Double-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and power control method and device thereof

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a double-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and a power control method and device thereof, and belongs to the technical field of fuel cells. The system comprises a first electric pile, a second electric pile, a DC / DC converter, a direct current bus and a plurality of switches for controlling the connection relation between devices, the output end of the DC / DC converter is connected with the direct current bus, and the method comprises the steps that when the system is started, the first switch is controlled to be switched on, so that the first electric pile is connected with the DC / DC converter, and the first output power of the first electric pile is increased; when the first output power reaches the first rated power of the first electric pile, the first switch is controlled to be switched off, and the second switch and the third switch are switched on, so that the first electric pile is connected with the DC bus, the second electric pile is connected with the DC / DC converter, and the second output power of the second electric pile is increased; and the first output power and the second output power meet the target required power of the electric appliance. The embodiment of the invention aims at reducing the weight of the double-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and improving the cruising ability of a weight-sensitive product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and its power control method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the output voltage of a hydrogen fuel cell changes with its current. However, the change in output voltage is not conducive to the stable operation of electrical appliances. Generally, a DC / DC converter is also configured in the battery system to stabilize the output voltage and convert it into a stable DC output to supply the DC bus.

[0003] For products such as multi-rotor drones, multiple hydrogen fuel cell systems are required to support the power demand of the products. However, the current solutions either set up DC / DC converters for each stack separately or share a high-power DC / DC converter. Both of these will result in a considerable weight burden on the DC / DC converter itself, which will affect the range and lifespan of weight-sensitive products such as drones.

[0004] In summary, the technical problems existing in the relevant technologies need to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this application is to propose a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and its power control method and apparatus, which aims to reduce the weight of the dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and improve the range of weight-sensitive products.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, one aspect of this application proposes a power control method for a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system. The system includes a first stack, a second stack, a DC / DC converter, a DC bus, and a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch for controlling the connection between the first stack and the second stack, the DC / DC converter, and the DC bus. The output terminal of the DC / DC converter is connected to the DC bus, and the DC bus is connected to electrical appliances. The method includes: In response to the system startup, the first switch is turned on, so that the first fuel cell stack is connected to the DC / DC converter through the first switch; The first output power of the first fuel cell stack is increased by the DC / DC converter. In response to the first output power reaching the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack, the first switch is controlled to be disconnected, and the second switch and the third switch are controlled to be connected, so that the first fuel cell stack is connected to the DC bus through the second switch, and the second fuel cell stack is connected to the DC / DC converter through the third switch; The second output power of the second fuel cell stack is increased by the DC / DC converter until the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement of the appliance.

[0007] In some embodiments, the system further includes a lithium battery connected to the DC bus, and the method further includes, before the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement: The power difference is determined based on the target power requirement and the current first output power and / or second output power; The lithium battery outputs a matching compensation power based on the power difference.

[0008] In some embodiments, after the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement, the method further includes: Obtain the rated power of the electrical appliance and compare it with the target power requirement; In response to the target power demand being greater than or equal to half of the rated power, the third switch is turned on and the fourth switch is turned off. In response to the target power requirement being less than half of the rated power, the third switch is controlled to be disconnected and the fourth switch is controlled to be connected, so that the second stack is connected to the DC bus through the fourth switch.

[0009] In some embodiments, after the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement, the method further includes: In response to the target power requirement being zero, the system is shut down. In response to the target power requirement being non-zero, the process of obtaining the rated power of the appliance and comparing the target power requirement with the rated power is performed.

[0010] In some embodiments, the system further includes a lithium battery, and controlling the system to shut down includes: Obtain the current battery capacity and the maximum capacity of the lithium battery; In response to the current battery capacity being less than the upper limit capacity, the current switching states of the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch are maintained for a preset time. The system shuts down by disconnecting the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method further includes: After the system starts up, record the cumulative running time; In response to the cumulative running time reaching a running time threshold, the priority startup order of the first fuel cell stack and the second fuel cell stack is switched; upon the next system startup, the first fuel cell stack or the second fuel cell stack is started first according to the switched priority startup order.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, another aspect of the present application provides a computer device, the device including a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor executing the computer program to implement the method described above.

