Fuel Cell Vehicle Liquid State Estimation via Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell vehicles, the liquid stored in the gas liquid separation unit can move away from the discharge opening due to orientation changes and acceleration, leading to incomplete drainage and increased apparatus size, and the use of multiple water level sensors to detect remaining liquid increases production costs and reduces design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell vehicle equipped with an acceleration detection unit and a control unit that estimates the discharge state of liquid from the gas liquid separation unit based on acceleration information, allowing for accurate determination of remaining liquid and timely drainage without the need for multiple water level sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gas liquid separation unit is configured to store the remaining liquid until the next drainage timing, then the liquid can be discharged, but the size of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drainage timing adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts when to open the purge valve based on real-time acceleration detection. When acceleration indicates liquid is moving away from the discharge opening, the system delays drainage; when acceleration indicates liquid is near the opening, the system performs drainage. This dynamic timing optimization allows the separation unit to maintain a smaller volume while ensuring complete liquid discharge.
2Measurement precision
If multiple water level sensors are provided to detect remaining liquid, then the liquid detection accuracy improves, but the production cost increases and design freedom is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical water level sensor system with an acceleration-based detection system. Instead of using multiple physical sensors to detect liquid position, the control unit uses acceleration detection unit data to infer liquid state and discharge readiness. This substitution maintains detection accuracy while significantly reducing system complexity and production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration detection unit serves as an intermediary that indirectly measures liquid position and discharge readiness. Rather than directly sensing liquid level with water level sensors, the system uses acceleration data as a mediator to infer the liquid's movement state relative to the discharge opening, achieving the same functional goal with simpler means.
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 solution enables efficient drainage of liquid from the gas liquid separation unit, reducing its size and production costs by accurately estimating liquid state and position, thereby minimizing storage volume and eliminating the need for multiple sensors.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration detection unit configured to detect information regarding acceleration of the fuel cell vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a fuel cell system including a gas liquid separation unit for separating gas and liquid and discharging the separated liquid. The fuel cell vehicle includes an acceleration sensor for detecting information regarding acceleration, and a control unit for estimating the discharge state of the liquid from the gas liquid separation unit based on the information regarding acceleration. Based on acceleration applied to the liquid in the gas liquid separation unit, the control unit can estimate whether the liquid is discharged from the gas liquid separation unit or the liquid is not discharged and remains as the remaining liquid in the gas liquid separation unit.