Fuel Cell Compressor Surge Control via Pressure Target Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell systems, compressors can surge due to operation conditions, leading to uncomfortable operation sounds and vibrations for drivers, necessitating control changes to move the operating point from the surge region to a non-surge region to prevent surging and reduce noise and vibration.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system with a compressor that includes a dry state estimation part and a pressure target control part to adjust the pressure target, ensuring the operating point is outside the surge region, and optionally a freeze protection control part to manage temperature and dryness, positioning the operating point outside the surge region even during simultaneous control actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressure target is adjusted to move the operating point from the surge region to a non-surge region, then surging is prevented and compressor operation is stabilized, but operation sounds and vibrations increase making drivers uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The control method performs preliminary action by predicting future operating points based on current compressor operation state and load changes. The system calculates whether the operating point will enter the surge region in advance and takes preventive control actions before surging actually occurs, thereby stabilizing compressor operation while avoiding abrupt control changes that cause noise and vibration.
2Reliability
If control changes are made to prevent surging by moving the operating point to a non-surge region, then compressor proper operation is ensured, but the movement between surge and non-surge regions creates uncomfortable sounds and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of future operating points and predicts potential surge conditions before they occur. By taking control action in advance based on predicted states rather than reacting to actual surge conditions, the system ensures compressor proper operation while minimizing abrupt control changes that would cause uncomfortable sounds and vibrations for drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The control method dynamically adjusts the pressure target based on real-time compressor operation state, delivery flow rate, and load changes. The control amount is optimized according to the specific operating conditions, allowing the system to maintain compressor stability while adapting to different operating scenarios to reduce noise and vibration impacts on driver comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a fuel cell system capable of suppressing the movement of an operating point of a compressor between a surge region and a non-surge region to reduce operation sounds and vibrations, the fuel cell system including at least: a fuel cell; a compressor; a dry state estimation part to estimate a dry state of the fuel cell; and a pressure target control part to control a pressure target, wherein the pressure target control part is capable of executing at least rise control and lower control, the rise control and the lower control being such that an operating point of the compressor is positioned outside a surge region, a current pressure target is corrected to the value same as a last pressure target if the current pressure target is lower (higher) than the last pressure target when the rise control (lower control) is being carried out.