Fuel Cell Hydrogen Valve Control for Safe Startup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel cell systems face challenges in identifying hydrogen tank pressure and temperature during startup, leading to potential safety issues and frequent startup problems, especially in non-vehicle applications that pause for long periods.

Innovation Solution

A fuel cell system with a first valve for preconditioning and a second valve for adjusting hydrogen flow, controlled by a fuel cell control unit, which monitors the hydrogen tank's state and adjusts valve operations to ensure safe startup by identifying pressure and temperature, and notifying the startup disable state when conditions are not met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the controller enters a sleep state to conserve energy during long pauses, then energy consumption is reduced, but the pressure and temperature of the hydrogen tank cannot be measured during startup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidpressure and temperature measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the controller perform measurement actions before entering the sleep state. Specifically, the controller measures the pressure and temperature of the hydrogen tank before pausing, stores these values, and uses them during subsequent startups without needing to remain in a high-power monitoring state throughout the pause period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the controller continuously monitors the hydrogen tank state to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but the controller cannot enter sleep state during long pauses

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcontroller power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs safety monitoring actions in advance by measuring pressure and temperature before entering sleep mode, storing these values for later use. This preliminary measurement allows the controller to safely enter low-power state while still having the necessary data for future safety assessments during startup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the fuel cell system requires startup disable state when pressure is not identified, then safety is ensured, but frequent startup problems occur during long pauses

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidstartup frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurement of pressure and temperature before entering pause mode, storing these values for later use. This allows the startup disable state to be determined based on pre-measured values rather than requiring real-time measurement during each startup attempt, reducing frequent startup failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by storing previously measured pressure and temperature values and referencing them during startup decisions. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to make informed startup decisions without requiring continuous real-time measurement, preventing frequent unnecessary startup attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230253602A1Fuel cell system and fuel supply method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.08.10 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A fuel cell system includes a first valve installed at an outlet of a hydrogen tank on a fuel supply line connecting the hydrogen tank and a fuel cell stack, a second valve installed at a rear end of the first valve on the fuel supply line, and a fuel cell control unit that controls operations of the first valve and the second valve based on a state of the hydrogen tank when a startup of a fuel cell is required.