Fuel cell system and start control unit and start control method thereof

By determining the remaining battery charge and requested power when a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle starts, generating control commands, and adjusting the power consumption of auxiliary equipment, the power mismatch problem in the fuel cell system during startup is solved, achieving stable system operation and battery protection.

CN121848950APending Publication Date: 2026-04-14BOSCH HYDROGEN POWERTRAIN SYSTEMS (CHONGQING) CO LTD
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-10-14
Publication Date
2026-04-14

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

During the startup phase, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may experience problems such as the fuel cell system providing too much net output power to the power battery, leading to overcharging and damage, or the output power being too low, causing the fuel cell to shut down, which can affect system performance and lifespan.

Method used

By judging the remaining power of the power battery and the requested power of the fuel cell system when the vehicle is powered on, a start or stop command is generated, and the power difference is compensated by adjusting the power consumption of the PTC heater and fan to ensure the safe start or stop of the system.

Benefits of technology

It effectively avoids the problems of overcharging or undercharging the power battery, ensures the stable operation of the fuel cell system during the start-up phase, protects the battery, and extends its lifespan.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN121848950A_ABST
    Figure CN121848950A_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The invention provides a fuel cell system and a start control unit and a start control method thereof. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack coupled to a power cell of a vehicle through a DC bus; the accessory equipment is connected to the direct current bus and comprises a positive temperature coefficient heater and a fan; the starting control unit executes the method for controlling starting of the fuel cell system and comprises the steps that when the vehicle is powered on, whether the remaining electric quantity of the power cell is larger than or equal to a first electric quantity threshold value or not is judged; if it is judged that the remaining electric quantity of the power battery is larger than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold value, whether the current request power of the fuel cell system is larger than or equal to the preset minimum operation power of the fuel cell system or not is further judged; if it is judged that the current request power is larger than or equal to the preset minimum operation power, a starting instruction used for controlling starting of the fuel cell system is generated; and entering a start assist process if it is determined that the current request power is less than the predetermined minimum operating power.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a fuel cell system for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and its start-up control unit and start-up control method. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen as fuel, generating electricity through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to power the vehicle. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer numerous advantages, such as high energy conversion efficiency (up to 60%–80%), quick and convenient refueling, and stable, noiseless operation, making them one of the main development directions for future new energy clean energy vehicles.

[0003] The fuel cell system in a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle can charge the vehicle's battery after startup. However, during the startup phase, there is a possibility that the net output power supplied by the fuel cell system to the battery may be too high, leading to overcharging and damage. This problem may occur because the electrical power consumed by the PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater, which heats the fuel cell stack during startup, decreases as the fuel cell stack temperature rises. This power variation in the PTC heater directly affects the output power distribution of the fuel cell system, causing more electrical power to flow into the battery, thus leading to overcharging and damage.

[0004] Furthermore, during the startup phase of a fuel cell system, the output power of the fuel cell system may be too low, potentially causing the fuel cell to shut down. This problem may occur when the ambient temperature is extremely low or the state of charge (SOC) of the power battery is extremely high, resulting in a very low maximum rechargeable power of the power battery. Since the output power of the fuel cell system needs to match the maximum rechargeable power of the power battery, when the maximum rechargeable power of the power battery decreases, the output power of the fuel cell system will also decrease accordingly, possibly even to the point of causing the fuel cell system to shut down.

