Stack start-up control method, device and sofc fuel cell system

Abstract

The application provides a stack starting control method and device and a SOFC fuel cell system. The stack starting control method is applied to the SOFC fuel cell system, the SOFC fuel cell system comprises a plurality of stacks, and the SOFC fuel cell system is used for supplying energy to an external load; the method comprises the following steps: obtaining a target input power of the load; calculating a target stack number according to a standard output power of a single stack and the target input power; selecting a corresponding number of stacks to start and output electric energy to the load based on the target stack number; obtaining a load prediction quantity; the load prediction quantity is a load demand quantity predicted by a power grid; and controlling a stack that has not started to be in a hot standby state or to be shut down based on the load prediction quantity; the hot standby state refers to a state in which the stack is maintained at a preset temperature and waits. The application can improve the accuracy and flexibility of power regulation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a fuel cell stack start-up control method, apparatus and SOFC fuel cell system. Background Technology

[0002] Fuel cells convert the Gibbs free energy portion of the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. Because they are not limited by the Carnot cycle effect, they have the advantage of high conversion efficiency. Furthermore, fuel cells use fuel and oxygen as raw materials, and the reaction device has virtually no mechanical transmission components, resulting in minimal emissions of harmful gases and a long service life. Due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, fuel cells have been extensively researched in the field of energy technology. Among them, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) belong to the third generation of fuel cells. They are all-solid-state chemical power generation devices that efficiently and environmentally convert the chemical energy stored in fuel and oxidant into electrical energy directly at medium to high temperatures.

[0003] In practical applications of SOFC fuel cells, the electrical energy generated by a single stack is insufficient to meet power demands. Therefore, multiple stacks are arranged into an array to provide power, thereby meeting actual needs and improving the stability and reliability of the stack system. However, during stack operation, the output power of the stack array typically needs to be adjusted according to output requirements. But due to the long start-up time and slow response of the stacks, precise and rapid power adjustment is difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a stack start-up control method, apparatus, and SOFC fuel cell system, which can improve the accuracy and flexibility of power regulation.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a fuel cell stack start-up control method applied to an SOFC fuel cell system, the SOFC fuel cell system comprising multiple fuel cell stacks, the SOFC fuel cell system being used to supply power to an external load; the method includes:

[0006] Obtain the target input power of the load;

[0007] The target number of fuel cells is calculated based on the standard output power of a single fuel cell stack and the target input power.

[0008] Based on the target number of fuel cells, select a corresponding number of fuel cells to start and output electrical energy to the load;

[0009] Obtain the load forecast; the load forecast is the load demand predicted by the power grid.

[0010] Based on the load forecast, the control system activates the hot standby state or shuts down the fuel cell stack that has not been started; the hot standby state refers to the state in which the fuel cell stack is maintained at a preset temperature and is in standby mode.

[0011] In one embodiment, the step of selecting a corresponding number of fuel cells based on the target number of fuel cells to start up and output electrical energy to the load includes:

[0012] If the target number of fuel cells is greater than the number of operating fuel cells in operation, then the number of standby fuel cells in hot standby mode is obtained.

[0013] If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is less than or equal to the number of standby fuel cells, then a corresponding number of standby fuel cells are selected and put into operation based on the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells.

[0014] If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is greater than the number of standby fuel cells, then all standby fuel cells are controlled to start and be put into operation, and the corresponding number of stopped fuel cells are controlled to start and be put into operation based on the difference between the difference and the number of standby fuel cells.

[0015] When all the fuel cells that have been put into operation have completed their startup, the startup of each fuel cell cell is controlled to output electrical energy to the load.

[0016] In one embodiment, controlling the non-started fuel cell stack to enter hot standby status or shut down based on the load forecast includes:

[0017] The target number of standby fuel cells is determined based on the predicted load and the number of operating fuel cells.

[0018] Based on the target number of standby fuel cells, control the corresponding number of fuel cells to activate hot standby mode;

[0019] Based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack, the remaining unstarted fuel cell stacks are controlled to either enter hot standby mode or be shut down.

[0020] In one embodiment, controlling the remaining unstarted fuel cells to enter hot standby mode or shut down based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack includes:

[0021] Obtain the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the remaining unstarted fuel cells;

[0022] If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is shut down.

