Hydrogen Fuel Cell Autonomy Estimation via Electrical and Pressure Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous hydrogen generating sets face challenges with noisy operation, environmental impact, and poor adaptability to load, leading to inefficient maintenance and high consumption, necessitating a method to estimate remaining autonomy accurately to reduce unnecessary servicing.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for estimating the remaining autonomy of a hydrogen fuel cell generating set by measuring electrical quantities, temperature, and pressure, calculating dihydrogen consumption, and deducing the volume remaining using Faraday's law and Van der Waals' law, while considering the efficiency of the fuel cell and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance operations are carried out very frequently to prevent the station from becoming inoperable, then the reliability of the generator set is improved, but the loss of time and productivity due to unnecessary maintenance operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual maintenance scheduling with an automated estimation device that uses sensors and computer algorithms to monitor fuel cell electrical quantities, temperature, and pressure. This substitution of mechanical/manual maintenance planning with an automated electronic system enables precise tracking of dihydrogen consumption and accurate prediction of remaining autonomy, eliminating unnecessary maintenance operations while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The estimation device implements continuous feedback by measuring electrical quantities from the fuel cell, monitoring temperature and pressure of dihydrogen, calculating mass consumption in real-time, and updating the remaining autonomy estimation. This closed-loop feedback system allows dynamic adjustment of maintenance scheduling based on actual consumption patterns rather than fixed intervals, reducing unnecessary maintenance while maintaining reliability.
2Power
If the generator set runs on fossil fuel to provide significant power load, then the power output is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors such as noise and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter of the generator set from fossil fuel combustion to hydrogen fuel cell electrochemical conversion. This parameter change transforms the energy conversion mechanism, eliminating combustion-related harmful emissions and noise while maintaining the capability to deliver significant power loads of 110 kilowatts or more through the fuel cell's electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.
3Ease of operation
If the generator set is poorly adaptable to the load, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of energy due to overconsumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability through the estimation device that continuously monitors electrical quantities, temperature, and pressure to calculate real-time dihydrogen consumption rates. This dynamic system adjusts the autonomy estimation based on varying load conditions, enabling the generator set to adapt its operation to actual power demands and avoid energy overconsumption while maintaining ease of operation through automated monitoring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for precise determination of dihydrogen remaining, optimizing maintenance schedules and reducing overconsumption, thereby enhancing the ecological balance and operational efficiency of the generating set.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell and an auxiliary power supply, the fuel cell being supplied with dihydrogen from a dihydrogen supply
Implementation Method 2
the mass flow rate of hydrogen consumed is obtained by applying Faraday's law to the fuel cell current
Implementation Method 3
Van der Waals' law is then used for the final calculation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for estimating the remaining autonomy of a generator set (10), the generator set (10) comprising a fuel cell and an auxiliary power supply, the fuel cell being supplied with dihydrogen from a dihydrogen supply (20), the estimation method comprising: - the measurement of at least one electrical quantity relating to the fuel cell, the temperature of the dihydrogen and the pressure in dihydrogen, - the calculation of the mass of dihydrogen consumed from the measured electrical quantity, and - the deduction of the volume remaining in the supply (20) using the mass of dihydrogen consumed, the measured temperature and the measured pressure.