[0005] Furthermore, if the fuel cell stack of a fuel cell system operates at too low a power level, the amount of water produced by the fuel cell stack will be less, resulting in very low humidity within the fuel cell stack. Moreover, as the operating time at such low power increases, the humidity within the fuel cell stack will continue to decrease, leading to a decline in fuel cell stack performance and affecting its lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above problems, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a start-up control method for an on-board fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack coupled to a vehicle's power battery via a DC bus and accessory devices connected to the DC bus. The accessory devices include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater and a fan. The method includes: when the vehicle is powered on, determining whether the remaining charge of the power battery is greater than or equal to a first threshold charge; if the remaining charge of the power battery is determined to be greater than or equal to the first threshold charge, further determining whether the current requested power for the fuel cell system is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum operating power of the fuel cell system; if the current requested power is determined to be greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power, generating a start-up command for controlling the start-up of the fuel cell system; and if the current requested power is determined to be less than the predetermined minimum operating power, entering a start-up assistance process, in which an attempt is made to compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power by increasing the power consumption of the accessory devices; if the compensation is successful, generating the start-up command; if the compensation fails, generating a shutdown command for controlling the shutdown of the fuel cell system.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an on-board fuel cell system is provided, comprising: a fuel cell stack coupled to a vehicle's power battery via a DC bus; accessory devices connected to the DC bus, including a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater and a fan; and a start control unit configured to execute a method for controlling the start of the fuel cell system, comprising: when the vehicle is powered on, determining whether the remaining charge of the power battery is greater than or equal to a first charge threshold; if the remaining charge of the power battery is determined to be greater than or equal to the first charge threshold, further determining whether the current requested power of the fuel cell system is greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum operating power of the fuel cell system; if the current requested power is determined to be greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power, generating a start command for controlling the start of the fuel cell system; and if the current requested power is determined to be less than the predetermined minimum operating power, entering a start-up assistance process, in which an attempt is made to compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power by increasing the power consumption of the accessory devices; if the compensation is successful, generating the start command; if the compensation fails, generating a stop command for controlling the shutdown of the fuel cell system.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a machine-readable storage medium is provided that stores executable instructions, which, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the method described above.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product is provided, which includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the method described above.

[0010] It should be noted that the foregoing provides a summary of the main aspects of the invention to facilitate a basic understanding of these aspects. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention, but rather to present a simplified version of the implementation of the main aspects of the invention as a prelude to the detailed description that follows. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The following description will take into account several aspects disclosed, which are provided to illustrate rather than limit the aspects disclosed.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram of a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a start-up control method for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 and Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 The methods in the document include some sub-processes. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 A fuel cell system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is coupled to a power battery system 20 via a converter system 30. The fuel cell system 10, the converter system 30, and the power battery system 20 are all located on a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV). In this document, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is simply referred to as a vehicle.

[0017] See Figure 1 The fuel cell system 10 includes: a fuel cell stack 11, a fuel cell controller 12, a PTC heater 13 and a fan 14 as auxiliary devices, and other auxiliary devices 15 besides the PTC heater 13 and the fan 14. The stack anode of the fuel cell stack 11 is connected to the positive bus, and the stack cathode of the fuel cell stack 11 is connected to the negative bus. The PTC heater 13, the fan 14, and the other auxiliary devices 15 are all connected to the positive and negative buses.

[0018] The fuel cell stack 11 converts chemical energy into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. The fuel cell stack 11 can be composed of multiple individual fuel cells stacked in series or parallel. The heat and water generated during the electrochemical reaction are treated by a thermal management system to maintain the normal operation of the fuel cell stack 11.

[0019] The fuel cell controller 12 monitors the operating status of the fuel cell system 10 in real time (e.g., pressure and humidity of the reaction gas, humidity and temperature inside the stack, etc.) and achieves reliable and efficient operation of the system 10 by precisely controlling the operating status of the fuel cell system 10.

[0020] The primary function of the PTC heater 13 in the fuel cell system 10 is auxiliary heating. Especially in low-temperature environments, the cold start of the fuel cell stack 11 may be affected, as the coolant needs to reach a certain temperature to ensure the normal operation of the fuel cell stack 11. In this case, the PTC heater 13 can heat the coolant, helping the fuel cell stack 11 quickly reach a suitable operating temperature, thereby shortening the cold start time and improving the reliability and efficiency of the system 10.

[0021] The primary function of fan 14 in the fuel cell system 10 is heat dissipation. During operation, the fuel cell stack 11 generates a significant amount of heat. If this heat cannot be dissipated in time, it can lead to overheating of the fuel cell stack 11, affecting the performance and lifespan of the system 10. Fan 14 removes the heat generated by the fuel cell stack 11 by accelerating airflow, maintaining the system 10 within its normal operating temperature range. The speed of fan 14 is adjustable and can be precisely controlled according to the actual operating conditions of the fuel cell stack 11 and the ambient temperature to achieve optimal heat dissipation.

[0022] The auxiliary equipment (sometimes called "Balance of Plant") of the fuel cell system 10 includes various auxiliary devices. Besides the PTC heater 13 and fan 14 described above, it may also include other auxiliary devices 15, such as an air supply subsystem, a hydrogen supply subsystem, and a water and heat management system. It should be understood that some of the auxiliary devices of the fuel cell system 10 require power, while others do not. In the embodiments of the present invention, the electrical power consumed by the PTC heater 13 and fan 14 in the auxiliary devices is mainly considered.

