Modularized power expansion hydrogen fuel cell unmanned aerial vehicle power supply system and method

Abstract

The invention provides a modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell unmanned aerial vehicle power supply system and method, which can realize rapid power supply power expansion and improve the stability and reliability of power supply work. The system comprises a data acquisition module used for acquiring unmanned aerial vehicle operation data and environment data; the N independent subsystem modules are connected in parallel with the lithium battery and then converge and output to the unmanned aerial vehicle for realizing output of power supply power; wherein N is greater than or equal to 2; and the master control module is connected with the data acquisition module and the N subsystem modules, and is used for realizing the expansion of the power supply power through the start-stop and power control of the N subsystem modules based on the acquired information data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, specifically to a modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) need to maintain a constant power supply during flight, and the power output must always meet the flight requirements to maintain normal flight attitude. Therefore, high demands are placed on the stability of the power supply system. Among them, hydrogen fuel cell systems have high power generation efficiency, which can significantly improve the endurance of UAVs. As a clean and efficient energy conversion device, it shows great application potential in the UAV field due to its high energy density and zero emission characteristics. Air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell systems have a high mass energy density (>500Wh / kg) due to fewer control components, lighter weight, and very low power loss of the components. This is significantly better than lithium batteries (220Wh / kg). Therefore, most hydrogen-powered UAVs adopt the air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell form.

[0003] However, due to the limited power output of individual air-cooled fuel cell stacks, there are significant bottlenecks in the development of high-power air-cooled fuel cell stacks. Currently, there is a lack of mature high-power air-cooled fuel cell stacks on the market, which prevents their application in medium and large-sized rotary-wing UAVs (takeoff weight over 150kg). Although air-cooled hydrogen fuel cells have high energy density, their open cathode design allows air to directly enter the stack and participate in the electrochemical reaction. Therefore, air quality, temperature, and humidity all affect the power output of the stack, leading to problems such as power fluctuations, reduced consistency, and power decay. At the same time, single-system hydrogen fuel cell power supply systems also face problems such as deteriorating power supply stability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention provides a modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system and method, which enables rapid power expansion and improves the stability and reliability of power supply operation.

[0005] This invention adopts the following technical solution: a modular power-expanding hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system, comprising: The data acquisition module is used to collect drone operation data and environmental data; N independent subsystem modules are connected in parallel with the lithium battery and then output to the drone to realize the power output; where N≥2; The main control module is connected to the data acquisition module and the N subsystem modules. It is used to expand the power supply based on the acquired information data by starting, stopping and controlling the power of the N subsystem modules.

[0006] Furthermore, the data acquisition module and the main control module are both arranged on the frame of the UAV. The data acquisition module includes a first current sensor, a second current sensor, and a pressure sensor. The first current sensor, the second current sensor, the pressure sensor, and the lithium battery are all connected to the main control module. The negative output terminals of the N subsystem modules are connected to a negative busbar and connected in parallel with the negative terminal of the lithium battery to the UAV. The positive output terminals of the N subsystem modules are connected to a positive busbar and connected in parallel with the positive terminal of the lithium battery via the first current sensor. The output terminal of the positive busbar is connected to the UAV via the second current sensor. Furthermore, each of the subsystem modules includes a fuel cell controller, a fuel cell stack, and a DC converter, a hydrogen inlet valve, and a drain valve connected to the fuel cell controller. The fuel cell controller is connected to the main control module via a CAN bus. Hydrogen gas enters the fuel cell stack after passing through the hydrogen inlet valve. The outlet of the fuel cell stack is connected to the drain valve. The power output port of the fuel cell stack is electrically connected to the input port of the DC converter. The positive and negative output ports of the DC converter are respectively connected to the busbar output. Furthermore, each of the subsystem modules also includes a temperature sensor and a cooling fan, both of which are connected to the fuel cell controller. The temperature sensor is installed inside the fuel cell stack, and the cooling fan is installed at the bottom of the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen inlet valve and the drain valve are located on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the fuel cell controller and the DC converter are located on the other side of the fuel cell stack. Furthermore, the total power of the power supply system is ,in, The total power supplied by the power supply system. The output power of a single subsystem module; This invention also provides a modular power expansion method for powering hydrogen fuel cell drones, comprising: S1. Acquire drone operation data and environmental data, including but not limited to drone flight speed and drone flight power, and environmental data including but not limited to air pressure, temperature and humidity; S2. Based on the acquired information data, determine the power supply requirement of the UAV, and then determine the total power supply of the power supply system; S3. By starting, stopping and controlling the power of the N subsystem modules, the power supply capacity can be expanded.

