Fuel cell vehicle and method for operating same

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell vehicle (1), comprising a fuel cell system (2), a traction battery (4) and at least one electric drive motor (5), which can be supplied with electrical energy from the fuel cell system (2) and / or the traction battery (4), wherein, in a first operating mode, the fuel cell system (2) and the fuel cell vehicle (1) are operated with a particularly low noise level through one or more possible measures depending on the current vehicle state.

Description

[0001] Fuel cell vehicle and method for its operation

[0002] The invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a fuel cell vehicle according to the preamble of claim 10.

[0003] Reducing traffic noise in urban areas has been a key legislative concern for some time. Reducing the external noise levels of fuel cell commercial vehicles can make it easier for their operators to comply with legal regulations such as the "Technical Instructions for Protection Against Noise," which determine whether a commercial vehicle can, for example, deliver groceries at night without disturbing nearby residential areas.

[0004] Fuel cell vehicles can have unique noise characteristics due to their different operating modes.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to reduce external noise emissions in general, or at least in urban areas.

[0006] CN 112224041 A describes a noise reduction structure of a heat dissipation assembly of a fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a heat dissipation water tank, a fan assembly, and a storage battery. A DC-boosted DC / DC converter is arranged on a power circuit from the storage battery to the fan assembly, and the DC / DC converter is connected to a vehicle control unit via a signal circuit. Furthermore, a noise suppression method of the noise reduction structure is described. By applying the technical scheme, the noise level of the heat dissipation assembly of the fuel cell system can be effectively reduced across the entire operating state range, and compared with the prior art, the noise can be reduced by 17 dBA–22 dBA.The invention is based on the object of providing a novel method for operating a fuel cell vehicle and a novel fuel cell vehicle.

[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by a method for operating a fuel cell vehicle having the features of claim 1 and by a fuel cell vehicle having the features of claim 10.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0009] A fuel cell vehicle comprises a fuel cell system, a traction battery, and at least one electric drive motor that can be supplied with electrical energy from the fuel cell system and / or the traction battery. In a method according to the invention for operating the fuel cell vehicle, it is provided that, in a first operating mode, the fuel cell system and the fuel cell vehicle are operated with particularly low noise levels by one or more measures that are possible depending on the current vehicle state.

[0010] The quiet first operating mode for fuel cell vehicles contributes to a quieter urban environment and facilitates compliance with legal requirements such as the "Technical Instructions for Noise Protection." This enables the operator of the fuel cell commercial vehicle to deliver goods at night when traffic is low.

[0011] In one embodiment, the measures include:

[0012] - exclusive use of the traction battery, provided its charge level allows this,

[0013] - Limiting an acceleration and / or an available torque of the at least one electric drive motor,

[0014] - sequential instead of simultaneous control of noisy units,

[0015] - Reduction to a specified minimum of the noise emitted by an acoustic vehicle warning system for generating acoustic warning signals when maneuvering and driving at low speeds of the fuel cell vehicle.

[0016] By reducing acceleration and / or torque, and thus tire slippage, in urban areas, wear and damage to tires and road surfaces are also reduced. In one embodiment, the noisy components include at least one cooling fan and / or at least one compressor.

[0017] In one embodiment, in a second operating mode, components of the fuel cell vehicle and / or the fuel cell system are preconditioned for an upcoming journey in an urban area.

[0018] In one embodiment, the preconditioning comprises at least one of the following measures:

[0019] - Charging the traction battery,

[0020] - preventive control of the cooling fans before reaching the urban area in order to keep the speed of the cooling fans low while driving through the urban area and still be able to provide sufficient cooling power,

[0021] - Consideration of a planned arrival time and / or delivery of goods in an urban area.

[0022] In one embodiment, when taking into account the planned arrival time and / or delivery of goods in the second operating mode, it is detected whether the fuel cell vehicle is driving or will be driving through an urban area within a time in which a reduced emission limit applies, whereupon it is ensured by preconditioning and controlling the components of the fuel cell vehicle and / or the fuel cell system that the fuel cell vehicle does not exceed this limit.

[0023] In one embodiment, activation and / or deactivation of the first and / or second operating mode occurs manually and / or automatically by means of geofencing and / or by means of predictive route planning and / or predictive control of a drive train of the fuel cell vehicle.

[0024] In one embodiment, the predictive route planning and / or the predictive powertrain control predicts that the fuel cell vehicle will pass through an urban area.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first operating mode is activated when it is detected that the fuel cell vehicle is located in an urban area. According to one aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell vehicle is proposed, comprising a fuel cell system, a traction battery, and at least one electric drive motor that can be supplied with electrical energy from the fuel cell system and / or the traction battery, wherein the fuel cell vehicle is configured to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

[0026] In one embodiment, the fuel cell vehicle is a commercial vehicle, a passenger car, or a bus.

[0027] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0028] It shows:

[0029] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a fuel cell vehicle.

[0030] The sole figure 1 is a schematic view of a fuel cell vehicle 1, in particular a fuel cell commercial vehicle.

