Fuel cell apparatus control method, control apparatus, and power generation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems fail to adequately control output based on hydrogen reservoir levels, heating medium temperature, and air temperature, leading to potential hydrogen depletion and operational temperature exceedance.
Innovation Solution
A control method that reduces fuel cell output by considering hydrogen reservoir levels, heating medium temperature, and air temperature, using a control apparatus to determine the largest reduction needed to mitigate these factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the output of the fuel cell apparatus is reduced only based on hydrogen reservoir level, then hydrogen depletion is prevented, but the system cannot prevent operational temperature exceedance
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus integrates multiple control functions into a single system: it monitors both hydrogen reservoir levels and heating medium temperatures, and executes output reduction decisions that address both hydrogen supply reliability and temperature control requirements simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the temperature of the heating medium that collects exhaust heat from the fuel cell apparatus, and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the output reduction strategy alongside hydrogen level monitoring
2Stability of the object's composition
If the output reduction strategy considers multiple factors (hydrogen level, heating medium temperature, air temperature), then system stability is enhanced, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus combines multiple control strategies (hydrogen level-based output reduction, heating medium temperature-based output reduction, and air temperature-based output reduction) into a unified control system that executes a single comprehensive output reduction decision
Solution Approach 2:
The control method is divided into distinct monitoring steps for different parameters (hydrogen reservoir level monitoring, heating medium temperature monitoring, air temperature monitoring) and evaluation steps, allowing systematic processing of multiple factors while maintaining overall system integration
3Temperature
If the output is reduced based on heating medium temperature, then temperature exceedance is prevented, but hydrogen utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The output reduction amount is dynamically adjusted based on the monitored heating medium temperature, allowing the system to optimize between temperature control and hydrogen utilization efficiency by executing output reduction only when temperature thresholds are exceeded rather than continuously
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
Effectively prevents hydrogen depletion and operational temperature exceedance by optimizing output reduction based on multiple factors, enhancing system stability.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature of a heating medium that collects exhaust heat from the fuel cell apparatus
Implementation Method 2
the amount of heat stored in the heat storage device that stores exhaust heat from the fuel cell apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell apparatus control method includes at least two of the steps of: reducing an output of a fuel cell apparatus that generates power using hydrogen from a hydrogen reservoir device upon a decrease in an amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen reservoir device; reducing the output of the fuel cell apparatus upon an increase in a temperature of a heating medium that collects exhaust heat from the fuel cell apparatus; and reducing the output of the fuel cell apparatus upon an increase in an air temperature inside or outside a housing of the fuel cell apparatus. In this control method, when the at least two of the steps are all executed, the output of the fuel cell apparatus is reduced by a largest one of amounts of output reduction of the fuel cell apparatus executed by the respective steps.