[0013] To achieve the above objectives, another aspect of the embodiments of this application proposes a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system, which is used to implement the aforementioned method. The system includes: a first stack, a second stack, a DC / DC converter, a DC bus, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch. The first fuel cell stack is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter via the first switch, and the first fuel cell stack is also connected to the DC bus via the second switch; The second fuel cell stack is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter via the third switch, and the second fuel cell stack is also connected to the DC bus via the fourth switch; The output terminal of the DC / DC converter is connected to the DC bus, and the DC bus is also connected to the electrical appliances.

[0014] In some embodiments, the system further includes a lithium battery connected to the DC bus, wherein the output of the DC / DC converter, the lithium battery, and the electrical appliance share the DC bus.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first battery stack, the second battery stack, the output terminal of the DC / DC converter, the lithium battery, and the electrical appliance have the same rated voltage, and the rated operating power of the DC / DC converter is greater than or equal to the maximum operating power of the first battery stack and the second battery stack.

[0016] The embodiments of this application include at least the following beneficial effects: This application provides a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and its power control method and apparatus. The system includes a first fuel cell stack, a second fuel cell stack, a DC / DC converter, a DC bus, and a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch for controlling the connection relationship of the above-mentioned devices. When the system starts up, the first switch is turned on to connect the first fuel cell stack to the DC / DC converter, and the first output power of the first fuel cell stack is increased by the DC / DC converter to start the first fuel cell stack. When the first output power reaches the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack, the first switch is turned off and the second and third switches are turned on to switch the connection between the first fuel cell stack and the DC bus, and the second fuel cell stack and the DC / DC converter. The second output power of the second fuel cell stack is increased by the DC / DC converter, and the second fuel cell stack is started again, so that the first output power and the second output power meet the target power demand of the electrical appliances. Compared to configuring DC / DC converters separately for each fuel cell stack, or configuring a high-power DC / DC converter, the solution in this application controls the power output sequence of the fuel cell stacks so that the specifications of the DC / DC converter only need to meet the power requirements of a single fuel cell stack. This achieves stable DC output of the hydrogen fuel cell, reduces system weight, and is beneficial to improving the endurance of weight-sensitive products such as drones. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the first embodiment of a power control method for a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system provided in this application; Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the second embodiment of the power control method provided in this application; Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the third embodiment of the power control method provided in this application; Figure 5 This is a flowchart of the fourth embodiment of the power control method provided in this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of the computer device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of this application and are not intended to limit it. In the following description, when referring to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with those of this application; they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of the embodiments of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0019] It is understood that the terms “first,” “second,” etc., used in this application may be used herein to describe various concepts, but unless otherwise stated, these concepts are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one concept from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the embodiments of this application, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the words “if,” “when,” or “in response to a determination” as used herein may be interpreted as “when…” or “when…” or “in response to a determination.”

[0020] As used in this application, the terms "at least one", "multiple", "each", "any", etc., "at least one" includes one, two or more, "multiple" includes two or more, "each" refers to each of the corresponding multiples, and "any" refers to any one of the multiples.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of this application only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0022] In related technologies, the output voltage of a hydrogen fuel cell changes with its current. However, the change in output voltage is not conducive to the stable operation of electrical appliances. Generally, a DC / DC converter is also configured in the battery system to stabilize the output voltage and convert it into a stable DC output to supply the DC bus.

[0023] For products such as multi-rotor drones, multiple hydrogen fuel cell systems are required to support the power demand of the products. However, the current solutions either set up DC / DC converters for each stack separately or share a high-power DC / DC converter. Both of these will result in a considerable weight burden on the DC / DC converter itself, which will affect the range and lifespan of weight-sensitive products such as drones.