[0023] The battery system 20 includes a power battery 21 (sometimes also referred to as a "high-pressure battery") and a battery management system 22 (BMS). The power battery may include multiple lithium battery cells, which are combined into a battery pack by connecting them in series or parallel to meet the vehicle's energy needs. The power battery 21 can be charged by the fuel cell system 10 or at a charging station. The BMS 22 can monitor and collect the state parameters of the power battery 21 in real time (e.g., battery voltage, battery terminal temperature, battery circuit current, battery terminal voltage, battery insulation resistance, etc.), and analyze and calculate the state parameters to achieve effective management and control of the power battery 21 and ensure its reliable operation.

[0024] A converter system 30 is coupled between the fuel cell system 10 and the power battery system 20. The converter system 30 includes a DC-DC converter 31 and two switches 31 and 32. The converter 31, for example, is a boost DC-DC converter used to convert the voltage level output from the fuel cell stack 11 to a voltage level suitable for charging the power battery 21. The two switches 31 and 32 are respectively located on the positive and negative busbars. Each switch can be implemented as a relay.

[0025] See also Figure 1 The fuel cell controller 12 is communicatively connected to the BMS 22, enabling them to exchange operational status information in real time. Furthermore, the fuel cell controller 12 and BMS 22 can also be communicatively connected to the vehicle control unit (VCU) 40, allowing information exchange between them. In one implementation, the fuel cell controller 12, BMS 22, and VCU 40 are all connected to the vehicle's bus system or onboard network.

[0026] The start-up control unit 120 is used to execute the start-up control strategy / method of the fuel cell system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The start-up control unit 120 can be disposed in the fuel cell controller 12 or in the VCU 40. In addition, the start-up control unit 120 can also be implemented as including multiple modules (i.e., functional modules), wherein some modules are disposed in the fuel cell controller 12 and other modules are disposed in the VCU 40.

[0027] In one embodiment, the start-up control unit 120 includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to implement the start-up control method for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2A start-up control method 200 for a fuel cell system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. This method 200 can be executed by a start-up control unit 120.

[0029] See Figure 2 In box 202, after the vehicle is powered on, the control unit 120 is activated to determine whether the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is greater than the first charge threshold.

[0030] The first power threshold refers to the sum of the power required to satisfy the following conditions: 1) the power required to heat the power battery 21 to its predetermined start-up temperature; and 2) the power required to heat the fuel cell stack 11 to its predetermined start-up temperature.

[0031] The predetermined start-up temperature of the power battery 21 is determined comprehensively based on the battery type, maximum rechargeable capacity, and charge / discharge rate. For example, the predetermined start-up temperature is the temperature at which the maximum rechargeable capacity and charge / discharge rate of the power battery reach optimal levels for that battery type. Furthermore, the predetermined start-up temperature of the power battery 21 can be adjusted according to specific application scenarios, especially according to ambient temperature. It is worth noting that this invention does not limit the specific value of the predetermined start-up temperature of the power battery 21.

[0032] The predetermined start-up temperature of the fuel cell stack 11 is the temperature at which the fuel cell stack 11 can quickly enter efficient operation after startup. When the fuel cell stack starts at the predetermined start-up temperature, startup time can be reduced, operating efficiency can be improved, and the fuel cell stack 11 can be protected. Furthermore, the predetermined start-up temperature of the fuel cell stack 11 can be adjusted according to specific application scenarios, especially according to ambient temperature. It is worth noting that the present invention does not limit the specific value of the predetermined start-up temperature of the fuel cell stack 11.

[0033] If the determination result in box 202 is that the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is greater than the first charge threshold, it means that the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is sufficient to heat the fuel cell stack 11 and the power battery 21. At this time, method 200 proceeds to box 204.

[0034] In block 204, the start control unit 120 generates instructions for controlling the PTC heater 13 to heat the fuel cell stack 11 and the power battery 21 under the power of the power battery 21. In this way, the PTC heater 13 heats the fuel cell stack 11 to its predetermined start-up temperature, and also heats the power battery 21 to its predetermined start-up temperature.

