Fuel Cell Vehicle Battery Charge Control for Weight Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell vehicles experience reduced power generation efficiency due to varying vehicle weight, which affects the amount of electric power required and supplied, leading to inefficiencies in power distribution between the fuel cell and secondary battery.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell vehicle configuration that includes a motor, fuel cell, secondary battery, and control unit, where the control unit adjusts the state of charge of the secondary battery by setting upper and lower limits based on the current weight, allowing for increased power distribution from the secondary battery during increased weight conditions to maintain high power generation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the required amount of electric power is increased to accommodate increased vehicle weight, then the power supply capability is improved, but the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the state of charge limits of the secondary battery variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the upper and lower limit values of the state of charge based on detected vehicle weight, allowing the power distribution strategy to adapt to changing vehicle conditions. This enables the system to maintain optimal fuel cell efficiency while accommodating weight variations that affect power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of state of charge limits based on vehicle weight. When increased weight is detected, the control unit sets the state of charge to a higher range within the allowable limits, enabling the secondary battery to supply more power and reduce the fuel cell's power generation load, thereby maintaining efficiency despite increased power demands
2Device complexity
If the state of charge of the secondary battery is maintained within fixed limits, then the battery management is simplified, but the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell deteriorates under varying weight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed state of charge limits to dynamic adjustable limits. The control unit modifies the permissible state of charge range based on detected vehicle weight, enabling flexible power distribution that optimizes fuel cell efficiency while adapting to real-world operating conditions where vehicle weight varies due to passengers and cargo
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 configuration ensures that the fuel cell operates at a higher power generation efficiency by adjusting the state of charge limits of the secondary battery, allowing for increased electric power supply from the secondary battery during weight increases, thereby maintaining efficient power distribution and reducing efficiency losses.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell configured to supply electric power to the motor
Implementation Method 2
a motor configured to perform a regenerative operation and to drive the fuel cell vehicle
Implementation Method 3
a secondary battery connected to be electrically in parallel to the fuel cell and configured to supply electric power to the motor and to be charged with electric power generated by the fuel cell and with regenerative power generated by the regenerative operation
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a fuel cell vehicle comprising a motor configured to perform a regenerative operation and to drive the fuel cell vehicle; a fuel cell; a secondary battery; and a control unit. The control unit comprises a weight acquirer configured to obtain a current weight of the fuel cell vehicle; and a charge discharge controller configured to set a higher value to an upper limit value and to set a lower value to a lower limit value when the current weight calculated by the weight acquirer is an increased weight that is larger than a reference value, compared with the upper limit value and the lower limit value set when the current weight is the reference weight.