Method for determining efficiency of water separator and related device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the efficiency of a water separator and a related device. The method comprises the steps that the drainage duration of a drainage valve of the fuel cell system is obtained, the drainage valve is used for discharging water separated by a water separator, and the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage ending moment of the drainage valve in the open state. The method also includes acquiring a state parameter of the fuel cell system, the state parameter being used for determining an inflow amount of water flowing into the water separator, and the state parameter includes at least one of the following: a water diffusion rate of a membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, a degree of aging of the membrane electrode, a temperature of an anode of the fuel cell system, or a pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. In addition, the method further comprises the step of determining the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration and the state parameters. In this way, the water separation efficiency of the water outlet separator can be accurately determined on the basis of the drainage duration and the state parameters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and more particularly, to a method and related device for determining the efficiency of a water separator. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell stack generates electrical energy through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen on a membrane electrode, and water is usually generated during this process. The water in the fuel cell stack is usually generated at the cathode, and most of it is discharged through the air outlet of the cathode circuit. During the operation of the fuel cell system, a part of the water diffuses from the cathode to the anode through the membrane electrode, so that the hydrogen in the anode circuit is mixed with water.

[0003] If the water in the anode is not treated, a large amount of water will accumulate in the anode of the fuel cell stack, blocking the gas diffusion layer of the membrane electrode and causing flooding, which may damage the membrane electrode of the fuel cell stack and affect the normal operation of the fuel cell stack. Therefore, a water separator is usually provided in the anode circuit of the fuel cell system. The water separator can separate the hydrogen and water in the anode circuit and discharge the water through a drain valve, thereby avoiding the flooding of the fuel cell stack. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure propose a method and related device for determining the efficiency of a water separator. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the water separation efficiency of the water separator of the fuel cell system can be determined based on the drainage duration of the drain valve and the state parameters of the fuel cell system. Since the drainage duration can reflect the actual duration for the drain valve to discharge the water separated by the water separator, and the state parameters of the fuel cell system can determine the amount of water flowing into the water separator, the water separation efficiency of the water separator can be accurately determined based on the drainage duration of the drain valve and the state parameters of the fuel cell system.

[0005] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method for determining the efficiency of a water separator is provided. The method includes obtaining the drainage duration of a drain valve of a fuel cell system, where the drain valve is used to discharge the water separated by the water separator, and the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end time when the drain valve is in the open state. The method further includes obtaining the state parameters of the fuel cell system, where the state parameters are used to determine the inflow water amount flowing into the water separator, and the state parameters include at least one of the following: the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, or the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. In addition, the method further includes determining the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration and the state parameters.

[0006] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a duration acquisition module configured to acquire the drainage duration of a drainage valve of a fuel cell system, where the drainage valve is used to drain the water separated by a water separator, and the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end moment when the drainage valve is in an open state. The apparatus further includes a state acquisition module configured to acquire state parameters of the fuel cell system, where the state parameters are used to determine the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator, and the state parameters include at least one of the following: the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, or the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. In addition, the apparatus further includes an efficiency determination module configured to determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration and the state parameters.

[0007] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a controller is provided. The controller includes one or more processors; and a storage device for storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method provided according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0008] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system includes the controller provided according to the third aspect of the present disclosure.

[0009] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a machine-readable storage medium is provided. Machine-executable instructions are stored on the machine-readable storage medium, where the machine-executable instructions are executed by a processor to implement the method provided according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0010] It should be understood that the content described in the summary of the invention section is not intended to limit the key or important features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In combination with the drawings and with reference to the following detailed description, the above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements, where:

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a fuel cell system in some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0013] Figure 2 A flowchart of a method for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0014] Figure 3Shows a schematic diagram of a scenario for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 4A Shows a schematic diagram of the relationship between the anode pressure and the drain valve state according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 4B Shows a schematic diagram of the relationship between the hydrogen concentration and the drain valve state according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 5 Shows a method for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 6 Shows a block diagram of a device for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0019] Figure 7 Shows a block diagram of a device that can implement multiple embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments

[0020] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although some embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to more thoroughly and completely understand the present disclosure. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are only for illustrative purposes and are not used to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "including" and its similar terms should be understood as an open inclusion, that is, "including but not limited to". The term "based on" should be understood as "at least partially based on". The term "one embodiment" or "the embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc. may refer to different or the same objects. There may also be other explicit and implicit definitions hereinafter.

[0022] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, each physical quantity is only schematically given and cannot be a limitation on the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the amount of water can be represented by the mass of water, the volume of water, or the amount of substance of water. For another example, the unit of mass can be grams (g) or kilograms (kg). For another example, the unit of water flow rate can be grams per second (g / s) or kilograms per minute (kg / min).

[0023] As described above, in a fuel cell system, a water separator can be used to separate water in the anode of a fuel cell stack to avoid flooding of the fuel cell stack. Currently, during the use of a fuel cell system, the fuel cell stack may still be flooded. The flooding of the fuel cell stack can be detected by a cell voltage monitor (CVM), but this method can only detect flooding after the fuel cell stack has been flooded and cannot predict flooding before it occurs. If flooding is detected by this method, the fuel cell stack may have been damaged due to flooding.

