Fuel Cell Air Compressor Control for Hydrogen Sensor Offset Purging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel cell systems face issues with hydrogen pressure sensor offset compensation, leading to hydrogen discharge into the air supply system, which can accumulate or flow backward to the cathode, causing system malfunction and reducing fuel cell stack durability.
Innovation Solution
The system drives an air compressor to dilute discharged hydrogen, minimize hydrogen remaining within the fuel cell system, prevent system malfunction, and maintain fuel cell stack durability by compensating for hydrogen pressure sensor offsets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the hydrogen discharge valve is opened to compensate for the hydrogen pressure sensor offset, then the sensor offset is compensated, but hydrogen is discharged into the air supply system causing accumulation or backward flow to the cathode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third valve (hydrogen purge valve) as an intermediary component to handle hydrogen discharge. Instead of discharging hydrogen directly into the air supply system through the hydrogen discharge valve, the system uses the hydrogen purge valve to safely vent hydrogen to the atmosphere, preventing hydrogen accumulation and backward flow while maintaining the ability to compensate for sensor offsets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the hydrogen discharge function into two separate pathways: one for normal operation (hydrogen discharge valve controlling hydrogen flow to the air supply system) and another for sensor compensation (hydrogen purge valve venting hydrogen to atmosphere). This segmentation allows the system to perform sensor offset compensation without causing hydrogen accumulation in the air supply system.
2Measurement precision
If the hydrogen discharge valve is opened for sensor compensation, then the offset is corrected, but the fuel cell stack durability decreases due to hydrogen exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen purge valve acts as an intermediary that provides a safe discharge path for hydrogen during sensor compensation. By routing hydrogen through this dedicated purge pathway rather than allowing it to enter the air supply system and potentially reach the cathode, the system protects the fuel cell stack from hydrogen exposure while still enabling necessary sensor maintenance.
3Measurement precision
If the hydrogen discharge valve is opened to compensate the sensor, then the measurement accuracy is restored, but hydrogen concentration in discharged air exceeds regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen purge valve serves as a dedicated intermediary pathway that vents hydrogen directly to the atmosphere in a controlled manner. This separate purge path prevents hydrogen from mixing with the air supply system's discharged air, ensuring that regulated emissions are not compromised while still allowing sensor compensation to occur.
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 approach effectively dilutes high-purity hydrogen, reduces hydrogen accumulation in the air supply system, prevents system malfunction, and maintains fuel cell stack durability, ensuring compliance with hydrogen concentration regulations.
Implementation Method 1
an air compressor configured to supply air to the cathode
Implementation Method 2
generates electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction within a fuel cell stack
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including an anode and a cathode, an air compressor configured to supply air to the cathode, a hydrogen pressure sensor mounted to an inlet side of the anode, and a controller operatively connected to the air compressor and the hydrogen pressure sensor and configured to determine whether or not compensating for an offset of the hydrogen pressure sensor is necessary and to drive the air compressor and thus open the hydrogen discharge valve when it is necessary to compensate for the offset of the hydrogen pressure sensor.