[0023] If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is not lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is controlled to activate the hot standby state.

[0024] In one embodiment, the method further includes:

[0025] Control one or more operating fuel cells in operation to deliver anode exhaust gas to a standby fuel cell in a hot standby state to help the standby fuel cell maintain a preset temperature.

[0026] In one embodiment, the SOFC fuel cell system further includes an energy storage unit for charging and storing energy from the already started-up fuel cell stack when the stack being put into operation is not fully started; the method further includes:

[0027] The energy storage unit is controlled to supply energy to the standby stack in hot standby mode to maintain a preset temperature.

[0028] In one embodiment, the SOFC fuel cell system further includes a sacrificial stack; the method further includes:

[0029] The system controls the sacrificial fuel cell to output electrical energy to the standby fuel cell in hot standby mode, and / or controls the sacrificial fuel cell to deliver anode exhaust gas to the standby fuel cell to provide energy for maintaining a preset temperature for the standby fuel cell.

[0030] In one embodiment, when the SOFC fuel cell system further includes a sacrificial stack, the method further includes:

[0031] If it is detected that the electrical efficiency of the operating stack has decreased to a preset threshold, and the output power of the sacrificial stack is greater than the power required for the standby stack to maintain a preset temperature, then the sacrificial stack is controlled to output electrical energy to the load in order to make up the actual output power of the system to the target input power.

[0032] Secondly, this application provides a fuel cell stack start-up control device for use in an SOFC fuel cell system, the SOFC fuel cell system comprising multiple fuel cell stacks, the SOFC fuel cell system being used to supply power to an external load; the device includes:

[0033] The first acquisition module is used to acquire the target input power of the load;

[0034] The calculation module is used to calculate the target number of fuel cells based on the standard output power of a single fuel cell stack and the target input power;

[0035] The first control module is used to select a corresponding number of fuel cells to start based on the target number of fuel cells and output electrical energy to the load;

[0036] The second acquisition module is used to acquire the load forecast; the load forecast is the load demand predicted by the power grid.

[0037] The second control module is used to control the non-started fuel cell stack to either enable hot standby or shut down based on the load forecast; the hot standby state refers to the state in which the fuel cell stack is maintained at a preset temperature and in standby mode.

[0038] Thirdly, this application provides an SOFC fuel cell system for supplying energy to an external load, the system comprising: a control device and multiple fuel cell stacks;

[0039] The control device is equipped with one or more processors and a memory; the memory stores computer-readable instructions, and when the one or more processors execute the computer-readable instructions, they perform the steps of the stack startup control method described above.

[0040] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the embodiments of this application have the following advantages:

[0041] The stack start-up control method, apparatus, and SOFC fuel cell system provided in this application calculate the target number of stacks to be put into operation based on the target input power required by the load and the standard output power of a single stack. The corresponding number of stacks are selected to start up and output electrical energy. There is no need to distribute the output power by adjusting the power of multiple stacks, which reduces the error caused by the adjustment of the power regulator and improves the accuracy of power regulation. Furthermore, the method controls the stacks that have not been started to enter hot standby mode or shut down according to the load forecast. The method also adjusts the stack response time according to the load demand, which improves the flexibility and accuracy of power regulation. Attached Figure Description

[0042] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0043] Figure 1 Here is a flowchart of a fuel cell stack startup control method in one embodiment;

[0044] Figure 2 Here is a flowchart of the steps for enabling hot standby or shutdown of a non-started fuel cell stack based on load forecasts in one embodiment.

[0045] Figure 3 This is a structural block diagram of the fuel cell stack start-up control device in one embodiment;

[0046] Figure 4 This is a diagram of the internal structure of a computer device in one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0048] The stack start-up control method provided in this application is applied to an SOFC fuel cell system, which is used to supply power to an external load. The SOFC fuel cell system includes a control device and multiple stacks, which are used to form a stack array. The control device is used to control the stacks and also to control other controlled devices inside the SOFC fuel cell system.

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown in the figure, this application provides a fuel cell stack startup control method, the method comprising:

[0050] Step S101: Obtain the target input power of the load.

[0051] Target input power refers to the target power value that the system needs to input to the load. Target input power can be obtained from the load or from the power grid dispatch center.