[0024] The inventors of the present application have found through research that the flooding of a fuel cell stack is usually caused by a decrease in the water separation efficiency of the water separator in the fuel cell system. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water separation efficiency of the water separator may be the efficiency at which the water separator separates the water flowing into it. If the water separation efficiency of the water separator decreases, the water flowing into the water separator from the anode outlet of the fuel cell stack cannot be normally separated and instead continues to return to the anode circuit, which will cause an increase in the water in the anode and lead to flooding of the fuel cell stack. Therefore, the flooding situation of the fuel cell stack can be predicted by detecting the water separation efficiency of the water separator. However, currently, there is a lack of a method for detecting the water separation efficiency of the water separator in a fuel cell system.

[0025] To this end, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a solution for determining the efficiency of a water separator. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the drainage duration of the drain valve of the fuel cell system and the state parameters of the fuel cell system can be obtained, where the drain valve is used to drain the water separated by the water separator, the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end time when the drain valve is in the open state, and the state parameters of the fuel cell system are related to the amount of water permeating from the cathode of the fuel cell stack through the membrane electrode to the anode. Based on the drainage duration of the drain valve and the state parameters of the fuel cell system, the water separation efficiency of the water separator can be determined.

[0026] In this way, the efficiency of the water separator in the fuel cell system is determined based on the drainage duration of the drain valve and the state parameters of the fuel cell system, where the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end time when the drain valve is in the open state, and this drainage duration can reflect the actual duration for the drain valve to drain the water separated by the water separator. Therefore, based on this drainage duration, the water separation efficiency of the water separator can be determined more accurately. And since the amount of water flowing into the water separator is affected by the state parameters of the fuel cell system, based on the state parameters of the fuel cell system, the water separation efficiency of the water separator can be accurately determined.

[0027] Figure 1Shows a schematic diagram of a fuel cell system 100 in some embodiments of the present disclosure. As Figure 1 shown, in the fuel cell system 100, a fuel cell stack 101 is included. The fuel cell stack 101 includes an anode 102, a membrane electrode 103, and a cathode 104. In the fuel cell stack 101, hydrogen in the anode 102 and oxygen in the cathode 104 can undergo an electrochemical reaction on the membrane electrode 103 to generate electrical energy, thereby powering a load through a DC / DC converter 105. The fuel cell system 100 further includes a hydrogen injector 106, a water separator 107, a hydrogen circulation pump 108, a drain valve 109, an exhaust valve 110, an air compressor 111, a back pressure valve 112, and a tail exhaust 113.

[0028] Among them, the hydrogen injector 106 can supply hydrogen from the hydrogen storage system to the anode 102 of the fuel cell stack 101 and control the pressure and flow rate of the hydrogen. The water separator 107 can separate the liquid water in the anode 102. The hydrogen circulation pump 108 can circulate the unreacted hydrogen in the anode 102 from the outlet of the anode 102 to the inlet of the anode 102. The drain valve 109 can discharge the liquid water separated by the water separator. The exhaust valve 110 can discharge the impurity gas (such as nitrogen) when the concentration of the impurity gas in the anode 102 becomes high. The air compressor 111 is used to pressurize the air and supply air to the cathode 104 of the fuel cell stack 120. The back pressure valve 112 is used to adjust the gas pressure in the cathode 104 and discharge the exhaust gas (mainly nitrogen) after the reaction in the cathode 104. The water discharged by the drain valve 109 and the gases discharged by the exhaust valve 110 and the back pressure valve 112 are all discharged from the fuel cell system through the tail exhaust 113.

[0029] It should be understood that Figure 1The fuel cell system 100 shown is only an example of the embodiments of the present disclosure and should not limit the solutions provided by the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system 100 may further include more or fewer components. Exemplarily, in some embodiments, the fuel cell system 100 may further include a cooling circuit. In some embodiments, shut-off valves may be provided at the inlet and outlet of the anode 102. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system 100 may further include an intercooler for cooling air and a humidifier for humidifying air. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system 100 may also be configured with various sensors, including but not limited to a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell stack 120, a humidity sensor for detecting the air humidity in the cathode 104, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the anode 102 or cathode 104, etc. It should also be understood that the fuel cell system in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to various scenarios and can be used as a power source or auxiliary power in various devices, including but not limited to vehicles, yachts, aerospace equipment, underwater power equipment, etc.

[0030] The operation, startup, and shutdown of each component in the fuel cell system 100 can be controlled by a controller (not shown in Figure 1 ). The controller 110 can also obtain the sensing signals of the sensors configured in the fuel cell system 100. The controller can be, for example, a fuel cell control unit (FCCU). In some embodiments, the controller can detect the aging degree of the membrane electrode 103. In some embodiments, the controller can detect the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode 103. In some embodiments, the controller can obtain the pressures in the cathode 104 and anode 103 from the pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the controller can obtain the temperature of the fuel cell stack 101 from the temperature sensor.

[0031] In some embodiments, the controller can control the opening and closing of the drain valve 109 and obtain the state parameters of the fuel cell system 100. The state parameters can include but are not limited to the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode 103 of the fuel cell system 100, the aging degree of the membrane electrode 103, the temperature of the anode 102, and the pressure difference between the cathode 104 and anode 103. The controller can determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator 107 based on the drainage duration of the drain valve 109 and the state parameters.

[0032] Figure 2 FIG. shows a flowchart of a method 200 for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 200 can be executed by a device for determining the efficiency of a water separator, such as a controller for controlling a fuel cell system, such as an FCCU. Next, taking the controller as the execution subject as an example, the method 200 will be described. AsFigure 2 As shown, method 200 may include block 202 to block 206.