[0035] In block 206, the activation control unit 120 acquires the current requested power from the fuel cell system 100, i.e., the output power expected to be provided by the fuel cell system 100. The current requested power can be determined and issued by the VCU 40, for example, by the VCU 40 based on the current maximum rechargeable power of the power battery 21 and the vehicle's target start-up acceleration. This invention does not limit the specific implementation method for determining the current requested power.

[0036] In box 208, the activation control unit 120 determines whether the currently requested power is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power of the fuel cell system 10.

[0037] The predetermined minimum operating power is set based on the standby power of the fuel cell system 10, and may be equal to or slightly higher than the standby power of the fuel cell system 10. The standby power of the fuel cell system 10 refers to the power consumed when the system 10 is in standby mode. In this state, the fuel cell stack 11 is not in full-power output mode, but still needs to maintain certain operating conditions to quickly respond to subsequent power demands. Once the output power of the fuel cell system 10 is less than the predetermined minimum operating power, the fuel cell system 10 will shut down.

[0038] When the determination result in block 208 is that the current requested power is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power of the fuel cell system 10, method 200 proceeds to block 210.

[0039] In block 210, the start control unit 120 generates a start command for controlling the start of the fuel cell system 10. At this time, the fuel cell system 10 starts.

[0040] If the determination result in block 208 is that the current requested power is less than the predetermined minimum operating power of the fuel cell system 10, it means that the current requested power is too low and will cause the fuel cell system 10 to shut down. At this time, method 200 proceeds to block 212.

[0041] In block 212, the start control unit 120 executes a start-up assistance process. During the start-up assistance process, an attempt is made to compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power by increasing the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment. If the compensation is successful, a start command for controlling the start-up of the fuel cell system 10 is generated (i.e., proceeding to block 210). If the compensation fails, a shutdown command for controlling the shutdown of the fuel cell system 10 is generated (block 214).

[0042] See below Figure 3 A specific implementation of box 212 is described.

[0043] See Figure 3In box 2120, the start control unit 120 detects whether the current power consumption (i.e., the current power consumed) of the PTC heater 13 has reached its maximum power consumption.

[0044] It should be understood that in a fuel cell engine system, the PTC heater is used to heat the coolant to ensure the engine can operate normally during startup or in low-temperature environments. The maximum power consumption of the PTC heater is related to the volume of coolant in the fuel cell engine system. In other words, the maximum power consumption of the PTC heater depends on the volume of coolant in the fuel cell engine system, and the size of the coolant volume is related to the engine's power rating. For example, the higher the engine's power rating, the larger the required coolant volume, and the higher the maximum power of the PTC heater.

[0045] If the detection result indicates that the current power consumption of PTC heater 13 has not yet reached its maximum power consumption, an instruction to control PTC heater 13 to increase power consumption is generated (box 2124), and it is determined whether the total power consumption of auxiliary equipment, including PTC heater 13, can reach the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power (box 2128). If it is determined that the total power consumption of auxiliary equipment, including PTC heater 13, can reach the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power, a start instruction to control the start of fuel cell system 10 is generated (i.e., proceed to box 210); if it is determined that the total power consumption of auxiliary equipment, including PTC heater 13, cannot reach the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power, a stop instruction to control the shutdown of fuel cell system 10 is generated (i.e., proceed to box 214).

[0046] If the detection result indicates that the current power consumption of PTC heater 13 has reached its maximum power consumption, then the current power consumption of fan 14 is further detected to see if it has reached its maximum power consumption.

[0047] It should be understood that in a fuel cell engine system, the fan, by drawing in or expelling air, accelerates the cooling rate of the coolant, thereby enhancing the system's heat dissipation capacity and ensuring the fuel cell operates at a suitable temperature. The fan's maximum power consumption is related to the volume of coolant in the fuel cell engine system. In other words, the fan's maximum power consumption depends on the volume of coolant in the fuel cell engine system, and the size of the coolant volume is related to the engine's power rating. For example, the higher the engine's power rating, the larger the required coolant volume, and the greater the fan's maximum power.