[0024] In view of this, this application provides a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and its power control method and apparatus. The system includes a first fuel cell stack 100, a second fuel cell stack 200, a DC / DC converter 300, a DC bus, and a first switch S1, a second switch S2, a third switch S3, and a fourth switch S4 for controlling the connection relationship of the above-mentioned devices. When the system starts up, the first switch S1 is turned on to connect the first fuel cell stack 100 to the DC / DC converter 300, thereby increasing the first output power of the first fuel cell stack 100 and starting the first fuel cell stack 100. When the first output power reaches the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack 100, the first switch S1 is turned off and the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 are turned on to switch the first fuel cell stack 100 to be connected to the DC bus and the second fuel cell stack 200 to be connected to the DC / DC converter 300. The second output power of the second fuel cell stack 200 is increased by the DC / DC converter 300, and the second fuel cell stack 200 is started again, ultimately ensuring that the first and second output powers meet the target power requirements of the electrical appliances. Compared to configuring DC / DC converters separately for each fuel cell stack, or configuring a high-power DC / DC converter, the solution in this application controls the power output sequence of the fuel cell stacks so that the specifications of the DC / DC converter 300 only need to meet the power requirements of a single fuel cell stack, thereby achieving stable DC output of the hydrogen fuel cell, reducing system weight, and improving the endurance of weight-sensitive products such as drones.

[0025] This invention provides a power control method for a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system. Figure 1 This is an optional flowchart of a power control method for a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an optional structure for a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system.

[0026] refer to Figure 2 The dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system in this embodiment includes a first stack 100, a second stack 200, a DC / DC converter 300, a DC bus, and a first switch S1, a second switch S2, a third switch S3, and a fourth switch S4 that control the connection between the first stack 100 and the second stack 200, the DC / DC converter 300, and the DC bus. The output terminal of the DC / DC converter 300 is connected to the DC bus, and the DC bus is connected to electrical appliances. This system can be used to implement the method of this embodiment.

[0027] The dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system of this application embodiment is applied to products such as drones. These products are very sensitive to their overall weight, so optimizing the weight of the DC / DC converter can effectively improve their range. The dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system provides energy to other modules or devices within the product. These energy-consuming modules or devices are defined as the electrical appliances, which share a DC bus with the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 300.

[0028] On the other hand, the system may also include an MCU-based control module, which is connected to at least the first battery stack 100, the second battery stack 200, the first switch S1, the second switch S2, the third switch S3 and the fourth switch S4 respectively, to obtain the operating status of the first battery stack 100 and the second battery stack 200, and to control the switching status of the first switch S1, the second switch S2, the third switch S3 and the fourth switch S4.

[0029] Figure 1 The method may include, but is not limited to, steps S101 to S104.

[0030] In step S101, in response to system startup, the first switch S1 is turned on, so that the first fuel cell stack 100 is connected to the DC / DC converter 300 through the first switch S1. The method in this application reduces the specification requirements of the DC / DC converter 300 by controlling the power output sequence of the fuel cells. When the product or system starts up, the fuel cells with higher priority are started first according to their priority startup order; in a preset state, the first fuel cell 100 has a higher priority.

[0031] Regarding the first fuel cell stack 100, it is connected to both the DC / DC converter 300 and the DC bus. This means that the voltage can be converted by the DC / DC converter 300 before being output to the DC bus to provide power to electrical appliances; or it can be directly connected to the DC bus to provide power to electrical appliances. (Refer to...) Figure 2 The connection between the first fuel cell stack 100 and the DC / DC converter 300 is controlled by the first switch S1, and the connection between the first fuel cell stack 100 and the DC bus is controlled by the second switch S2. To start the first fuel cell stack 100, the first switch S1 is turned on while the second switch S2 is kept off. It should be noted that all switches are off when the system is powered off.

[0032] On the other hand, regarding the DC / DC converter 300, since the output voltage of the fuel cell changes with its current, the output voltage will also change significantly under varying power demands, which is not conducive to the stable operation of electrical appliances. Therefore, at least one DC / DC converter 300 needs to be installed in the system to convert the changing output voltage of the fuel cell into a stable DC output to supply the DC bus.

[0033] Step S102: Increase the first output power of the first fuel cell stack 100 through the DC / DC converter 300; After the first fuel cell stack 100 is connected to the DC / DC converter 300, the first output power of the first fuel cell stack 100 is increased through the DC / DC converter 300. Specifically, the DC / DC converter 300 can control the rise rate of the fuel cell stack output current, thereby indirectly making the output power of the fuel cell stack increase smoothly. This ensures that the gas supply, hydrothermal management and electrochemical reaction are synchronized during this process, avoiding abnormal operating conditions of the fuel cell stack, thus enabling the first fuel cell stack 100 to start up and output the first output power.