[0033] In block 202, the controller may obtain the drainage duration of the drainage valve of the fuel cell system, where the drainage valve is used to drain the water separated by the water separator, and the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end time when the drainage valve is in the open state. In the fuel cell system, when the drainage valve is open, the drainage valve first drains the liquid water separated by the water separator. If the drainage valve has not been closed after the liquid water is drained out, the drainage valve will drain the hydrogen of the anode. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the drainage duration includes the duration when the drainage valve actually drains water in the open state, and this drainage duration can be determined based on the drainage end time when the drainage valve ends drainage. In some embodiments, this drainage duration is determined by the controller. In some embodiments, this drainage duration is obtained by the controller from other devices, for example, from the device used to control the drainage valve, or from the device used to control the fuel cell system.

[0034] In block 204, the controller may obtain the state parameters of the fuel cell system, where the state parameters are used to determine the amount of water flowing into the water separator, and the state parameters include at least one of the following: the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, or the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, the state parameters obtained by the controller include the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, and the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. During the operation of the fuel cell system, the amount of water permeating from the cathode to the anode of the fuel cell stack may be affected by the operating state of the fuel cell system, and the amount of water flowing into the water separator will also be affected accordingly. The state parameters of the fuel cell system can reflect the operating state of the fuel cell system. By obtaining the state parameters of the fuel cell system, the amount of water flowing into the water separator can be accurately determined.

[0035] In block 206, the controller determines the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration and the state parameters. In some embodiments, the controller may obtain the drainage duration and the state parameters, and determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on a predefined water separation efficiency determination model. In some embodiments, based on the obtained drainage duration, the controller can determine the amount of water separated by the water separator (for the sake of distinction and description, referred to as the separated water amount). Based on the obtained state parameters, the controller can determine the amount of water flowing into the water separator (for the sake of distinction and description, referred to as the inflow water amount). Based on the inflow water amount and the separated water amount, the controller can determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator.

[0036] It should be noted that although it is shown in Figure 2 that the block 202 is before the block 204, it is not intended to limit the order of operations performed at the block 202 and the block 204. On the contrary, the operations performed at the block 202 and the block 204 can be performed in a swapped order or simultaneously. In this way, the method 200 can determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration of the drain valve and the state parameters of the fuel cell system. Since the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator can be accurately determined by the state parameters of the fuel cell system, and the separated water volume separated by the water separator can be accurately determined by the drainage duration of the drain valve, therefore, based on the drainage duration and the state parameters of the fuel cell system, the water separation efficiency of the water separator can be accurately determined.

[0037] Next, the method provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by taking the scenario shown in Figure 3 as an example. Figure 3 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of a scenario 300 for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the Figure 3 shown scenario 300, it includes a controller 310. The controller 310 may include a time determination module 311, a separated water volume determination module 312, an inflow water volume determination module 313, and an efficiency determination module 314. Through these modules, the controller 310 can implement the foregoing method 200. Exemplarily, in some embodiments, the time determination module 311 may obtain the drainage duration of the drain valve. In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination module 312 may determine the separated water volume separated by the water separator based on the drainage duration. In some embodiments, the inflow water volume determination module 313 may obtain the state parameter 320 of the fuel cell system and determine the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator based on the state parameter 320. In some embodiments, the efficiency determination module 314 may determine the efficiency of the water separator based on the separated water volume and the inflow water volume.

[0038] In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 may obtain the opening time and the drainage end time of the drain valve, and determine the drainage duration based thereon. Exemplarily, the time determination module 311 may use the time difference between the drainage end time and the drainage opening time as the drainage duration. In some embodiments, the drain valve of the fuel cell system opens and closes at a predefined period, and the time determination module 311 may obtain the opening and closing period of the drain valve, so as to determine the opening time of the drain valve. In some embodiments, the controller 310 may control the opening and closing of the drain valve, and record the opening time of the drain valve in the local memory, and the time determination module 311 may obtain the opening time of the drain valve from the local memory. The control of the drain valve by the controller 310 may be, for example, that the controller detects the liquid level of the water separated by the water separator through a liquid level detection device arranged in the water separator, opens the drain valve when the detected liquid level reaches the predetermined opening liquid level threshold, and closes the drain valve when the detected liquid level is lower than the predetermined closing threshold. In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 may obtain the opening time of the drain valve from other devices used to control the drain valve.

[0039] In some embodiments, after the drain valve is opened, the time determination module 311 may obtain the anode pressure of the fuel cell system, and determine the drainage end time based on the anode pressure of the fuel cell system. A pressure sensor may be arranged in the anode of the fuel cell system, and the pressure sensor may detect the pressure in the anode, and the time determination module 311 may obtain the anode pressure from the pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 may obtain the pressure at the anode gas outlet from a pressure sensor arranged at the anode gas outlet and use it as the anode pressure. In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 may obtain the pressure at the anode gas inlet from a pressure sensor arranged at the anode gas inlet and use it as the anode pressure.

[0040] In some embodiments, after the drain valve is opened, the time determination module 311 may continuously record the change of the anode pressure over time, and determine the change rate of the anode pressure. The time determination module 311 may determine whether the anode pressure has a sudden change through the change rate of the anode pressure, and use the time when the anode pressure has a sudden change as the drainage end time. In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 may use the time when the anode pressure is lower than a predetermined pressure threshold as the drainage end time. In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 may use the time when the anode pressure is at the lowest point as the drainage end time. When the drain valve is in the open state, if the drainage ends, the drain valve starts to discharge the hydrogen in the anode, and at this time the anode pressure will decrease. Therefore, the drainage end time can be accurately determined through the anode pressure.

