Fuel Cell Air Pressure Sensor Correction During Idle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air pressure sensors in fuel cell systems experience errors due to varying environmental conditions, leading to inconsistent air supply and potential fuel cell deterioration or performance issues.
Innovation Solution
An air supply system for fuel cells that includes an air pressure sensor and a controller to perform voltage lowering control in the idle state of the fuel cell, allowing for correction of the air pressure sensor when necessary, thereby ensuring accurate pressure measurement and preventing fuel cell degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If correction for the air pressure sensor is performed after operation of the fuel cell has been terminated, then the correction can be done without interrupting power generation, but the consistency of correction is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs air pressure sensor correction in advance during idle periods before normal operation begins. The controller determines when the fuel cell is in an idle state (not generating power) and executes correction routines at this predetermined timing, ensuring consistent correction results are obtained before operation starts, thereby avoiding the inconsistency problem of post-operation correction.
2Device complexity
If the opening amount of the air pressure control valve is fixed depending on specific conditions, then control is simple during normal operation, but pressure control error occurs when environmental conditions change
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control where the air pressure sensor continuously monitors the actual air pressure in the cathode, and the controller adjusts the air pressure control valve opening amount based on the difference between actual and target pressure values. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains accurate pressure control across varying environmental conditions while keeping the control logic relatively simple.
3Measurement precision
If the air pressure sensor is used to perform feedback control, then pressure control accuracy is improved, but measurement error occurs due to mounted position
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service correction where the air pressure sensor automatically corrects its own measurement errors through comparison with reference pressure values obtained during idle states. The controller executes correction routines that adjust the sensor's output based on predetermined correction values, enabling the sensor to self-correct without external intervention or complex additional correction mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An air supply system for fuel cells includes a fuel cell, an air supply line connected to a cathode of the fuel cells to supply external air to the cathode of the fuel cell, an air pressure sensor provided on the air supply line, and configured to measure a pressure in the air supply line, a determiner configured to determine whether correction for the air pressure is necessary, and a controller connected to the determiner and configured to perform the correction for the air pressure sensor by performing voltage control of the fuel cell, upon determining that the correction for the air pressure sensor is necessary.