Fuel Cell Range-Extender Power Control Under Cooling Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in electric vehicles is extending the travel range without overheating the fuel cell system, which is often addressed by oversizing the cooling system, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A control module manages the power supply from a main battery and a fuel cell system, adjusting the power distribution to prevent overheating by reducing the fuel cell's power when conditions exceed its cooling capacity, ensuring a constant total power supply to the electric motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the fuel cell system is used to extend the vehicle range by supplying additional electric power, then the travel range is improved, but the temperature of the fuel cell increases leading to overheating risks
Solution Approach 1:
The control module dynamically adjusts the maximum operating power of the fuel cell based on real-time cooling capacity conditions. When cooling capacity is sufficient, the fuel cell can operate at higher power levels to extend range; when cooling capacity is insufficient, the maximum operating power is reduced to prevent overheating. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between extending travel range and preventing fuel cell overheating.
2Reliability
If the cooling system is oversized to ensure adequate cooling of the fuel cell under all conditions, then the fuel cell cooling reliability is improved, but the device complexity and system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a fixed oversized cooling system, the invention changes the parameter of maximum operating power based on cooling capacity conditions. The control module adjusts the maximum operating power parameter according to real-time cooling conditions, allowing a compact cooling system to maintain adequate cooling reliability through dynamic parameter adaptation rather than through physical oversizing.
3Power
If the fuel cell power is increased to meet high power demands, then the electric power supply capability is improved, but the cooling capacity becomes insufficient leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The control module implements feedback control by continuously monitoring cooling capacity conditions and adjusting the maximum operating power of the fuel cell accordingly. When cooling capacity is sufficient, higher power can be supplied; when cooling capacity is insufficient, the maximum operating power is reduced. This feedback mechanism ensures that power supply capability is optimized without causing overheating.
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 extends the vehicle's range by utilizing the fuel cell as a range extender while preventing overheating, maintaining efficient power delivery without the need for oversized cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
the fuel cell system, and in particular the fuel cell, is associated with a cooling system that is specific thereto and that aims to evacuate calories
Implementation Method 2
the vehicle's air conditioning system to be capable of cooling the fuel cell when the vehicle is at a standstill or moving at low speed
Data Source
AI summary
An electric power supply device includes-a first energy source having at least one battery and a second energy source having at least one fuel cell. The first and second energy sources supply energy to an electric motor of a motor vehicle in different proportions. A control module of the electric power supply device includes a memory that stores a value of a maximum operating power able to be supplied by the second energy source so that the second energy source is not asked to supply an amount greater than the stored maximum operating power. The maximum operating power value of the second energy source is dependent on a cooling capacity for the second energy source.