[0041] Exemplarily, Figure 4AA schematic diagram showing the relationship between the anode pressure and the state of the drain valve in some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. In Figure 4A it includes curve 401 and curve 402. Taking the fuel cell system 100 in the foregoing Figure 1 as an example, curve 401 can indicate the state of the drain valve 109, where 0 can indicate that the drain valve 109 is in the closed state, and 1 can indicate that the drain valve 109 is in the open state. Curve 402 can represent the anode pressure of the fuel cell stack 101. As Figure 4A shown, the opening time of the drain valve 109 can be at time t1, and the closing time of the drain valve 109 can be at time t2. During the period from time t1 to time t2, the drain valve 109 is in the open state, and the water separated by the water separator 107 can be discharged. At time t3 between time t1 and time t2, the water in the water separator 107 is drained out. At this time, the drain valve 109 is still in the open state, and the hydrogen in the anode 102 is discharged through the drain valve 109, resulting in a decrease in the anode pressure. Therefore, the time determination module 311 can determine the drain end time t3 through the anode pressure. In some embodiments, during the entire opening stage of the drain valve, the drain valve is draining water and no gas is discharged, and the anode pressure of the fuel cell system does not drop below a predetermined pressure threshold. At this time, the closing time of the drain valve can be used as the drain end time. That is to say, in Figure 4A the time t3 can be equal to the time t2.

[0042] In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 can obtain the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust of the fuel cell system after the drain valve is opened, and determine the drain end time based on the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust. A hydrogen concentration sensor can be provided in the tail exhaust of the fuel cell system, and the hydrogen concentration sensor can detect the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust. The time determination module 311 can obtain the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust from the hydrogen concentration sensor. In some embodiments, after the drain valve is opened, the time determination module 311 can continuously record the change of the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust over time, and determine the change rate of the hydrogen concentration. The time determination module 311 can determine whether the hydrogen concentration has a sudden change through the change rate of the hydrogen concentration, and determine the drain end time based on the time when the hydrogen concentration has a sudden change. In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 can determine the drain end time based on the time when the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust is greater than or equal to a predetermined concentration threshold. The time required for hydrogen to flow from the drain valve to the hydrogen concentration sensor in the tail exhaust can be predefined in the controller 310, and the time determination module 311 can determine the drain end time based on the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust on this basis.

[0043] Exemplarily, Figure 4B a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the hydrogen concentration and the state of the drain valve in some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. In Figure 4BIt includes curve 401 and curve 403. Taking the fuel cell system 100 in the foregoing Figure 1 as an example, curve 401 can indicate the state of the drain valve 109, where 0 can indicate that the drain valve 109 is in the closed state, and 1 can indicate that the drain valve 109 is in the open state. Curve 403 can represent the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust 113. As Figure 4B shown, the opening time of the drain valve 109 can be at time t1, and the closing time of the drain valve 109 can be at time t2. During the period from time t1 to time t2, the drain valve 109 is in the open state and can discharge the water separated by the water separator 107. After the water in the water separator 107 is drained out, the drain valve 109 starts to discharge hydrogen. At time t4, the time determination module 311 detects an increase in the hydrogen concentration through the hydrogen concentration sensor in the tail exhaust 113, and the time determination module 311 can determine the drain end time accordingly. Exemplarily, the predefined time required for hydrogen to flow from the drain valve to the hydrogen concentration sensor in the tail exhaust in the time determination module 311 is t5, then the drain end time is t4 - t5.

[0044] In some embodiments, the time determination module 311 can also determine the drain end time based on the anode pressure and the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust. Exemplarily, the time determination module 311 can determine a drain end time (referred to as the first drain end time) based on the anode pressure, and determine another drain end time (referred to as the second drain end time) based on the hydrogen concentration in the tail exhaust. The time determination module 311 can take the average value of the first drain end time and the second drain end time as the final drain end time. In this way, the determined drain end time can be made more accurate.

[0045] In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination module 312 can determine the separated water volume based on the drain duration and the water flow rate flowing through the drain valve during the drain duration. In some embodiments, the water flow rate can be obtained from a speed sensor provided on the drain valve. In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination module 312 can obtain the pressure difference across the drain valve during the drain duration, and the water flow rate is determined based on the pressure difference across the drain valve. In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination module 312 can take the difference between the pressure obtained from the pressure sensor at the anode outlet of the fuel cell stack and the pressure obtained from the pressure sensor in the tail exhaust of the fuel cell system as the pressure difference across the drain valve. Based on the pressure difference, the water flow rate flowing through the drain valve can be determined. Exemplarily, the water flow rate can be determined by the following formula:

[0046]

[0047] Among them, V represents the water flow velocity, and the unit can be, for example, grams per second. ρ represents the density of water, A represents the average cross-sectional area of the drain valve, g represents the acceleration due to gravity, h represents the average height of the liquid water in the water separator, and ΔP represents the pressure difference across the drain valve. Among them, ρ, A, and g can be predefined, and h can be obtained by the separated water volume determination module 312 from the liquid level sensor disposed in the water separator.

[0048] In some embodiments, the water flow velocity V determined by the separated water volume determination module 312 can be the average water flow velocity V flowing through the drain valve during the drainage duration. avrg , the separated water volume determination module 312 can determine the separated water volume through the following formula:

[0049] W out =V avrg ×T out (2)

[0050] Among them, W out represents the separated water volume, T out represents the drainage duration, and T out can be determined by the time determination module 311.