[0007] Furthermore, in step S3, when the power demand of the drone is in the low-power range, the number of subsystem modules... When the power demand of the drone is in a power range other than the low power range, all the aforementioned subsystem modules are activated. Furthermore, the low-power segment is 0-50% of the rated power of the power supply system; The present invention also provides a storage medium storing a program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the above-described modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply method.

[0008] The present invention also provides a computing device, including a processor and a memory for storing processor-executable programs, wherein when the processor executes the program stored in the memory, it implements the steps of the above-described modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply method.

[0009] The beneficial effects of this invention are that it interacts with the UAV and coordinates the control between the UAV and the power supply system. That is, it expands the power of the air-cooled fuel cell system for the UAV through the modular parallel operation of subsystems, so as to meet the power supply requirements of different sizes of UAVs, solve the problem of limited application scenarios of air-cooled fuel cells, effectively improve the stability of the fuel cell power supply system, and ensure stable power demand during flight. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a connection diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a connection diagram of a single subsystem module in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the power state of the present invention during normal operation; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the power status of the present invention when the subsystem module is running abnormally. Detailed Implementation

[0011] like Figures 1-4 As shown, a modular power-expanding hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system of the present invention includes: The data acquisition module is used to collect drone operation data and environmental data; N independent subsystem modules are connected in parallel with the lithium battery and then output to the drone to realize the power output; wherein, N≥2, preferably N=2~32; when a single subsystem module fails, it can be shut down or restarted independently without interfering with the operation of other subsystem modules. The main control module is connected to the data acquisition module and N subsystem modules. It is used to expand the power supply by starting, stopping and controlling the power of the N subsystem modules based on the acquired information data.

[0012] The data acquisition module and the main control module are both mounted on the drone's frame (not shown in the figure). The data acquisition module includes a first current sensor, a second current sensor, and a pressure sensor. The first current sensor, the second current sensor, the pressure sensor, and the lithium battery are all connected to the main control module. The negative output terminals of the N subsystem modules are connected to a negative busbar and then connected in parallel with the negative terminal of the lithium battery to the drone (i.e., connected to the drone's negative power supply interface). The positive output terminals of the N subsystem modules are connected to a positive busbar and then connected in parallel with the positive terminal of the lithium battery via the first current sensor. The output terminal of the positive busbar is connected to the drone via the second current sensor (i.e., connected to the drone's positive power supply interface). The positive busbar is the positive terminal of the busbar shown in the figure, and the negative busbar is the negative terminal of the busbar shown in the figure.

[0013] Each subsystem module includes a fuel cell controller, a fuel cell stack, and a DC converter, hydrogen inlet valve, and drain valve connected to the fuel cell controller. The fuel cell controller communicates with the main control module via a CAN bus, allowing the main control module to collect fuel cell stack operating data and control the start / stop and power of the subsystem modules. Hydrogen enters the fuel cell stack through the hydrogen inlet valve. The fuel cell stack's outlet is connected to the drain valve. The fuel cell stack's power output port is electrically connected to the DC converter's input port. The DC converter's positive and negative output ports are connected to the positive and negative busbars, respectively. Each subsystem module also includes a temperature sensor and a cooling fan. The sensors and cooling fan are connected to the fuel cell controller. The temperature sensor is installed inside the fuel cell stack, and the cooling fan is installed at the bottom of the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen inlet valve and drain valve are located on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the fuel cell controller and DC converter are located on the other side. The fuel cell controller can issue power output adjustment commands to the DC converter. The DC converter controls the voltage or current output of the fuel cell stack by controlling the duty cycle of its own switching components, thereby controlling the output power of the subsystem module. The main control module can be an existing controller, which is also an existing control device used in this invention.

[0014] During normal operation, the total power of the power supply system is ,in, The total power supply of the power supply system. This refers to the output power of a single subsystem module.