[0031] The fuel cell vehicle 1 comprises a fuel cell system 2, an acoustic vehicle alert system 3 (AVAS) for generating acoustic warning signals when maneuvering and driving at low speeds, a traction battery 4, and at least one electric drive motor 5, which can be supplied with electrical energy from the fuel cell system 2 and / or the traction battery 4. Furthermore, the fuel cell vehicle 1 comprises a cooling system 6, which is configured to cool the fuel cell system 2 and, if appropriate, other components and has at least one cooling fan 7.

[0032] The fuel cell vehicle 1 has at least two operating modes for particularly low-noise operation.

[0033] In a first operating mode, the fuel cell system 2 and the fuel cell vehicle 1 are operated particularly quietly by one or more measures that are possible depending on the current vehicle state.

[0034] These measures include, for example: - exclusive use of traction battery 4, provided its charge level allows this,

[0035] - Limiting the acceleration and / or the available torque of the at least one electric drive motor 5 in order to reduce tire noise and avoid slippage,

[0036] - sequential instead of simultaneous control of the cooling fans 7, compressors and / or other noisy units.

[0037] In a second operating mode, components of the fuel cell vehicle 1 and / or the fuel cell system 2 can be preconditioned for an upcoming journey in an urban area via predictive route planning. This can be achieved, for example, by at least one of the following measures:

[0038] - Charging the traction battery 4 in order to maintain sufficient residual charge for the planned journey when entering an urban area,

[0039] - preventive control of the cooling fans 7 before reaching the urban area in order to keep the speed of the cooling fans 7 low while driving through the urban area and still be able to provide sufficient cooling power,

[0040] - Inclusion of planned arrival time and / or delivery of goods in urban areas, etc.

[0041] When including planned arrival times and / or planned delivery of goods in the second operating mode, it can be detected whether the fuel cell vehicle 1 is driving through an urban area during a time of day (e.g. 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.) in which a reduced emission limit applies, whereupon it can be ensured that the fuel cell vehicle 1 does not exceed this limit by preconditioning and controlling the components of the fuel cell vehicle 1 and / or the fuel cell system 2 (e.g. maintaining a certain state of charge (SOG) of the traction battery 4 and / or reducing the noise emitted by the vehicle warning system 3 to a legally permissible minimum).

[0042] The activation and / or deactivation of the operating modes can be performed manually by the driver and / or automatically using geofencing and / or predictive route planning and / or predictive powertrain control. Activation / deactivation using geofencing also includes the detection of entry into or exit from an urban area using sensors. Furthermore, predictive route planning and / or predictive powertrain control can predict that the fuel cell vehicle 1 will pass through an urban area.

[0043] If it is detected that the fuel cell vehicle 1 is in an urban area, the quiet, first operating mode can be activated immediately.

[0044] List of reference symbols Fuel cell vehicle Fuel cell system Vehicle warning system Traction battery Drive motor Cooling system Radiator fan

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for operating a fuel cell vehicle (1), comprising a fuel cell system (2), a traction battery (4) and at least one electric drive motor (5) which can be supplied with electrical energy from the fuel cell system (2) and / or the traction battery (4), characterized in that in a first operating mode the fuel cell system (2) and the fuel cell vehicle (1) are operated in a particularly quiet manner by one or more measures which are possible depending on the current vehicle state.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the measures comprise: - exclusive use of the traction battery (4), provided its charge level allows this, - Limiting an acceleration and / or an available torque of the at least one electric drive motor (5), - sequential instead of simultaneous control of noisy units, - reducing to a predetermined minimum the noise emitted by an acoustic vehicle warning system (3) for generating acoustic warning signals during manoeuvring and driving at low speeds.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the noise-intensive units comprise at least one cooling fan (7) and / or at least one compressor.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a second operating mode components of the Fuel cell vehicle (1) and / or the fuel cell system (2) are preconditioned for an upcoming journey in an urban area.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the preconditioning comprises at least one of the following measures: - Charging the traction battery (4), - preventive control of the cooling fans (7) before reaching the urban area in order to keep the speed of the cooling fans (7) low while driving through the urban area and still be able to provide sufficient cooling power, - Consideration of a planned arrival time and / or delivery of goods in an urban area.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that when taking into account the planned arrival time and / or delivery of goods in the second operating mode, it is recognized whether the fuel cell vehicle (1) travels through an urban area within a time in which a reduced emission limit value applies, whereupon it is ensured by preconditioning and controlling the components of the fuel cell vehicle (1) and / or the fuel cell system (2) that the fuel cell vehicle (1) does not exceed this limit value.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that activation and / or deactivation of the first and / or the second operating mode takes place manually and / or automatically by means of geofencing and / or by means of predictive route planning and / or predictive control of a drive train of the fuel cell vehicle (1).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the predictive route planning and / or the predictive control of the drive train predicts that the fuel cell vehicle (1) will pass through an urban area.

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the first operating mode is activated when it is detected that the fuel cell vehicle (1) is located in an urban area.

10. A fuel cell vehicle (1) comprising a fuel cell system (2), an acoustic vehicle warning system (3) for generating acoustic warning signals when maneuvering and driving at low speeds, a traction battery (4), and at least one electric drive motor (5) which can be supplied with electrical energy from the fuel cell system (2) and / or the traction battery (4), characterized in that the fuel cell vehicle (1) is configured to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

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