[0051] In some embodiments, the water flow velocity V determined by the separated water volume determination module 312 can be the instantaneous water flow velocity V(t) determined in real time. The separated water volume determination module 312 can determine the separated water volume through the following formula:

[0052]

[0053] Among them, W out represents the separated water volume, T1 represents the opening time of the drain valve, T2 represents the end time of drainage, and T1 and T2 can be determined by the time determination module 311.

[0054] In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination module 312 can also determine the type of the water separator and determine the separated water volume based on the type of the water separator. In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination module 312 can determine the separated water volume through the following formula:

[0055] W out =F×V avrg ×T out (4)

[0056] Among them, W out represents the separated water volume, T out represents the drainage duration, V avrgrepresents the average water flow velocity flowing into the drain valve, F is an influencing factor, which is determined by the separated water volume determining module 312 based on the type of water separator, and the corresponding relationship between F and the type of water separator can be predefined. In some embodiments, the separated water volume determining module 312 can determine the separated water volume through the following formula:

[0057]

[0058] where, W out represents the separated water volume, T1 represents the opening moment of the drain valve, T2 represents the end moment of drainage, V(t) represents the instantaneous water flow velocity, and F is the influencing factor determined by the separated water volume determining module 312 based on the type of water separator.

[0059] In some embodiments, the inflow water volume determining module 313 can obtain the state parameter 320 of the fuel cell system, and determine the inflow water volume into the water separator based on the state parameter 320 and the end moment of drainage determined by the moment determining module 311. Among them, the end moment of drainage is used to determine the water inflow duration into the water separator. In some embodiments, the inflow water volume determining module 313 can obtain the moment when the drain valve was closed last time, so as to determine the water inflow duration based on the moment when the drain valve was closed last time and the end moment of drainage. Exemplarily, taking the foregoing Figure 4A as an example, the end moment of drainage can be t3, the moment when the drain valve was closed last time can be t0, and the water inflow duration can be t3 - t0.

[0060] In some embodiments, the state parameter 320 of the fuel cell system obtained by the inflow water volume determining module 313 can include the water diffusion velocity of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the aging degree of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, or the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, the inflow water volume determining module 313 can determine the inflow water volume based on the water inflow duration and the water diffusion velocity of the membrane electrode. In some embodiments, the inflow water volume determining module 313 can determine the inflow water volume based on the water diffusion velocity of the membrane electrode, the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system, and the water inflow duration. In some embodiments, the inflow water volume determining module 313 can determine the inflow water volume based on the water inflow duration, the water diffusion velocity of the membrane electrode, the aging degree of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, and the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system.

[0061] The amount of water flowing into the water separator is the water that permeates from the cathode of the membrane electrode to the anode of the membrane electrode. The amount of water flowing in can be determined based on the water diffusion rate in the membrane electrode and the water inflow time. The penetration of water in the membrane electrode is also affected by the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode. Therefore, considering the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode when determining the amount of water flowing in can make the determined amount of water flowing in more accurate. The penetration of water in the membrane electrode is also affected by the aging degree of the membrane electrode. Therefore, considering the aging degree of the membrane electrode when determining the amount of water flowing in can make the determined amount of water flowing in more accurate. The condensation and evaporation of water in the anode will be affected by the temperature. The water separator separates the liquid water in the anode. Therefore, the temperature of the anode can also be considered when determining the amount of water flowing in, so that the determined amount of water flowing in can be more accurate.

[0062] In some embodiments, the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode is pre-stored in the memory of the controller 310, and the inflow water determination module 313 can obtain the water diffusion rate from the memory. In some embodiments, the inflow water determination module 313 can obtain the current value currently output by the fuel cell system from the DC / DC converter of the fuel cell system, and determine the current water flow rate of the membrane electrode based on the current value. The corresponding relationship between the current value and the water flow rate can be predefined. In some embodiments, the aging degree of the membrane electrode is pre-stored in the memory of the controller 310 by the controller 310, and the inflow water determination module 313 can obtain the aging degree of the membrane electrode from the memory. In some embodiments, the controller 310 can also update the aging degree of the membrane electrode. In some embodiments, the temperature of the anode is obtained by the inflow water determination module 313 from the temperature sensor configured at the anode. In some embodiments, the inflow water determination module 313 can obtain the temperature of the coolant in the cooling circuit of the fuel cell system and use it as the temperature of the anode.

[0063] In some embodiments, after obtaining the state parameter 320 of the fuel cell system and the water inflow duration, the inflow water volume determination module 313 can determine the inflow water volume based on a predefined inflow water volume model. The inflow water volume model can be experimentally calibrated and pre-stored in the memory of the controller 310, or it can be obtained by the inflow water volume determination module 313 from other devices or a server configured in the cloud.

[0064] It should be understood that the water inflow duration determined by the inflow water volume determination module 313 and the separation water volume determined by the separation water volume determination module 312 are related, and both correspond to the same drain valve opening period. Figure 3 , Figure 4A and Figure 4BExemplarily described is the separated water volume and the inflowing water volume determined within one drainage valve opening cycle, which should not be construed as a limitation to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the determined inflowing water volume may be the total inflowing water volume into the water separator within multiple drainage valve opening cycles, and the determined separated water volume may correspondingly include the total separated water volume discharged by the drainage valve within multiple drainage valve opening cycles. The total separated water volume may be determined based on multiple drainage durations during which the drainage valve is in the open state multiple times.

[0065] Based on the separated water volume determined by the separated water volume determination module 312 and the inflowing water volume determined by the inflowing water volume determination module 313, the efficiency determination module 314 may determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator. Exemplarily, the water separation efficiency may be determined by the following formula:

[0066] E=(W out / W in )×100% (6)

[0067] where E represents the water separation efficiency, W out represents the separated water volume, and W in is the inflowing water volume.