[0034] In step S103, in response to the first output power reaching the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack 100, the first switch S1 is disconnected and the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 are connected, so that the first fuel cell stack 100 is connected to the DC bus through the second switch S2 and the second fuel cell stack 200 is connected to the DC / DC converter 300 through the third switch S3. During step S102, the control module monitors the first output power. When the first output power reaches the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack 100, it is determined that the first fuel cell stack 100 has been started, and then the system state is switched to start the second fuel cell stack 200.

[0035] Regarding the second fuel cell stack 200, it is similarly connected to the DC / DC converter 300 and the DC bus; see reference. Figure 2 The connection between the second fuel cell stack 200 and the DC / DC converter 300 is controlled by the third switch S3, and the connection between the second fuel cell stack 200 and the DC bus is controlled by the fourth switch S4. To start the second fuel cell stack 200, the third switch S3 is turned on while the fourth switch S4 remains off. Additionally, the second switch S2 needs to be turned on beforehand, and the first switch S1 needs to be turned off, so that the first fuel cell stack 100 is directly connected to the DC bus, and the DC / DC converter 300 is connected to the second fuel cell stack 200, thereby starting the second fuel cell stack 200.

[0036] Step S104: Increase the second output power of the second stack 200 through the DC / DC converter 300 until the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirements of the electrical appliances.

[0037] Similarly, the second output power of the second stack 200 is increased by the DC / DC converter 300 until the first output power provided by the first stack 100 and the second output power provided by the second stack 200 can meet the target power demand of the electrical appliances. At this point, the increase of the second output power can be stopped, the current switching state of each switch is maintained, energy is provided, and the operation of the product is supported.

[0038] This application embodiment controls the power output sequence of the fuel cell stack, so that the DC / DC converter 300 only needs to meet the power requirements of a single fuel cell stack to achieve stable DC output of the hydrogen fuel cell, reduce system weight, and improve the endurance of weight-sensitive products such as drones.

[0039] refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments, the system further includes a lithium battery 400 connected to a DC bus, and before step S104, the method further includes: Step S201: Determine the power difference based on the target power requirement and the current first output power and / or second output power; In step S202, the lithium battery 400 outputs a matching compensation power based on the power difference.

[0040] Since the startup of the first fuel cell stack 100 and the second fuel cell stack 200 requires time, a lithium battery 400 can be installed in the system to meet the target power requirement of the electrical appliance before the first and second output powers increase to a level sufficient to meet the target power requirement. The lithium battery 400 is also connected to the DC bus and can provide energy to the electrical appliance. Based on this, the power difference between the target power requirement and the current fuel cell stack output power is calculated. The current fuel cell stack output power is determined based on the current first output power and / or second output power. By controlling the output of the lithium battery 400 to match the power difference, the target power requirement of the electrical appliance is met, improving the product startup speed and user experience. This embodiment of the method is also applicable only during the startup of the first fuel cell stack 100 or only during the startup of the second fuel cell stack 200; therefore, the current fuel cell stack output power may only be the first or second output power.

[0041] refer to Figure 4 In some embodiments, after step S104, the method further includes: Step S301: Obtain the rated power of the electrical appliance and compare it with the target power requirement and the rated power; In step S302, in response to the target power demand being greater than or equal to half of the rated power, the third switch S3 is turned on and the fourth switch S4 is turned off. In step S303, in response to the target power requirement being less than half of the rated power, the third switch S3 is disconnected and the fourth switch S4 is connected, so that the second stack 200 is connected to the DC bus through the fourth switch S4.

[0042] Steps S302 and S303 are parallel steps.

[0043] Once the first and second output power meet the target power requirements, the system or product can be considered to have entered a stable working state. At this time, the target power requirements may still change dynamically as the product is used. While controlling the first and second output power to follow these changes, the power supply method of the fuel cell stack can be further optimized according to the target power requirements.

[0044] Specifically, the target power demand of the appliance is compared with its rated power. When the target power demand is greater than or equal to half of the rated power, the appliance is determined to be under high load; when the target power demand is less than half of the rated power, the appliance is determined to be under low load. In other embodiments, other percentages of the rated power can also be set as the judgment criteria, such as two-thirds of the rated power, etc.

