Fuel Cell Fleet Assignment Using SoH, Power, and Thermal Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing a fleet of fuel cell vehicles is challenging due to varying vehicle conditions and types, which complicates task assignment and increases maintenance and service costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for selecting a vehicle from a fleet based on determining vehicle power requirements, applying filters to ensure adequate power output and cooling capabilities, and considering state of health of fuel cell assemblies and energy storage systems to optimize vehicle selection for missions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fleet includes different types of vehicles for various duties, then the versatility and adaptability of the fleet increases, but the complexity of managing and tracking the status and conditions of each vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fleet management process into distinct evaluation stages: power capability assessment, thermal load evaluation, and state of health monitoring. Each vehicle is independently assessed through these segmented criteria, allowing systematic management of diverse vehicle types without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal fleet management system that applies the same multi-criteria evaluation framework (power, thermal, SoH) to all vehicle types regardless of their specific duties. This universal approach simplifies management by providing a consistent methodology across heterogeneous vehicles
2Ease of operation
If vehicle selection is made without considering individual vehicle conditions, then the ease of operation increases, but the maintenance and service costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary evaluation of vehicle conditions (power capability, thermal load capacity, state of health) before assigning missions. This advance assessment ensures that vehicles are appropriately matched to their capabilities, preventing overuse and reducing maintenance costs while maintaining operational simplicity through automated selection
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle state of health and performance data, using this feedback to inform future mission assignments. Vehicles that show signs of degradation are automatically assigned less demanding tasks, creating a closed-loop system that reduces maintenance costs while keeping the assignment process simple
3Productivity
If the fleet operates without considering vehicle power requirements and thermal loads, then the productivity increases, but the vehicle durability and lifetime decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts mission assignments based on real-time vehicle conditions and predicted thermal loads. The system flexibly optimizes fleet productivity by assigning missions that match current vehicle capabilities while protecting vehicle lifetime through adaptive task allocation rather than fixed schedules
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 reduces operating costs and extends the lifetime of the fleet by ensuring vehicles are appropriately matched to missions, thereby minimizing maintenance and service expenses.
Implementation Method 1
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell which converts the chemical energy of a fuel, typically hydrogen, and an oxidizing agent, typically oxygen or air, into electricity
Implementation Method 2
The energy storage system (ESS) may include one or more batteries and/or supercapacitors
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a fleet of vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles, such as fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), is provided. The method comprises determining a vehicle from the plurality of vehicles that is most appropriate for performing a mission, using a state of health (SoH) of a fuel cell assembly and a SoH of an electrical storage system (ESS) of the vehicle. A first filter is applied to each vehicle to determine whether a vehicle power requirement for the mission matches a required power output from the fuel cell assembly and the ESS of the vehicle determined for that vehicle. A second filter is further applied when more than one vehicle passes the first filter, to compare, for each vehicle passing the first filter, a thermal load of the fuel cell assembly of the vehicle with cooling capabilities allocated for cooling the fuel cell assembly of the vehicle.