Fuel Cell Power Control Using a Dynamic Lower Power Limit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuel cell systems focus on removing vibration components and maintaining transient performance but neglect the deterioration of the fuel cell, leading to potential degradation.

Innovation Solution

A power supply system with a control device that determines a first lower limit power based on generated power, increasing the difference between generated and lower limit power with greater power output, and adjusts power generation to prevent fuel cell deterioration by ensuring power output remains above a predetermined threshold, even when power consumption decreases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the fuel cell power output is reduced to match decreasing load power consumption, then the power supply matches the load demand, but the fuel cell deteriorates due to operation below minimum power threshold

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply matchingVSAvoidfuel cell durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power storage device serves as an intermediary between the fuel cell and the load. When the load power consumption decreases below the fuel cell's minimum operating power, the power storage device absorbs the excess power generated by the fuel cell, preventing the fuel cell from operating below its minimum threshold and thus protecting it from deterioration while still matching the power supply to load demand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the fuel cell maintains minimum power output to prevent deterioration, then the fuel cell durability is improved, but power is wasted when load consumption is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel cell durabilityVSAvoidpower waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The power storage device acts as an intermediary that captures and stores the excess power generated by the fuel cell when load consumption is low. This eliminates power waste by redirecting the otherwise unused energy into the power storage device, while allowing the fuel cell to maintain its minimum power output for durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the excess power generated by the fuel cell when load demand is low, the system recovers this energy by directing it to the power storage device. This recovered energy can be used later when load demand increases, improving overall system efficiency and reducing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If the power storage device absorbs excess power, then fuel cell deterioration is prevented, but the power storage device may become overloaded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel cell protectionVSAvoidpower storage device overload

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors the power storage device's charge level and the fuel cell's power output. When the power storage device approaches its capacity limit, the control device adjusts the fuel cell's power output accordingly, reducing it to prevent overloading the power storage device while still maintaining it above the minimum threshold for fuel cell protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the fuel cell's power output based on real-time conditions of the power storage device and load demand. This dynamic control ensures that the fuel cell operates above its minimum threshold for protection while preventing the power storage device from becoming overloaded, adapting continuously to changing system states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The system effectively suppresses fuel cell deterioration by maintaining power output above a lower limit, preventing load application to the power storage device and optimizing power generation based on temperature and humidity considerations.

Implementation Method 1

a fuel cell capable of generating power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFuel cell electrochemical reaction: Fuel Cell

Data Source

PatentUS11804614B2Power supply system, power supply method and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

The power supply system includes: a fuel cell, capable of generating power; a power storage device, storing power generated by the fuel cell; and a control device, controlling at least the fuel cell. The control device, under a tendency that power consumption of a load at least connected with the fuel cell and the power storage device decreases, determines a first lower limit power based on power generated by the fuel cell before a predetermined time, causes the fuel cell to generate second power equal to or greater than the first lower limit power when first power generated by the fuel cell determined based on a power supplied to the load drops below the first lower limit power, and determines the first lower limit power with a tendency that the greater the generated power, the greater a difference between the generated power and the first lower limit power is increased.