[0045] When the appliance is determined to be under high load, a stable power output needs to be maintained. Therefore, no additional adjustments are made to the switches; the third switch S3 remains on and the fourth switch S4 remains off. This ensures that the first fuel cell stack 100 is directly connected to the DC bus, while the second fuel cell stack 200 outputs power to the appliance connected to the DC bus via the DC / DC converter 300. When the appliance is determined to be under low load, the system's reliability can be optimized by controlling the third switch S3 to be off and the fourth switch S4 to be on. In this case, the second fuel cell stack 200 is also switched to be directly connected to the DC bus. (Refer to...) Figure 2 Meanwhile, the first fuel cell stack 100 and the second fuel cell stack 200 are connected in parallel, so that even if one fuel cell stack stops midway, the system can still maintain operation, thereby improving the system's reliability and robustness.

[0046] Based on the above embodiments, in some embodiments, after step S104, the method further includes: The control system shuts down in response to the target power requirement being zero. In response to the target power requirement being non-zero, step S301 is executed.

[0047] On the other hand, once the system or product reaches a stable operating state, it is also necessary to monitor whether the user has controlled the product to shut down. This is achieved by monitoring changes in the target power demand of electrical appliances. When the target power demand is not zero, it means that the system is still operating normally and there are still electrical appliances that need to provide energy, so steps S301 to S303 continue to be executed; when the target power demand is zero, it means that there are no longer any electrical appliances that need to provide energy, and the process of controlling the system to shut down is initiated. Thus, by monitoring power, the system can automatically shut down, saving energy consumption for the system and the product.

[0048] refer to Figure 5 Based on the above embodiments, in some embodiments, the power-off of the control system includes: Step S401: Obtain the current battery capacity and upper limit capacity of lithium battery 400; Step S402: In response to the current battery capacity being less than the upper limit capacity, maintain the current switching states of the first switch S1, the second switch S2, the third switch S3, and the fourth switch S4 for a preset time. Step S403: Control the disconnection of the first switch S1, the second switch S2, the third switch S3 and the fourth switch S4 to perform system shutdown.

[0049] In the above embodiment, before the first output power and the second output power can meet the target power requirement, the lithium battery 400 outputs compensation power to meet the target power requirement. That is to say, the system needs to be supported by a lithium battery 400 with a certain battery capacity when it starts up.

[0050] Therefore, a charging process for the lithium battery 400 can be inserted into the automatic shutdown process of the system. When the target power requirement is determined to be zero according to the steps of the above embodiment and the shutdown process is entered, the current battery capacity and the upper limit capacity of the lithium battery 400 are first obtained. By determining whether the current battery capacity is equal to the upper limit capacity, it is determined whether the battery capacity is sufficient. If they are equal, step S403 can be executed directly to complete the system shutdown. If the current battery capacity is less than the upper limit capacity, the current switching states of the first switch S1, the second switch S2, the third switch S3 and the fourth switch S4 are maintained for a preset time, such as 30 seconds or 1 minute. Under the premise that the target power requirement is zero, the first battery stack 100 and the second battery stack 200 are equivalent to charging the lithium battery 400 through the DC bus to supplement the battery capacity of the lithium battery 400. Then, after the preset time, step S403 is executed to complete the system shutdown.

[0051] It should be noted that, since the target power demand will inevitably decrease to less than half of the rated power during the process, when the control system is shut down, the state of each switch should be as follows: the first switch S1 is open, the second switch S2 is on, the third switch S3 is open, and the fourth switch S4 is on, that is, the two fuel cells are connected in parallel.

[0052] By incorporating an automatic charging process for the lithium battery 400, the system can automatically shut down while ensuring that the lithium battery 400 retains a certain battery capacity. This capacity allows the lithium battery 400 to support power output during the next system startup. Furthermore, maintaining a preset power level for an extended period prevents the battery stack from abruptly shutting down from a high power level, reducing drastic fluctuations in the stack's output power and extending its lifespan.

[0053] In some embodiments, the method further includes: Record the cumulative running time after the system starts up; In response to the cumulative running time reaching the running time threshold, the priority startup order of the first fuel cell stack 100 and the second fuel cell stack 200 is switched; during the next system startup, the first fuel cell stack 100 or the second fuel cell stack 200 is started first according to the switched priority startup order.