[0015] This invention also provides a modular power expansion method for powering hydrogen fuel cell drones, comprising: S1. Acquire drone operation data and environmental data, including but not limited to drone flight speed and drone flight power, and environmental data including but not limited to air pressure, temperature and humidity; S2. Based on the acquired information data, determine the power demand of the UAV, and then determine the total power supply of the power supply system; S3. By starting, stopping, and controlling the power of N subsystem modules, the power supply capacity can be expanded. Furthermore, in step S3, when the power demand of the drone is in the low-power range (that is, the power demand of the drone is between 0% and 50% of the rated power of the power supply system), if all subsystem modules are fully activated under this condition, the average output power distributed to each subsystem module will be too low, resulting in a relatively high stack voltage. Therefore, it is necessary to control the start-up, shutdown, and power output of a corresponding number of subsystem modules while maintaining a high lifespan of the fuel cell stack. The number of subsystem modules... At this point, the calculated N is rounded up to the nearest integer; when the power demand of the drone is in any power range other than the low power range, all subsystem modules are activated.

[0016] The present invention also provides a storage medium storing a program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the above-described modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply method.

[0017] The present invention also provides a computing device, including a processor and a memory for storing processor-executable programs, wherein when the processor executes the program stored in the memory, it implements the steps of the above-described modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply method.

[0018] In this invention, if a single subsystem module malfunctions and cannot continue to supply power, the output of the DC converter in that subsystem module can be disconnected, effectively disconnecting that subsystem module from the entire power supply system. This does not affect the normal output of other subsystem modules, while simultaneously increasing the output power of other subsystem modules to compensate for the power loss and ensure the overall power supply of the device. Figure 4 As shown, if the third subsystem module fails, it will be disconnected for isolation, and the output power of other subsystem modules will be increased to 85%.

[0019] It's important to note that hydrogen fuel cell stacks achieve their highest power generation efficiency in the low to medium load range (typically around 20%-50% of the subsystem module's rated power). However, auxiliary equipment also consumes power, such as cooling fans. Therefore, when the fuel cell stack operates at extremely low power (e.g., below 10%), although the fuel cell stack itself is highly efficient, the power consumed by these auxiliary devices to maintain its operation accounts for a significant portion of the total power supplied. The proportion will increase, which will lead to a decrease in the net efficiency of the entire power supply system. At the same time, when operating at a low power point, the voltage of the fuel cell stack is high. This high voltage state is not conducive to the service life of the fuel cell stack. Therefore, the power supply system of this invention has a "sweet spot": that is, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack is at a high level (referring to the state where the voltage of the fuel cell stack is high at this time), while the voltage of the fuel cell stack is not too high and will affect the life of the stack. The ideal power range for the subsystem module is 50-80% of the rated power of the subsystem module.

[0020] This invention enables the power output of an air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell power supply system to be expanded to 10-100 kW. By using multiple subsystem modules in parallel, it isolates individual subsystem module malfunctions and optimizes power supply stability and reliability through cluster energy management, while also improving hydrogen reaction efficiency. This allows for rapid power expansion to meet the power requirements of medium to large-sized UAVs. Furthermore, information interaction with the UAV enables coordinated control at the control strategy level, further enhancing system stability and reliability. The modular system modules, with their simple connection methods, allow for rapid replacement and maintenance, and offer rapid power expansion from 2 to N to meet the power requirements of different UAV sizes. Standardized product modules can be implemented, covering all scenarios and enabling rapid mass production. The redundant design of the power supply system and the subsystem module fault isolation effectively improve the stability of the fuel cell UAV power supply system, ensuring stable power demand during UAV flight. Simultaneously, by controlling the start-up, shutdown, and power of a corresponding number of subsystem modules, the hydrogen reaction efficiency in the subsystem modules can be effectively improved at low power levels, while maintaining operating conditions friendly to the stack's lifespan.