[0052] Step S102: Calculate the target number of fuel cells based on the standard output power and target input power of a single fuel cell stack.

[0053] Calculate the ratio of the target input power to the standard output power of a single fuel cell stack. If the ratio is an integer, it is directly used to determine the target number of fuel cell stacks. If the ratio is not an integer, it is rounded up to determine the target number of fuel cell stacks. For example, if the ratio is 5.1, the target number of fuel cell stacks is 6. When the ratio is not an integer, a power conditioner is used to regulate the power of one of the fuel cell stacks ultimately put into operation, while the remaining stacks output power at full capacity without any power regulation, thus improving the accuracy of the total output power. When the ratio is an integer, all the fuel cell stacks ultimately put into operation output power at full capacity without the need for a power conditioner.

[0054] Step S103: Select the corresponding number of fuel cells based on the target number of fuel cells, start them up, and output electrical energy to the load.

[0055] "Complete startup of fuel cell stacks" means preheating to the operating temperature. The system only outputs electrical energy to the load when all selected fuel cell stacks have completed startup. In one embodiment, when only some fuel cell stacks have completed startup, during the preheating process of the remaining fuel cell stacks, the startup fuel cell stacks output energy to the energy storage unit configured in the system, and the energy storage unit stores the energy, reducing energy waste.

[0056] Step S104: Obtain the load forecast.

[0057] The load forecast refers to the load demand predicted by the power grid. To ensure stable system operation, the power grid dispatch center forecasts the load demand in advance, allowing for sufficient dispatching arrangements.

[0058] Step S105: Based on the load forecast, control the non-started fuel cell stacks to activate hot standby status or shut down.

[0059] Hot standby mode refers to the state in which the fuel cell stack maintains a preset temperature and remains in standby mode. The preset temperature is the preset hot standby temperature; in some embodiments, the preset temperature is the operating temperature of the fuel cell stack; in other embodiments, the preset temperature is slightly lower than the operating temperature. Fuel cell stacks in hot standby mode can shorten preheating time and improve the response speed of being put into operation. For fuel cell stacks not currently selected for operation, hot standby mode can be activated or the stacks can be shut down based on load forecasts, dynamically balancing response speed and power consumption. Hot standby mode can be used when improved response speed is required. Based on load forecasts, changes in load can be predicted, thereby determining whether more fuel cell stacks need to be deployed or fewer stacks need to be deployed at the predicted time. When more fuel cell stacks need to be deployed, the unactivated fuel cell stacks are put into hot standby mode, enabling rapid response when needed. In some embodiments, based on the predicted load changes, some fuel cell stacks can be selected to be put into hot standby mode, while the rest are shut down, ensuring response speed while reducing system power consumption.

[0060] The fuel cell stack startup control method provided in this embodiment calculates the number of target fuel cell stacks to be put into operation based on the target input power required by the load and the standard output power of a single fuel cell stack. It then selects the corresponding number of fuel cell stacks to start operation and output power. This eliminates the need for power regulation of multiple fuel cell stacks to distribute output power, reducing errors caused by power regulator adjustments and improving the accuracy of power regulation. Furthermore, it controls unstarted fuel cell stacks to either enter hot standby mode or be shut down based on load forecasts, and adjusts the fuel cell stack response time according to load demand, improving the flexibility and accuracy of power regulation. Simultaneously, it avoids damage to fuel cell stacks caused by excessively low output power of a single stack when multiple fuel cell stacks share output power equally, thus extending fuel cell stack lifespan.

[0061] In one embodiment, the step of selecting a corresponding number of fuel cells based on the target number of fuel cells for startup and outputting electrical energy to the load includes:

[0062] If the target number of fuel cells is greater than the number of operating fuel cells in operation, then obtain the number of standby fuel cells in hot standby mode.

[0063] If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is less than or equal to the number of standby fuel cells, then the corresponding number of standby fuel cells will be selected and put into operation based on the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells.

[0064] If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is greater than the number of standby fuel cells, then all standby fuel cells will be started and put into operation, and the corresponding number of stopped fuel cells will be started and put into operation based on the difference between the difference and the number of standby fuel cells.

[0065] When all the fuel cells that have been put into operation have completed their startup, the system controls the startup of each fuel cell to output electrical energy to the load.

