electronic device.

[0052] In this embodiment of the invention, the electronic device includes a memory, a processor, and a control program for a fuel cell stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the control program for the fuel cell, it implements the above-described control method for the fuel cell.

[0053] The electronic device of this invention, by implementing the above-described control method for fuel cells, can acquire initial control parameters of the fuel cell upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, and then determine target control parameters based on these initial control parameters to perform stack loading control on the fuel cell. Furthermore, after performing stack loading control on the fuel cell, it also acquires the fuel cell's undershoot voltage, and determines whether the current target control parameters are applicable based on the undershoot voltage. Based on the determination result, a new initial control parameter is then determined, thereby enabling the control strategy for the fuel cell to adaptively change as the fuel cell's lifespan declines. Moreover, the adjusted target control parameters can be recorded, and the relationship between the target control parameters and the target adjustment range can be used to determine whether the fuel cell's lifespan is declining too rapidly. This allows technicians to manually adjust the control strategy when the fuel cell's lifespan declines too rapidly, thereby further improving the fuel cell's lifespan.

[0054] Furthermore, the present invention proposes a vehicle.

[0055] In this embodiment of the invention, the vehicle includes a fuel cell and the aforementioned electronic equipment.

[0056] The vehicle of this invention, through the aforementioned electronic device, can acquire the initial control parameters of the fuel cell upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, and then determine target control parameters based on these initial control parameters to perform stack loading control on the fuel cell. Furthermore, after performing stack loading control on the fuel cell, the down-thrust voltage of the fuel cell is acquired, and the applicability of the current target control parameters is determined based on the down-thrust voltage. A new initial control parameter is then determined based on the determination result, thereby enabling the control strategy for the fuel cell to adaptively change as the fuel cell's lifespan declines. Moreover, the adjusted target control parameters can be recorded, and the relationship between the target control parameters and the target adjustment range can be used to determine whether the stack lifespan is declining too rapidly. This allows technicians to manually adjust the control strategy when the stack lifespan declines too rapidly, thereby further improving the fuel cell's lifespan.

[0057] It should be noted that the logic and / or steps represented in the flowchart or otherwise described herein can be considered as a ordered list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can be specifically implemented in any computer-readable medium for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer-based system, a processor-included system, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions from, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device). For the purposes of this specification, "computer-readable medium" can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit programs for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media include: an electrical connection having one or more wires (electronic device), a portable computer disk drive (magnetic device), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable and editable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and portable optical disc read-only memory (CDROM). Alternatively, the computer-readable medium may be paper or other suitable media on which the program can be printed, since the program can be obtained electronically, for example, by optically scanning the paper or other medium, followed by editing, interpreting, or otherwise processing as necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0058] It should be understood that various parts of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented in software or firmware stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. If implemented in hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented using any one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing logical functions on data signals, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having suitable combinational logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0059] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0060] In the description of this specification, the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0061] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0062] In this specification, unless otherwise stated, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly defined. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0063] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0064] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a fuel cell, characterized in that, The method includes: Upon receiving a fuel cell stack loading request, the initial control parameters of the fuel cell are obtained; The target control parameters are determined based on the initial control parameters, and the fuel cell stack loading is controlled based on the target control parameters. The undershoot voltage of the fuel cell is obtained, and the initial control parameters for the next stack loading control are determined based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameters. The step of determining the target control parameter based on the initial control parameter includes: determining whether the initial control parameter is less than the corresponding indicator limit; if the initial control parameter is less than the indicator limit, then the initial control parameter is used as the target control parameter; if the initial control parameter is greater than or equal to the indicator limit, then the indicator limit is used as the target control parameter. When the initial control parameter is less than the index limit, the step of determining the initial control parameter for the next stack loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameter includes: determining whether the undershoot voltage is less than a voltage threshold; if the undershoot voltage is greater than the voltage threshold, then increasing the target control parameter and using the increased target control parameter as the initial control parameter for the next stack loading control. When the initial control parameter is greater than or equal to the index limit, determining the initial control parameter for the next stack loading control based on the undershoot voltage and the target control parameter includes: using the target control parameter as the initial control parameter for the next stack loading control.

2. The control method for a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control parameters include at least one of the following: fuel excess coefficient, fuel pressure, and fuel moisture.

3. The control method for a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, Increasing the target control parameter includes: Obtain the current stack lifetime of the fuel cell, and determine the increment of the control parameters based on the current stack lifetime; Increase the target control parameter by the amount of increase of the control parameter.

4. The control method for a fuel cell according to claim 3, characterized in that, After increasing the target control parameter, the method further includes: The target adjustment range is obtained based on the current fuel cell stack lifetime. Determine whether the increased target control parameters are within the target adjustment range; If the increased target control parameter is not within the target adjustment range, a fault warning will be issued.

5. The control method for a fuel cell according to claim 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determine whether the down-voltage is less than the voltage threshold; If the down-thrust voltage is greater than the voltage threshold, the current stack life of the fuel cell is obtained, and the target adjustment range is obtained based on the current stack life. Determine whether the target control parameter is within the target adjustment range; If the target control parameter is not within the target adjustment range, a fault warning will be issued.

6. An electronic device, characterized in that, The system includes a memory, a processor, and a control program for a fuel cell stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the control program for the fuel cell, it implements the control method for a fuel cell as described in any one of claims 1-5.

7. A vehicle, characterized in that, include: Fuel cell and electronic device as described in claim 6.

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