[0048] If the detection result indicates that the current power consumption of fan 14 has reached its maximum power consumption, a shutdown command is generated to control the fuel cell system 10 to shut down (i.e., proceed to box 214). If the detection result indicates that the current power consumption of fan 14 has not yet reached its maximum power consumption, a command is generated to control fan 14 to increase its power consumption (box 2126), and it is determined whether the total power consumption of auxiliary devices, including fan 14, can reach the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power (box 2128). If it is determined that the total power consumption of auxiliary devices, including fan 14, can reach the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power, a start command is generated to control the fuel cell system 10 to start up (i.e., proceed to box 210); if it is determined that the total power consumption of auxiliary devices, including fan 14, cannot reach the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power, a shutdown command is generated to control the fuel cell system 10 to shut down (i.e., proceed to box 214).

[0049] Return to see Figure 2 If the judgment result of box 202 is that the remaining power of the power battery 21 is less than the first power threshold, method 200 enters box 216.

[0050] In box 216, the start control unit 120 determines whether the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is greater than or equal to the second charge threshold.

[0051] The second power threshold refers to the amount of power required to heat the power battery 21 to its predetermined start-up temperature. For information on the predetermined start-up temperature of the power battery 21, please refer to the above description.

[0052] When the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is between the first charge threshold and the second charge threshold, it means that the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is only enough to heat the power battery 21 itself, but not enough to heat both the power battery 21 and the fuel cell stack 11. In this case, method 200 proceeds to 218.

[0053] In block 218, commands are generated to control heating of the power battery 21, control the start of the fuel cell system 10, and prevent the vehicle from starting. In this case, after the fuel cell system 10 starts, it can provide electrical power to the power battery 21 via the converter system 30 to charge the power battery 21.

[0054] If it is determined that the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is less than the second charge threshold, it means that the remaining charge of the power battery 21 is insufficient to start the fuel cell system 10. At this time, method 200 enters box 220.

[0055] In box 220, the start control unit 120 generates instructions to disable the start of the fuel cell system 10 and instruct the vehicle to go to a charging station to charge the power battery 21.

[0056] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in response to a shutdown command, method 200 will enter shutdown control process 222. Figure 4 A specific implementation of the shutdown control process 222 is shown.

[0057] See Figure 4 In box 2220, the start control unit 120 determines whether the current requested power for the fuel cell system 10 is greater than or equal to the predetermined shutdown power of the fuel cell system 10.

[0058] The predetermined shutdown power is set to be greater than or equal to the aforementioned predetermined minimum operating power. When it is determined that the fuel cell system 10 is entering the shutdown process, its output power still needs to remain above the predetermined minimum operating power. This setting ensures that the fuel cell system 10 can maintain the necessary operating conditions during the shutdown process, thereby achieving a smooth and normal shutdown operation. In other words, even during the shutdown process of the fuel cell system 10, the system 10 needs to maintain a certain output power to ensure the smooth progress of the shutdown process.

[0059] If the determination result is that the current requested power is greater than or equal to the predetermined shutdown power of the fuel cell system 10, then proceed to block 2222. In block 2222, the control unit 120 is activated to generate instructions for controlling the normal shutdown of the fuel cell system 10.

[0060] If the determination result is that the current requested power is less than the predetermined shutdown power of the fuel cell system 10, then proceed to box 2224. In box 2224, an instruction is generated to control the power consumption of the PTC heater 13 to increase to its maximum power consumption. In box 2226, it is determined whether the total power consumption of the auxiliary equipment, including the PTC heater 13, can compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined shutdown power. If it is determined that the total power consumption of the auxiliary equipment can compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined shutdown power, then the control unit 120 is activated to generate an instruction to control the normal shutdown of the fuel cell system 10 (i.e., proceed to box 2222). If it is determined that the total power consumption of the auxiliary equipment cannot compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined shutdown power, then proceed to box 2228. In box 2228, the control unit 120 is activated to generate an emergency shutdown instruction to control the rapid shutdown of the fuel cell system 10.

[0061] This invention also provides a machine-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the startup control method 200 as described above.

[0062] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the startup control method 200 as described above.

[0063] It is understood that processors can be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether these processors are implemented as hardware or software will depend on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the system. As an example, the processor, any portion of the processor, or any combination of processors provided in this invention can be implemented as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic device (PLD), state machine, gate logic, discrete hardware circuitry, and other suitable processing units configured to perform the various functions described in this disclosure. The functionality of the processor, any portion of the processor, or any combination of processors provided in this invention can be implemented as software executed by a microprocessor, microcontroller, DSP, or other suitable platform.