[0066] If existing fuel cell stacks are already in operation, it's necessary to determine whether to increase or decrease the number of stacks to be put into operation based on the target number and the number of operating stacks. If the target number of stacks is less than or equal to the number of operating stacks, it means no additional stacks need to be put into operation, and in some cases, the number may even need to be reduced. If the number of stacks to be reduced, the stacks are switched to hot standby or shut down based on the difference. If the target number of stacks is greater than the number of operating stacks, it means additional stacks need to be put into operation. To improve response efficiency, standby stacks in hot standby mode are prioritized for operation. If the number of standby stacks is not less than the number of stacks to be added, the corresponding number of standby stacks are selected for operation based on the difference. If the number of standby stacks is greater than the number of stacks to be added, the missing stacks are calculated, and stacks are selected from the shut-down stacks to make up the difference.

[0067] like Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment, the step of controlling the non-started fuel cell stack to enter hot standby status or shut down based on load forecast includes:

[0068] Step S201: Determine the target number of standby fuel cells based on the load forecast and the number of operating fuel cells.

[0069] The target number of standby fuel cells refers to the number of fuel cells that need to be put into hot standby mode. If it is determined from the load forecast that more fuel cells need to be put into operation, then the target number of standby fuel cells is the number of fuel cells that need to be put into operation.

[0070] Step S202: Control the corresponding number of fuel cells to activate hot standby state according to the target number of standby fuel cells.

[0071] If there are no fuel cells in hot standby mode, the corresponding number of standby fuel cells will be heated to a preset temperature and put into standby mode according to the target number of standby fuel cells. If the number of fuel cells in hot standby mode is less than the target number of standby fuel cells, the standby fuel cells will be selected for preheating to make up for the shortfall.

[0072] Step S203: Based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack, control the remaining unstarted fuel cell stacks to either enable hot standby or shut down.

[0073] Cold start power consumption refers to the power consumption required for the fuel cell stack to start from a shutdown state and complete the startup process. Hot standby power consumption refers to the power consumption required for the fuel cell stack to maintain a hot standby state for a preset period of time, where the preset period can be the elapsed time from the current time to the predicted time corresponding to the load forecast. For fuel cell stacks that do not require rapid response, the lower power consumption method between hot standby and shutdown can be selected based on the magnitude of cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption.

[0074] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the remaining unstarted fuel cells to either enter hot standby mode or shut down based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack includes:

[0075] Obtain the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the remaining unstarted fuel cells;

[0076] If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is shut down.

[0077] If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is not lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is controlled to activate the hot standby state.

[0078] In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack startup control method further includes:

[0079] Control one or more operating fuel cells in operation to deliver anode exhaust gas to a standby fuel cell in a hot standby state to help the standby fuel cell maintain a preset temperature.

[0080] In this embodiment, the thermal energy of the anode exhaust gas generated by the operating fuel cell stack is used to assist in the heat preservation of the standby fuel cell stack, thereby reducing the energy consumption required for the standby fuel cell stack to maintain a preset temperature.

[0081] In one embodiment, the SOFC fuel cell system further includes an energy storage unit for charging and storing energy from the already started-up fuel cell stack when the stack being put into operation is not fully started; the stack start-up control method further includes:

[0082] The energy storage unit is controlled to supply energy to the standby stack in hot standby mode to maintain a preset temperature.

[0083] In this embodiment, since all the fuel cells that need to be put into operation need to be fully started when the system supplies power to the outside, when some fuel cells have not been started, the energy storage unit is used to store the energy produced by the fuel cells that have been started, so as to avoid waste. After storing energy, the energy storage unit can be used to provide power and heat preservation for standby fuel cells, realize the recovery and utilization of energy inside the system, and reduce system energy consumption.

[0084] In one embodiment, the SOFC fuel cell system further includes a sacrificial stack; the stack start-up control method further includes:

[0085] The sacrificial fuel cell is controlled to output electrical energy to the standby fuel cell in hot standby mode, and / or the sacrificial fuel cell is controlled to deliver anode exhaust gas to the standby fuel cell to provide energy for maintaining a preset temperature of the standby fuel cell.