[0068] It should be noted that the formulas provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only illustrative for explanation purposes and should not be construed as a limitation to the solutions provided by the present disclosure. In some embodiments, each formula may also be reasonably transformed and presented in other forms. It should be understood that Figure 3 the illustrated scenario 300 is only an example of the embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the controller 300 may include more or fewer modules. In some embodiments, the functions of multiple different modules in the controller 300 may also be implemented by one module. Exemplarily, in some embodiments, the module 311 may not be included in the controller 310. That is to say, the determination of the drainage end moment may also be performed by other devices, such as other controllers or processors for monitoring the fuel cell system. The controller 310 may obtain the drainage end moment from these devices. In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination module 312, the inflowing water volume determination module 313, and the efficiency determination module 314 may be one module, and this module may obtain the opening moment of the drainage valve, the drainage end moment of the drainage valve, the water flow velocity, and the state parameters, and directly determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator.

[0069] In some embodiments, the controller may obtain the water separation efficiency of the water separator of the fuel cell system and predict the flooding of the fuel cell stack in the fuel cell system based on the efficiency of the water separator. Exemplarily, the controller may determine the probability of flooding of the fuel cell stack based on the water separation efficiency. In some embodiments, the controller may compare the water separation efficiency of the water separator with a predefined efficiency threshold. When the water separation efficiency is greater than or equal to the predefined efficiency threshold, it is determined that the fuel cell stack will not be flooded. When the water separation efficiency is less than the predefined efficiency threshold, it is determined that the fuel cell stack will be flooded.

[0070] In some embodiments, when the water separation efficiency is less than the predefined efficiency threshold, the controller may also execute a fault handling strategy corresponding to the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, the controller may send an indication message to a superior device or to a user interface, the indication message indicating that the fuel cell stack is about to be flooded, or indicating that the efficiency of the water separator is low, so that the situation that the fuel cell stack is about to be flooded or the water separator needs to be replaced can be notified to other devices or users, enabling the user to take corresponding measures in time before the fuel cell stack is flooded. In some embodiments, the controller may send an alarm at a level corresponding to the determined water separation efficiency based on the corresponding relationship between the predefined water separation efficiency and the alarm level. In some embodiments, the controller may also lock the fuel cell system when the water separation efficiency is less than the predefined efficiency threshold to avoid flooding of the fuel cell stack.

[0071] In some embodiments, when the water separation efficiency of the water separator is greater than or equal to the predefined efficiency threshold, the controller may obtain the aging degree of the membrane electrode in the fuel cell system and adjust the opening of the drain valve based on the aging degree. Exemplarily, when the aging degree of the membrane electrode increases, the controller may increase the opening duration of the drain valve. Thus, the excess water that penetrates into the anode due to the aging of the membrane electrode can also be discharged by the drain valve.

[0072] In some embodiments, other devices may also obtain the water separation efficiency of the water separator from the controller and determine the state of the fuel cell system based on the water separation efficiency, such as determining whether the water separator of the fuel cell system fails and / or determining the probability of flooding of the fuel cell stack in the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, other devices may also execute corresponding fault handling strategies based on the water separation efficiency of the water separator. In some embodiments, the controller may be, for example, the fuel cell controller in a fuel cell vehicle, and other devices may be, for example, the vehicle integrated controller configured in the vehicle.

[0073] Through the above method, the controller can accurately determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator and predict the flooding situation of the fuel cell stack based on the water separation efficiency, so as to be able to issue an alarm before the fuel cell stack is flooded, enabling the user to take corresponding measures in time, thereby avoiding flooding of the fuel cell stack and damage to the membrane electrode. In this way, the stability and reliability of the fuel cell system can be improved.

[0074] Figure 5 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of a method 500 for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 5 The method 500 shown can be executed by a controller, which can be, for example, Figure 3 the controller 310 shown in Figure 5 As shown, the method 500 can include block 502 to block 524. In block 502, the controller can obtain the opening moment of the drain valve. In block 504, the controller can obtain the anode pressure of the fuel cell system and / or the hydrogen concentration in the tail gas discharge of the fuel cell system after the drain valve is opened. In block 506, the controller can determine the drain end moment of the drain valve based on the anode pressure and / or the hydrogen concentration. In block 508, the controller can determine the drain duration of the drain valve based on the opening moment and the drain end moment of the drain valve. In block 510, the controller can obtain the pressure difference across the drain valve during the drain duration. In block 512, the controller can determine the water flow velocity through the drain valve based on the pressure difference. In block 514, the controller can determine the separated water volume separated by the water separator based on the drain duration of the drain valve and the water flow velocity through the drain valve.

[0075] In block 516, the controller can obtain the state parameters of the fuel cell system, such as obtaining the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, and the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. In block 518, the controller can determine the water inflow duration of the water separator based on the drain end moment. In block 520, the controller can determine the water inflow volume of the water separator based on the state parameters of the fuel cell system and the water inflow duration of the water separator. In block 522, the controller can determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the water inflow volume and the separated water volume of the water separator. In block 524, the controller can execute a fault handling strategy, such as issuing an indication message indicating that the water separator efficiency is too low or indicating that the fuel cell stack will be flooded, when the water separation efficiency is less than a predetermined efficiency threshold.

