Fuel Cell Isolation Disconnection Detection for OCV Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems face issues with high-potential deterioration and inability to supply power to loads or notify users when isolation devices irreversibly disconnect the fuel cell from the power conversion device, and nonvolatile memory solutions are limited by capacity and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system that detects the disconnected state using first and second detectors to monitor output and input power states, eliminating the need for nonvolatile memory and ensuring reliable detection even with malfunctioning isolation devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the isolation device is brought into an interrupting state to isolate the fuel cell from the load in case of collision, then the safety is improved, but the power generation voltage rises to OCV causing high-potential deterioration of the fuel cell
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary detection of the disconnected state before restarting the fuel cell. By detecting the disconnected state in advance using detectors that monitor output and input power states, the system prevents the fuel cell from resuming operation with opened output terminals, thereby avoiding high-potential deterioration while maintaining safety isolation
2Reliability
If the output terminals of the fuel cell are opened in the interrupting state, then the isolation is achieved, but the power generated by the fuel cell cannot be supplied to the battery or motor and the user cannot be notified
Solution Approach 1:
The control device implements feedback by continuously detecting the disconnected state through detectors monitoring output and input power states. When a disconnected state is detected, the control device can notify the user and control the fuel cell appropriately, ensuring that isolation is achieved while maintaining information flow to the user and proper system control
3Measurement precision
If nonvolatile memory is used to record circuit disconnection information, then the detection capability is improved, but the memory capacity becomes tight and the reset process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical/electronic storage approach (nonvolatile memory) with a detection-based approach. Detectors monitor the output and input power states to determine disconnected state, eliminating the need for memory storage and complex reset processes while maintaining accurate detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The detectors automatically detect the disconnected state by monitoring power states without requiring external memory storage or manual reset operations. The system self-determines the disconnected state through continuous monitoring, eliminating the need for nonvolatile memory and simplifying the reset process
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel-cell-applied system includes a control device configured to control power generation of the fuel cell, a power conversion device configured to convert power generated by the fuel cell into power for input to a load, an isolation device configured to irreversibly disconnect electrical connection between the fuel cell and the power conversion device, a first detector configured to detect an output power state form the fuel cell, and a second detector configured to detect an input power state to the power conversion device, wherein the control device detects a disconnected state of the electrical connection caused by the isolation device on a basis of the output power state and the input power state respectively detected by the first detector and the second detector.