[0086] In this embodiment, a sacrificial stack is configured in the SOFC fuel cell system. The sacrificial stack is controlled to provide electrical and / or thermal energy to the system, reducing the system's demand for external energy, improving stack response efficiency, and enabling the stack to quickly switch states. For example, the system contains 12 stacks, numbered 1-12, with a standard output power of 1kW for each stack, totaling 12kW. Stacks 11 and 12 can be used as sacrificial stacks, while the remaining 10 stacks (numbered 1-10) provide normal power output.

[0087] In one embodiment, when the SOFC fuel cell system further includes a sacrificial stack, the stack startup control method further includes:

[0088] If it is detected that the electrical efficiency of the operating stack has decreased to a preset threshold, and the output power of the sacrificial stack is greater than the power required for the standby stack to maintain a preset temperature, then the sacrificial stack is controlled to output electrical energy to the load to make up the actual output power of the system to the target input power.

[0089] Here, electrical efficiency is the ratio of actual output voltage to theoretical output voltage. As the fuel cell stack is used for a longer period of time, the actual output voltage will decrease, which will lead to a decrease in electrical efficiency. At this time, the voltage is usually increased by reducing the current to maintain electrical efficiency, but the power will decrease. In this embodiment, the output power is supplemented by sacrificing the fuel cell stack to make up for the decreased power, ensure the stability of the system output, and extend the system life.

[0090] It should be understood that although the steps in the flowcharts of the embodiments described above are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some steps in the flowcharts of the embodiments described above may include multiple steps or multiple stages. These steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages of other steps.

[0091] The following describes the fuel cell stack start-up control device provided in the embodiments of this application. The fuel cell stack start-up control device described below can be referred to in correspondence with the fuel cell stack start-up control method described above.

[0092] like Figure 3 As shown, this application provides a stack start-up control device 300 for SOFC fuel cell systems. The device includes:

[0093] The first acquisition module 301 is used to acquire the target input power of the load;

[0094] Calculation module 302 is used to calculate the target number of fuel cells based on the standard output power of a single fuel cell stack and the target input power;

[0095] The first control module 303 is used to select a corresponding number of fuel cells to start based on the target number of fuel cells and output electrical energy to the load;

[0096] The second acquisition module 304 is used to acquire the load forecast; the load forecast is the load demand predicted by the power grid.

[0097] The second control module 305 is used to control the non-started fuel cell stack to either enable hot standby or shut down based on the load forecast; the hot standby state refers to the state in which the fuel cell stack is maintained at a preset temperature and in standby mode.

[0098] In one embodiment, the first control module is configured to perform the following steps:

[0099] If the target number of fuel cells is greater than the number of operating fuel cells in operation, then the number of standby fuel cells in hot standby mode is obtained.

[0100] If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is less than or equal to the number of standby fuel cells, then a corresponding number of standby fuel cells are selected and put into operation based on the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells.

[0101] If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is greater than the number of standby fuel cells, then all standby fuel cells are controlled to start and be put into operation, and the corresponding number of stopped fuel cells are controlled to start and be put into operation based on the difference between the difference and the number of standby fuel cells.

[0102] When all the fuel cells that have been put into operation have completed their startup, the startup of each fuel cell cell is controlled to output electrical energy to the load.

[0103] In one embodiment, the second control module is configured to perform the following steps:

[0104] The target number of standby fuel cells is determined based on the predicted load and the number of operating fuel cells.

[0105] Based on the target number of standby fuel cells, control the corresponding number of fuel cells to activate hot standby mode;

[0106] Based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack, the remaining unstarted fuel cell stacks are controlled to either enter hot standby mode or be shut down.

[0107] In one embodiment, the second control module is configured to further perform the following steps:

[0108] Obtain the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the remaining unstarted fuel cells;

[0109] If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is shut down.

[0110] If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is not lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is controlled to activate the hot standby state.

[0111] In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack startup control device further includes:

[0112] The third control module is used to control one or more operating fuel cells in operation to deliver anode exhaust gas to a standby fuel cell in hot standby mode, so as to help the standby fuel cell maintain a preset temperature.

[0113] In one embodiment, the SOFC fuel cell system further includes an energy storage unit for charging and storing energy from the already started-up fuel cell stack when the stack being put into operation is not fully started; the stack start-up control device further includes:

[0114] The fourth control module is used to control the energy storage unit to supply energy to the standby stack in hot standby mode to maintain a preset temperature.