[0054] In the system startup method provided in the above embodiment, the first fuel cell stack 100 outputs a first output power corresponding to its rated power, while the second fuel cell stack 200 outputs the remaining required second output power (to meet the target demand power). Under this setting, if it is operated for a long time, the first fuel cell stack 100 will have a large operating load.

[0055] Therefore, this embodiment also sets up alternating operation of fuel cells; specifically, in conjunction with the priority startup sequence, the priority startup sequence presets that the first fuel cell 100 has a higher priority. After the system starts, the cumulative running time is recorded, and at this time, the cumulative running time is also equivalent to the cumulative time of the first fuel cell 100's priority startup; when the cumulative running time reaches the running time threshold, such as 10 hours or 15 hours, the priority of the first fuel cell 100 and the second fuel cell 200 in the priority startup sequence is switched, and the cumulative running time is reset after the system is shut down; in this way, when the system starts again, the second fuel cell 200 is started first according to the changed priority startup sequence, and the method of the above embodiment is executed in the same way; if the priority startup is switched back from the second fuel cell 200 to the first fuel cell 100, the same principle applies.

[0056] By setting different fuel cell stacks to be started alternately and preferentially, their operating load is averaged, thereby improving the service life of the fuel cell stacks.

[0057] This invention also provides a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system for implementing the methods described in any of the above embodiments, with reference to... Figure 2 The dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system includes: a first stack 100, a second stack 200, a DC / DC converter 300, a DC bus, a first switch S1, a second switch S2, a third switch S3, and a fourth switch S4. The first fuel cell stack 100 is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter 300 via the first switch S1, and the first fuel cell stack 100 is also connected to the DC bus via the second switch S2. The second fuel cell stack 200 is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter 300 via the third switch S3, and the second fuel cell stack 200 is also connected to the DC bus via the fourth switch S4. The output of the DC / DC converter 300 is connected to the DC bus, which is also connected to the electrical appliances.

[0058] refer to Figure 2In some embodiments, the system also includes a lithium battery 400 connected to a DC bus, and the output of the DC / DC converter 300, the lithium battery 400, and the electrical appliances share a DC bus.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first battery stack 100, the second battery stack 200, the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 300, the lithium battery 400, and the electrical appliance have the same rated voltage, and the rated operating power of the DC / DC converter 300 is greater than or equal to the maximum operating power of the first battery stack 100 and the second battery stack 200.

[0060] It is understood that the content of the above method embodiments is applicable to this system. The specific functions implemented in this system embodiment are the same as those in the above method embodiments, and the beneficial effects achieved are also the same as those achieved in the above method embodiments.

[0061] The following is a detailed description and explanation of the solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, using specific application examples: This application provides a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and its power control method and apparatus. The method is applied to the dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system, which is suitable for weight-sensitive products such as drones as energy modules.

[0062] Specifically, the dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system includes a first stack 100, a second stack 200, a DC / DC converter 300, a lithium battery 400, a DC bus, a first switch S1, a second switch S2, a third switch S3, and a fourth switch S4. The first stack 100 is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter 300 via the first switch S1, and is also connected to the DC bus via the second switch S2. The second stack 200 is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter 300 via the third switch S3, and is also connected to the DC bus via the fourth switch S4. The lithium battery 400 is connected to the DC bus, the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 300 is connected to the DC bus, and the DC bus is also connected to electrical appliances. The output terminal of the DC / DC converter 300, the lithium battery 400, and the electrical appliances share the same DC bus. The first battery stack 100, the second battery stack 200, the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 300, the lithium battery 400, and the electrical appliances have the same rated voltage, and the rated operating power of the DC / DC converter 300 is greater than or equal to the maximum operating power of the first battery stack 100 and the second battery stack 200.

[0063] When the system starts, it records the cumulative running time; it controls the first switch S1 to be turned on, so that the first fuel cell stack 100 is connected to the DC / DC converter 300 through the first switch S1; the DC / DC converter 300 increases the first output power of the first fuel cell stack 100; when the first output power reaches the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack 100, it controls the first switch S1 to be turned off, and controls the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 to be turned on, so that the first fuel cell stack 100 is connected to the DC bus through the second switch S2, and the second fuel cell stack 200 is connected to the DC / DC converter 300 through the third switch S3; the DC / DC converter 300 increases the second output power of the second fuel cell stack 200 until the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirements of the electrical appliances.

