Fuel Cell Ageing Determination via Stationary Interval Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The ageing of fuel cell systems in vehicles leads to reduced efficiency, increased fuel consumption, and non-optimal power split between fuel cell systems and electrical energy storage units, as existing methods fail to accurately determine degradation during operation.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine fuel cell ageing by identifying future intervals of stationary operating conditions, obtaining relevant measurement values, and updating a degradation model to control power split between the fuel cell system and the electrical energy storage unit, using parameters like current, voltage, power, and impedance, and optionally incorporating machine learning and reliability assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fuel cell system operates during vehicle service to determine ageing, then measurement accuracy improves, but vehicle uptime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies future intervals during which the fuel cell system is expected to operate at stationary conditions before actually performing measurements. This allows measurement opportunities to be captured during normal operation without requiring dedicated service time, thereby maintaining vehicle uptime while ensuring accurate ageing determination when conditions are suitable.
2Device complexity
If power split control is based on non-aged fuel cell system parameters, then control strategy simplicity is maintained, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously updates the degradation model with measurement values obtained during operation and uses this updated ageing state information to adjust the power split control strategy. This feedback mechanism ensures that the control strategy adapts to the actual ageing state of the fuel cell system, optimizing fuel consumption without requiring overly complex manual adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the fuel cell system by adjusting the power split between the fuel cell and battery based on the determined ageing state. As the fuel cell ages, the control strategy modifies power distribution parameters to account for reduced efficiency, thereby maintaining optimal fuel consumption despite the ageing degradation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If fuel cell system efficiency decreases due to ageing, then operating duration extends, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts operational parameters including power split between fuel cell and battery, and operating points of the fuel cell system based on the determined ageing state. By dynamically changing these parameters to match the actual degradation level, the system maintains more efficient operation over extended durations, reducing the fuel consumption penalty associated with ageing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining ageing of a fuel cell system (1) for a vehicle (100), comprising - identifying a future interval in terms of time or distance during which the fuel cell system (1) is expected to operate at stationary operating conditions, - obtaining measurement values pertaining to at least one fuel cell parameter indicative of degradation of the fuel cell system (1) during the identified interval, - determining an ageing state of the fuel cell system (1) using said measurement values.