[0115] In one embodiment, the SOFC fuel cell system further includes a sacrificial stack; the stack start-up control device further includes:

[0116] The fifth control module is used to control the sacrificial fuel cell to output electrical energy to the standby fuel cell in hot standby mode, and / or to control the sacrificial fuel cell to deliver anode exhaust gas to the standby fuel cell to provide energy for maintaining the preset temperature of the standby fuel cell.

[0117] In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack startup control device further includes:

[0118] The sixth control module is used to control the sacrificial stack to output electrical energy to the load when it is detected that the electrical efficiency of the operating stack has decreased to a preset threshold and the output power of the sacrificial stack is greater than the power required for the standby stack to maintain a preset temperature, so as to make up the actual output power of the system to the target input power.

[0119] The division of modules in the above-described fuel cell stack startup control device is merely illustrative. In other embodiments, the fuel cell stack startup control device can be divided into different modules as needed to complete all or part of its functions. Each module in the above-described fuel cell stack startup control device can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, or a combination thereof. These modules can be embedded in or independent of the processor in a computer device in hardware form, or stored in the memory of a computer device in software form, so that the processor can call and execute the operations corresponding to each module.

[0120] In one embodiment, this application also provides a storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of the stack startup control method as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0121] In one embodiment, the control device of the SOFC fuel cell system is configured with one or more processors and a memory, the memory storing computer-readable instructions. When the one or more processors execute the computer-readable instructions, they perform the steps of the stack start-up control method as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0122] In one embodiment, a control device is provided, which may be a terminal, and its internal structure diagram may be as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the control device includes a processor, memory, communication interface, display screen, and input devices connected via a system bus. The processor provides computing and control capabilities. The memory includes non-volatile storage media and internal memory. The non-volatile storage media stores the operating system and computer programs. The internal memory provides an environment for the operation of the operating system and computer programs in the non-volatile storage media. The communication interface is used for wired or wireless communication with external terminals; wireless communication can be achieved through Wi-Fi, mobile cellular networks, NFC (Near Field Communication), or other technologies. When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements an electric stack startup control method. The display screen can be an LCD screen or an e-ink screen. The input devices can be a touch layer covering the display screen, buttons, a trackball, or a touchpad on the control device's casing, or an external keyboard, touchpad, or mouse.

[0123] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 4 The structure shown is merely a block diagram of a portion of the structure related to the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the control device applied thereto. The specific control device may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0124] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above methods. Any references to memory, databases, or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application can include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical memory, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can take many forms, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) or Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The databases involved in the embodiments provided in this application may include at least one type of relational database and non-relational database. Non-relational databases may include, but are not limited to, blockchain-based distributed databases. The processors involved in the embodiments provided in this application may be general-purpose processors, central processing units, graphics processing units, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, quantum computing-based data processing logic devices, etc., and are not limited to these.

[0125] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0126] 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 indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise expressly specified. Meanwhile, the term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of the associated listed items.

[0127] It should be noted that when one element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or connected to the other element through an intermediary element. Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, "connection" should be understood as "electrical connection," "communication connection," etc., if the connected circuits, modules, units, etc., transmit electrical signals or data to each other.

[0128] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The various embodiments can be combined as needed, and the same or similar parts can be referred to each other.

[0129] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the startup of an electric fuel cell stack, characterized in that, The method is applied to an SOFC fuel cell system, which includes multiple fuel cell stacks and is used to power an external load; the method includes: Obtain the target input power of the load; The target number of fuel cells is calculated based on the standard output power of a single fuel cell stack and the target input power. Based on the target number of fuel cells, select a corresponding number of fuel cells to start and output electrical energy to the load; Obtain the load forecast; the load forecast is the load demand predicted by the power grid. Based on the load forecast, the non-started fuel cell stack is controlled to either enter hot standby mode or be shut down; the hot standby mode refers to the state in which the fuel cell stack is maintained at a preset temperature and in standby mode. The control of non-started fuel cell stacks to activate hot standby or shut down based on the load forecast includes: The target number of standby fuel cells is determined based on the predicted load and the number of operating fuel cells. Based on the target number of standby fuel cells, control the corresponding number of fuel cells to activate hot standby mode; Based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack, the remaining unstarted fuel cell stacks are controlled to either be put into hot standby mode or shut down. The control of the remaining unstarted fuel cells to enter hot standby mode or be shut down based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack includes: Obtain the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the remaining unstarted fuel cells; If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is shut down. If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is not lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is controlled to activate the hot standby state.