[0064] During the process of increasing the first output power or the second output power, the power difference is determined based on the target required power and the current first output power and / or second output power; the lithium battery 400 outputs a matching compensation power based on the power difference.

[0065] On the other hand, after the first and second output powers meet the target power requirement, the rated power of the appliance is obtained, and the target power requirement and the rated power are compared to monitor the change in the target power requirement. When the target power requirement is greater than or equal to half of the rated power, the third switch S3 is turned on and the fourth switch S4 is turned off, so that the first battery stack 100 is directly connected to the DC bus to output power, while the second battery stack 200 outputs power to the appliance connected to the DC bus through the DC / DC converter 300. When the target power requirement is less than half of the rated power, the third switch S3 is turned off and the fourth switch S4 is turned on, so that the second battery stack 200 is connected to the DC bus through the fourth switch S4, so that the first battery stack 100 and the second battery stack 200 are connected in parallel and are both directly connected to the DC bus to output power. If the target power requirement is detected to be zero, the current battery capacity and the upper limit capacity of the lithium battery 400 are obtained. When the current battery capacity is less than the upper limit capacity, the current switching states of the first switch S1, the second switch S2, the third switch S3 and the fourth switch S4 are maintained for a preset time. After the preset time has elapsed, or when the current battery capacity is equal to the upper limit capacity, the first switch S1, the second switch S2, the third switch S3 and the fourth switch S4 are disconnected to shut down the system.

[0066] In addition, if the cumulative running time reaches the running time threshold, the priority startup order of the first fuel cell stack 100 and the second fuel cell stack 200 is switched; during the next system startup, the first fuel cell stack 100 or the second fuel cell stack 200 is started first according to the switched priority startup order.

[0067] This application embodiment controls the power output sequence of the fuel cell stack, so that the DC / DC converter 300 only needs to meet the power requirements of a single fuel cell stack to achieve stable DC output of the hydrogen fuel cell, reduce system weight, and improve the endurance of weight-sensitive products such as drones.

[0068] Reference Figure 6 The present invention also provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the program, when executed by the processor, implements the methods described in the above embodiments.

[0069] Taking the example of a processor and memory in a computer device being connected via a bus, memory, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs. Furthermore, memory may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, memory may optionally include memory remotely located relative to the control processor, and these remote memories can be connected to the control device via a network.

[0070] The non-transient software program and instructions required to implement the control method of the above embodiments are stored in memory. When executed by a processor, the control method of the above embodiments is executed. For example, executing... Figure 1 The method steps S100 to S104 are described above. It is understood that the content of the above method embodiments is applicable to this device, and the specific functions implemented in this device embodiment are the same as those in the above method embodiments, and the beneficial effects achieved are also the same as those achieved in the above method embodiments.

[0071] Memory, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs. Furthermore, memory may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, memory may optionally include memory remotely located relative to the processor, and these remote memories can be connected to the processor via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0072] This application provides a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system and its power control method and apparatus. The system includes a first fuel cell stack 100, a second fuel cell stack 200, a DC / DC converter 300, a DC bus, and a first switch S1, a second switch S2, a third switch S3, and a fourth switch S4 for controlling the connection relationship of the above-mentioned devices. When the system starts up, the first switch S1 is turned on to connect the first fuel cell stack 100 to the DC / DC converter 300, thereby increasing the first output power of the first fuel cell stack 100 and starting the first fuel cell stack 100. When the first output power reaches the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack 100, the first switch S1 is turned off and the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 are turned on, switching the connection between the first fuel cell stack 100 and the DC bus, and the connection between the second fuel cell stack 200 and the DC / DC converter 300. The second output power of the second fuel cell stack 200 is increased by the DC / DC converter 300, and the second fuel cell stack 200 is started again, ultimately ensuring that the first and second output powers meet the target power requirements of the electrical appliances. Compared to configuring a separate DC / DC converter 300 for each fuel cell stack, or configuring a high-power DC / DC converter 300, the solution in this application controls the power output sequence of the fuel cell stacks so that the specifications of the DC / DC converter 300 only need to meet the power requirements of a single fuel cell stack, thereby achieving stable DC output of the hydrogen fuel cell, reducing system weight, and improving the endurance of weight-sensitive products such as drones.