[0064] It is understood that software should be broadly considered as representing instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subroutines, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, running threads, procedures, functions, etc. Software may reside on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media may include, for example, memory, which may be, for example, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic stripes), optical disks, smart cards, flash memory devices, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), registers, or removable disks. Although memory is shown as separate from the processor in several aspects set forth in this disclosure, memory may also reside within the processor (e.g., in caches or registers).

[0065] While some embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover all modifications, substitutions, and alterations made within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A start-up control method for an on-board fuel cell system, the fuel cell system comprising: A fuel cell stack coupled to the vehicle's power battery via a DC bus and accessory devices connected to the DC bus, the accessory devices including a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater and a fan, the method comprising: When the vehicle is powered on, determine whether the remaining charge of the power battery is greater than or equal to the first threshold charge. If it is determined that the remaining power of the power battery is greater than or equal to the first threshold power, then it is further determined whether the current requested power of the fuel cell system is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power of the fuel cell system. If it is determined that the current requested power is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power, a start-up command is generated to control the start-up of the fuel cell system; and If it is determined that the current requested power is less than the predetermined minimum operating power, the start-up assistance process is initiated. During this process, an attempt is made to compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power by increasing the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment. If the compensation is successful, the start-up command is generated; if the compensation fails, a shutdown command is generated to control the shutdown of the fuel cell system.

2. The start-up control method as described in claim 1, wherein, The startup assistance process includes: The power difference is compensated by increasing the power consumption of the PTC heater to its maximum power consumption and / or increasing the power consumption of the fan to its maximum power consumption.

3. The start-up control method as described in claim 1, wherein, The first power threshold refers to the sum of the power required to satisfy the following conditions: - The amount of electricity used to heat the battery to its predetermined start-up temperature; and - The amount of electricity used to heat the fuel cell stack to its predetermined start-up temperature.

4. The start-up control method as described in claim 1, wherein, The predetermined minimum operating power is greater than or equal to the standby power of the fuel cell system in standby mode.

5. The startup control method as described in claim 1, further comprising: If it is determined that the remaining power of the power battery is less than the first power threshold, then it is further determined whether the remaining power of the power battery is greater than or equal to the second power threshold. When the remaining charge of the power battery is determined to be greater than or equal to a second charge threshold and less than a first charge threshold, a command is generated to control the PCT heater to heat only the power battery, control the fuel cell system to start, and prevent the vehicle from starting; and When it is determined that the remaining power of the power battery is less than the second power threshold, an instruction is generated to prevent the fuel cell system from starting and to remind the vehicle to go to a charging station to charge the power battery.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: In response to the shutdown command, determine whether the current requested power of the fuel cell is greater than or equal to the predetermined shutdown power; If it is determined that the current requested power is greater than or equal to the predetermined shutdown power, a normal shutdown command is generated to control the normal shutdown of the fuel cell system. If it is determined that the current requested power is less than the predetermined shutdown power, a shutdown assistance process is initiated. During this process, an attempt is made to compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined shutdown power by increasing the power consumption of the PTC heater. If the compensation is successful, the normal shutdown command is generated; if the compensation fails, an emergency shutdown command is generated to control the rapid shutdown of the fuel cell system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The predetermined shutdown power is greater than or equal to the standby power of the fuel cell system in standby mode.

8. An on-board fuel cell system, comprising: The fuel cell stack is coupled to the vehicle's power battery via a DC bus; Accessory devices connected to the DC bus include positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters and fans; as well as The start-up control unit is configured to execute methods for controlling the start-up of the fuel cell system, including: When the vehicle is powered on, determine whether the remaining charge of the power battery is greater than or equal to the first charge threshold. If it is determined that the remaining power of the power battery is greater than or equal to the first power threshold, then it is further determined whether the current requested power of the fuel cell system is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power of the fuel cell system. If it is determined that the current requested power is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum operating power, a start-up command is generated to control the start-up of the fuel cell system; and If it is determined that the current requested power is less than the predetermined minimum operating power, the start-up assistance process is initiated. During this process, an attempt is made to compensate for the power difference between the current requested power and the predetermined minimum operating power by increasing the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment. If the compensation is successful, the start-up command is generated; if the compensation fails, a shutdown command is generated to control the shutdown of the fuel cell system.

9. A machine-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-7.

10. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-7.