2. The fuel cell stack start-up control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of selecting a corresponding number of fuel cells based on the target number of fuel cells, starting them up, and outputting electrical energy to the load includes: If the target number of fuel cells is greater than the number of operating fuel cells in operation, then the number of standby fuel cells in hot standby mode is obtained. If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is less than or equal to the number of standby fuel cells, then a corresponding number of standby fuel cells are selected and put into operation based on the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells. If the difference between the target number of fuel cells and the number of operating fuel cells is greater than the number of standby fuel cells, then all standby fuel cells are controlled to start and be put into operation, and the corresponding number of stopped fuel cells are controlled to start and be put into operation based on the difference between the difference and the number of standby fuel cells. When all the fuel cells that have been put into operation have completed their startup, the startup of each fuel cell cell is controlled to output electrical energy to the load.

3. The fuel cell stack start-up control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Control one or more operating fuel cells in operation to deliver anode exhaust gas to a standby fuel cell in a hot standby state to help the standby fuel cell maintain a preset temperature.

4. The fuel cell stack start-up control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The SOFC fuel cell system further includes an energy storage unit for charging and storing energy from the already started-up fuel cell stack when the stack being put into operation is not fully started; the method further includes: The energy storage unit is controlled to supply energy to the standby stack in hot standby mode to maintain a preset temperature.

5. The fuel cell stack start-up control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The SOFC fuel cell system further includes a sacrificial stack; the method further includes: The system controls the sacrificial fuel cell to output electrical energy to the standby fuel cell in hot standby mode, and / or controls the sacrificial fuel cell to deliver anode exhaust gas to the standby fuel cell to provide energy for maintaining a preset temperature for the standby fuel cell.

6. The fuel cell stack start-up control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the SOFC fuel cell system further includes a sacrificial stack, the method further includes: If it is detected that the electrical efficiency of the operating stack has decreased to a preset threshold, and the output power of the sacrificial stack is greater than the power required for the standby stack to maintain a preset temperature, then the sacrificial stack is controlled to output electrical energy to the load in order to make up the actual output power of the system to the target input power.

7. A fuel cell stack start-up control device, characterized in that, An application in an SOFC fuel cell system, the SOFC fuel cell system comprising multiple fuel cell stacks, the SOFC fuel cell system being used to supply power to an external load; the device includes: The first acquisition module is used to acquire the target input power of the load; The calculation module is used to calculate the target number of fuel cells based on the standard output power of a single fuel cell stack and the target input power; The first control module is used to select a corresponding number of fuel cells to start based on the target number of fuel cells and output electrical energy to the load; The second acquisition module is used to acquire the load forecast; the load forecast is the load demand predicted by the power grid. The second control module is used to control the non-started fuel cell stack to either activate a hot standby state or shut down based on the load forecast; the hot standby state refers to the state in which the fuel cell stack is maintained at a preset temperature and in standby mode. The second control module is specifically used to: determine the target number of standby electric stacks based on the load forecast and the number of operating electric stacks; control the corresponding number of electric stacks to activate the hot standby state according to the target number of standby electric stacks; and control the remaining unstarted electric stacks to activate the hot standby state or shut down based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the electric stacks. The control of the remaining unstarted fuel cells to enter hot standby mode or be shut down based on the magnitude of the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the fuel cell stack includes: Obtain the cold start power consumption and hot standby power consumption of the remaining unstarted fuel cells; If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is shut down. If the cold start power consumption of any unstarted fuel cell stack is not lower than the hot standby power consumption, then the unstarted fuel cell stack is controlled to activate the hot standby state.

8. An SOFC fuel cell system, characterized in that, The system is used to power an external load, and the system includes: a control device and multiple fuel cells; The control device is equipped with one or more processors and a memory; the memory stores computer-readable instructions, and when the one or more processors execute the computer-readable instructions, they perform the steps of the stack startup control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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