Fuel Cell Freeze Prevention via Passage Resistance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell systems mounted on vehicles do not account for the possibility of freezing due to relative wind when generating electric power in low-temperature conditions, leading to potential system damage.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system with freeze prevention processing that determines the necessity of freeze prevention based on vehicle speed, power generation state, and environmental conditions, and controls the system to increase passage resistance or adjust gas supply to prevent freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fuel cell system operates in low-temperature conditions while generating electric power, then the vehicle can travel using fuel cell power, but the components may freeze due to relative wind
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit proactively determines the necessity of freeze prevention processing before freezing occurs by monitoring vehicle speed, power generation state, and environmental conditions. When the predetermined conditions are met (vehicle speed at threshold or higher, and specific conditions based on physical quantities concerning power generation state), the control unit executes freeze prevention by increasing passage resistance in fuel gas or oxidized gas piping, thereby preventing component freezing before it happens while maintaining power generation capability
2Reliability
If freeze prevention processing is executed by increasing passage resistance, then component freezing is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit utilizes existing system components and parameters (vehicle speed sensor, power generation state monitoring, environmental condition sensors) to automatically determine when freeze prevention is necessary. The system self-regulates by adjusting passage resistance through existing gas piping control mechanisms, eliminating the need for additional complex freeze detection and protection hardware while maintaining reliable freeze prevention
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
Effectively suppresses freezing of fuel cell components by adjusting operational parameters and increasing passage resistance, ensuring continued operation and preventing damage from relative wind-induced freezing.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell which generates electric power using fuel gas and oxidized gas as fuel
Implementation Method 2
the freeze prevention processing means increases a passage resistance in piping through which the fuel gas or the oxidized gas passes to execute the freeze prevention processing
Data Source
AI summary
When a vehicle mounted with a fuel cell system travels using electric power supplied from the system, a predetermined portion forming the system, such as a fuel cell, is prevented from being frozen by the relative wind. The fuel cell system is mounted on a vehicle and has the fuel cell for generating electric power by using fuel gas and oxidized gas as fuel and also has a control section for controlling the system. When the speed of the vehicle is higher than or equal to a predetermined threshold and predetermined conditions determined by physical quantities relating to power generation conditions of the fuel cell are satisfied, the control section determines that freeze prevention processing is necessary even if the fuel cell is generating electric power and performs the processing.