[0076] In this way, the water separation efficiency of the water separator can be accurately determined based on the drainage duration of the drain valve, the pressure difference across the drain valve, and the state parameters of the fuel cell system. Based on the water separation efficiency, the flooding condition of the fuel cell stack can be predicted. When the efficiency of the water separator is too low, an alarm indicating that the fuel cell stack is about to be flooded can be issued before the fuel cell stack is flooded, enabling the user to receive a reminder before the fuel cell stack is flooded. Thus, the user can be timely reminded to take measures to avoid flooding of the fuel cell stack.

[0077] It should be understood that Figure 5 The order of the respective blocks shown is merely illustrative and cannot constitute a limitation on the solution provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the order in which blocks 502 to 508 and blocks 510 to 512 are executed may be swapped, or they may be executed simultaneously. In some embodiments, the order in which blocks 510 to 514 and blocks 516 to 520 are executed may be swapped, or they may be executed simultaneously.

[0078] Figure 6 The block diagram of a device 600 for determining the efficiency of a water separator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The device 600 may correspond to, for example, the controller in the foregoing method embodiments. As Figure 6 shown, the device 600 includes a duration acquisition module 602 configured to acquire the drainage duration of the drain valve of the fuel cell system, where the drain valve is used to drain the water separated by the water separator, and the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end moment when the drain valve is in the open state. The device 600 further includes a state acquisition module 604 configured to acquire the state parameters of the fuel cell system, where the state parameters are used to determine the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator, and the state parameters include at least one of the following: the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, or the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system. In addition, the device 600 further includes an efficiency determination module 606 configured to determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration and the state parameters.

[0079] In some embodiments, the duration acquisition module 602 includes: an opening moment acquisition unit configured to acquire the opening moment of the drain valve when it is opened; a first end moment acquisition unit configured to acquire the drainage end moment; and a drainage duration determination unit configured to determine the drainage duration based on the opening moment and the drainage end moment.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first end time acquisition unit includes: an anode pressure acquisition unit configured to acquire the anode pressure of the fuel cell system after the drain valve is opened; and a first end time determination unit configured to determine the drain end time based on the anode pressure.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first end time acquisition unit includes: a hydrogen concentration acquisition unit configured to acquire the hydrogen concentration in the tail gas of the fuel cell system after the drain valve is opened; and a second end time determination unit configured to determine the drain end time based on the hydrogen concentration.

[0082] In some embodiments, the efficiency determination module 606 includes: a separated water volume determination unit configured to determine the separated water volume separated by the water separator based on the drain duration; an inflow water volume determination unit configured to determine the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator based on the state parameters; and an efficiency determination unit configured to determine the water separation efficiency based on the separated water volume and the inflow water volume.

[0083] In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination unit includes: a pressure difference acquisition unit configured to acquire the pressure difference across the drain valve during the drain duration; a water flow rate determination unit configured to determine the water flow rate through the drain valve during the drain duration based on the pressure difference; and a first separated water volume determination unit configured to determine the separated water volume based on the water flow rate and the drain duration.

[0084] In some embodiments, the separated water volume determination unit further includes a type acquisition unit configured to acquire the type of the water separator; and the first separated water volume determination unit includes a second separated water volume determination unit configured to determine the separated water volume based on the type of the water separator, the water flow rate, and the drain duration.

[0085] In some embodiments, the inflow water volume determination unit includes: a second end time acquisition unit configured to acquire the drain end time; a water inflow time difference determination unit configured to determine the water inflow duration of the water separator based on the drain end time; and an inflow water volume determination subunit configured to determine the inflow water volume based on the water inflow duration and the state parameters.

[0086] In some embodiments, the state parameters include the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode in the fuel cell system, and the state acquisition module 604 includes: a current acquisition unit configured to acquire the output current value of the fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system; and a diffusion rate determination unit configured to determine the water diffusion rate based on the output current value.

[0087] In some embodiments, the device 600 further includes a fault handling module configured to execute a fault handling strategy corresponding to the fuel cell system in response to the water separation efficiency being less than a predetermined efficiency threshold.

[0088] In some embodiments, the device 600 further includes: an aging degree acquisition module configured to acquire the aging degree of the membrane electrode in the fuel cell system; and a drain valve control module configured to control the drain valve based on the aging degree when the water separation efficiency is greater than or equal to the predetermined efficiency threshold.

[0089] Figure 7 A schematic block diagram of an example device 700 that can be used to implement the embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The controller in the foregoing method embodiments can be implemented using the device 700. As shown, the device 700 includes a processor 701 that can execute various appropriate actions and processes according to computer program instructions stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 702 and loaded into a random access memory (RAM) 703. In the RAM 703, various programs and data required for the operation of the device 700 can also be stored. The processor 701, the ROM 702, and the RAM 703 are connected to each other via a bus 704. An input / output (I / O) interface 705 is also connected to the bus 704.

[0090] The various processes and treatments described above, such as method 200 and / or method 500, can be executed by the processor 701. For example, in some embodiments, method 200 and / or method 500 can be implemented as a computer software program tangibly embodied in a machine-readable medium. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program can be loaded and / or installed onto the device 700 via the ROM 702. When the computer program is loaded into the RAM 703 and executed by the processor 701, one or more actions of method 200 and / or method 500 described above can be executed.

[0091] The present disclosure can be a method, a device, a system, and / or a computer program product. The computer program product can include a computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-readable program instructions for performing various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0092] A computer-readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, but is not limited to, an electrical storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable storage medium include: a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), and any suitable combination of the foregoing. The computer-readable storage medium used herein is not construed as being an instantaneous signal per se, such as a radio wave or other freely propagating electromagnetic wave, an electromagnetic wave propagated through a waveguide or other transmission medium (e.g., an optical pulse through an optical fiber cable), or an electrical signal transmitted through a wire.