[0073] The embodiments described in this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of technology and the emergence of new application scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will understand that the technical solutions shown in the figures do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this application, and may include more or fewer steps than shown, or combine certain steps, or different steps.

[0075] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0076] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or some of the steps in the methods disclosed above, as well as the functional modules / units in the systems and devices, can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, or suitable combinations thereof.

[0077] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc. (if present) in the specification and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0078] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "more than" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0079] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of the units described above is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0080] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0081] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0082] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes multiple instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing programs, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0083] The preferred embodiments of the present application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this does not limit the scope of the claims of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and substance of the embodiments of the present application shall be within the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A power control method for a dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system, characterized in that, The system includes a first fuel cell stack, a second fuel cell stack, a DC / DC converter, a DC bus, and a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch for controlling the connection between the first and second fuel cell stacks, the DC / DC converter, and the DC bus. The output terminal of the DC / DC converter is connected to the DC bus, and the DC bus is connected to an electrical appliance. The method includes: In response to the system startup, the first switch is turned on, so that the first fuel cell stack is connected to the DC / DC converter through the first switch; The first output power of the first fuel cell stack is increased by the DC / DC converter. In response to the first output power reaching the first rated power of the first fuel cell stack, the first switch is controlled to be disconnected, and the second switch and the third switch are controlled to be connected, so that the first fuel cell stack is connected to the DC bus through the second switch, and the second fuel cell stack is connected to the DC / DC converter through the third switch; The second output power of the second fuel cell stack is increased by the DC / DC converter until the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement of the appliance.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system further includes a lithium battery connected to the DC bus, and the method further includes, before the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement: The power difference is determined based on the target power requirement and the current first output power and / or second output power; The lithium battery outputs a matching compensation power based on the power difference.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement, the method further includes: Obtain the rated power of the electrical appliance and compare it with the target power requirement; In response to the target power demand being greater than or equal to half of the rated power, the third switch is turned on and the fourth switch is turned off. In response to the target power requirement being less than half of the rated power, the third switch is controlled to be disconnected and the fourth switch is controlled to be connected, so that the second stack is connected to the DC bus through the fourth switch.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, After the first output power and the second output power meet the target power requirement, the method further includes: In response to the target power requirement being zero, the system is shut down. In response to the target power requirement being non-zero, the process of obtaining the rated power of the appliance and comparing the target power requirement with the rated power is performed.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The system also includes a lithium battery, and controlling the system to shut down includes: Obtain the current battery capacity and the maximum capacity of the lithium battery; In response to the current battery capacity being less than the upper limit capacity, the current switching states of the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch are maintained for a preset time. The system shuts down by disconnecting the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the system starts up, record the cumulative running time; In response to the cumulative running time reaching a running time threshold, the priority startup order of the first fuel cell stack and the second fuel cell stack is switched; upon the next system startup, the first fuel cell stack or the second fuel cell stack is started first according to the switched priority startup order.

7. A computer device, characterized in that, The computer device includes a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor executing the computer program to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A dual-stack hydrogen fuel cell system, said system being used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The system includes: a first fuel cell stack, a second fuel cell stack, a DC / DC converter, a DC bus, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch; The first fuel cell stack is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter via the first switch, and the first fuel cell stack is also connected to the DC bus via the second switch; The second fuel cell stack is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter via the third switch, and the second fuel cell stack is also connected to the DC bus via the fourth switch; The output terminal of the DC / DC converter is connected to the DC bus, and the DC bus is also connected to the electrical appliances.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The system also includes a lithium battery connected to the DC bus, and the output of the DC / DC converter, the lithium battery, and the electrical appliances share the DC bus.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first battery stack, the second battery stack, the output terminal of the DC / DC converter, the lithium battery, and the electrical appliance have the same rated voltage, and the rated operating power of the DC / DC converter is greater than or equal to the maximum operating power of the first battery stack and the second battery stack.

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