[0021] This invention takes a common subsystem module capable of outputting 3kW as an example. When N=32, it can achieve a power output of 96kW for the air-cooled fuel power supply system, which can support the power requirements of drones weighing over 600kg. The power requirements vary depending on the size of the drone. A rotorcraft drone with a takeoff weight of 150kg requires approximately 18kW of power and needs to be configured with 6 3kW subsystem modules; a rotorcraft drone with a takeoff weight of 350kg requires approximately 48kW of power and needs to be configured with 16 3kW subsystem modules. In other words, the number of subsystem modules installed can be controlled according to the needs of different drone models. However, each subsystem module is a standardized single module, allowing for rapid expansion and power scaling.

[0022] In the diagram, the N subsystem modules are represented as subsystem module #1 to subsystem module #N. The first current sensor is represented as current sensor #1 in the figure; the second current sensor is represented as current sensor #2 in the figure.

[0023] The stack shown in the picture is a fuel cell stack.

[0024] Figure 3 When the power supply system is operating normally, the operating power of each subsystem module is 80% of the rated power of the subsystem module. Figure 4 If subsystem module #3 is running abnormally, it will be disconnected for isolation. The operating power of other subsystem modules will be 85% of their rated power.

[0025] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0026] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A modular power-expanding hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system, characterized in that: include: The data acquisition module is used to collect drone operation data and environmental data; N independent subsystem modules are connected in parallel with the lithium battery and then output to the drone to realize the power output; where N≥2; The main control module is connected to the data acquisition module and the N subsystem modules. It is used to expand the power supply based on the acquired information data by starting, stopping and controlling the power of the N subsystem modules.

2. The modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The data acquisition module and the main control module are both mounted on the frame of the UAV. The data acquisition module includes a first current sensor, a second current sensor, and a pressure sensor. The first current sensor, the second current sensor, the pressure sensor, and the lithium battery are all connected to the main control module. The negative output terminals of the N subsystem modules are connected to a negative busbar and connected in parallel with the negative terminal of the lithium battery to the UAV. The positive output terminals of the N subsystem modules are connected to a positive busbar and connected in parallel with the positive terminal of the lithium battery via the first current sensor. The output terminal of the positive busbar is connected to the UAV via the second current sensor.

3. The modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the subsystem modules includes a fuel cell controller, a fuel cell stack, and a DC converter, a hydrogen inlet valve, and a drain valve connected to the fuel cell controller. The fuel cell controller is connected to the main control module via a CAN bus. Hydrogen gas enters the fuel cell stack after passing through the hydrogen inlet valve. The outlet of the fuel cell stack is connected to the drain valve. The power output port of the fuel cell stack is electrically connected to the input port of the DC converter. The positive and negative output ports of the DC converter are respectively connected to the busbar output.

4. A modular power-expanding hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each of the subsystem modules further includes a temperature sensor and a cooling fan. The temperature sensor and the cooling fan are both connected to the fuel cell controller. The temperature sensor is installed inside the fuel cell stack, and the cooling fan is installed at the bottom of the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen inlet valve and the drain valve are located on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the fuel cell controller and the DC converter are located on the other side of the fuel cell stack.

5. A modular power-expanding hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The total power of the power supply system is ,in, The total power supplied by the power supply system. The output power of a single subsystem module.

6. A modular power expansion method for powering hydrogen fuel cell drones, characterized in that: include: S1. Acquire drone operation data and environmental data, including but not limited to drone flight speed and drone flight power, and environmental data including but not limited to air pressure, temperature and humidity; S2. Based on the acquired information data, determine the power supply requirement of the UAV, and then determine the total power supply of the power supply system; S3. By starting, stopping and controlling the power of the N subsystem modules, the power supply capacity can be expanded.

7. A modular power expansion method for powering a hydrogen fuel cell drone according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S3, when the power demand of the drone is in the low-power range, the number of subsystem modules... When the power demand of the drone is in a power range other than the low power range, all the aforementioned subsystem modules are activated.

8. A modular power expansion method for powering a hydrogen fuel cell drone according to claim 7, characterized in that: The low-power range is 0-50% of the rated power of the power supply system.

9. A storage medium storing a program, characterized in that: When the program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of a modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply method as described in any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. A computing device, comprising a processor and a memory for storing a processor-executable program, characterized in that: When the processor executes the program stored in the memory, it implements the steps of a modular power expansion hydrogen fuel cell drone power supply method as described in any one of claims 6 to 8.

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