[0093] The computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to various computing / processing devices, or downloaded to an external computer or an external storage device via a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and / or a wireless network. The network can include a copper transmission cable, an optical fiber transmission, a wireless transmission, a router, a firewall, a switch, a gateway computer, and / or an edge server. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer-readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer-readable program instructions for storage in a computer-readable storage medium in each computing / processing device.

[0094] The computer program instructions for performing the operations of the present disclosure may be assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine - related instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state - setting data, or source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object - oriented programming languages such as Smalltalk, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages such as the "C" language or similar programming languages. The computer - readable program instructions may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, executed as a stand - alone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the case of a remote computer, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., through the Internet using an Internet service provider). In some embodiments, by using the state information of the computer - readable program instructions to customize an electronic circuit, such as a programmable logic circuit, a field - programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic array (PLA), the electronic circuit can execute the computer - readable program instructions to implement various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0095] Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the flowchart and / or block diagram of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart and / or block diagram, and the combinations of blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer - readable program instructions.

[0096] These computer - readable program instructions can be provided to a processing unit of a general - purpose computer, a special - purpose computer, or other programmable data - processing apparatus, thereby producing a machine such that when these instructions are executed by the processing unit of the computer or other programmable data - processing apparatus, a device is produced that implements the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram. These computer - readable program instructions can also be stored in a computer - readable storage medium, which causes a computer, a programmable data - processing apparatus, and / or other devices to operate in a particular manner, so that the computer - readable medium storing the instructions includes a manufactured article that includes instructions for implementing various aspects of the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0097] Computer-readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions executed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices implement the functions / acts specified in one or more boxes of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0098] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, a segment of a program, or a portion of an instruction, which contains one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two consecutive blocks may in fact be executed substantially in parallel, or they may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or by combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0099] The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. The above description is exemplary, not exhaustive, and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The choice of terms used herein is intended to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application, or the technical improvement of technologies in the market, or to enable other ordinary skilled artisans in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for determining the efficiency of a water separator, comprising: Obtain the drainage duration of the drain valve of the fuel cell system, where the drain valve is used to drain the water separated by the water separator, and the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end time of the drain valve in the open state; Obtain the state parameters of the fuel cell system, where the state parameters are used to determine the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator, and the state parameters include at least one of the following: the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, or the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system; And Based on the drainage duration and the state parameters, determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the drainage duration of the drain valve of the fuel cell system comprises: Obtain the opening time when the drain valve is opened; Obtain the drainage end time; And Based on the opening time and the drainage end time, determine the drainage duration.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein obtaining the end moment of the drainage comprises: Obtain the anode pressure of the fuel cell system after the drain valve is opened; And Based on the anode pressure, determine the drainage end time.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein obtaining the end moment of the drainage comprises: Obtain the hydrogen concentration in the tail gas of the fuel cell system after the drain valve is opened; And Based on the hydrogen concentration, determine the drainage end time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration and the state parameter comprises: Based on the drainage duration, determine the separated water volume separated by the water separator; Based on the state parameters, determine the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator; And Based on the separated water volume and the inflow water volume, determine the water separation efficiency.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein determining the separated water volume separated by the water separator based on the drainage duration comprises: Obtain the pressure difference across the drain valve during the drainage duration; Based on the pressure difference, determine the water flow velocity flowing through the drain valve during the drainage duration; And Based on the water flow velocity and the drainage duration, determine the separated water volume.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: Obtain the type of the water separator; And Where determining the separated water volume based on the water flow velocity and the drainage duration includes: Based on the type of the water separator, the water flow velocity, and the drainage duration, determine the separated water volume.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein determining the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator based on the state parameter comprises: Obtain the drainage end time; Based on the drainage end time, determine the water inflow duration of the water separator; And Based on the water inflow duration and the state parameters, determine the inflow water volume.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state parameter includes the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode in the fuel cell system, and wherein obtaining the state parameter of the fuel cell system includes: Obtain the output current value of the fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system; And Based on the output current value, determine the water diffusion rate.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, further comprising: In response to the water separation efficiency being less than a predetermined efficiency threshold, execute a fault handling strategy corresponding to the fuel cell system.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, further comprising: Obtain the degree of aging of the membrane electrode in the fuel cell system; And In the case where the water separation efficiency is greater than or equal to the predetermined efficiency threshold, control the drain valve based on the degree of aging.

12. A device for determining the efficiency of a water separator, comprising: Duration acquisition module, configured to obtain the drainage duration of the drain valve of the fuel cell system, where the drain valve is used to drain the water separated by the water separator, and the drainage duration is determined based on the drainage end time of the drain valve in the open state; A state acquisition module, configured to acquire state parameters of the fuel cell system, where the state parameters are used to determine the inflow water volume flowing into the water separator, and the state parameters include at least one of the following: the water diffusion rate of the membrane electrode of the fuel cell system, the degree of aging of the membrane electrode, the temperature of the anode of the fuel cell system, or the pressure difference between the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell system; And An efficiency determination module, configured to determine the water separation efficiency of the water separator based on the drainage duration and the state parameters.

13. A controller, comprising: At least one processor; And A memory, coupled to the at least one processor and having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the controller to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-11.

14. A fuel cell system, comprising the controller according to claim 13.

15. A machine-readable storage medium having machine-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the machine-executable instructions are executed by a processor to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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