Fuel Cell Air Pump Buffer Control for Power Fluctuation Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems do not optimize the range of electrical power that can be charged to and discharged from the power storage device, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage due to rapid power fluctuations during pump speed changes.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell system with a control device that sets a range of chargeable and dischargeable electrical power, including an acceleration buffer for power discharge to the pump during speed increases and a deceleration buffer for power charge during speed decreases, based on steady power consumption and rated power of the pump, while adjusting buffers according to temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the range of electrical power chargeable to and discharged from the power storage device is not optimized, then the system structure remains simple, but rapid power fluctuations during pump speed changes cause inefficiency and potential damage to the power storage device
Solution Approach 1:
The control device sets a buffer range for the amount of electrical power chargeable to and discharged from the power storage device in advance, before rapid power fluctuations occur. This preliminary setting prevents excessive charging or discharging during pump speed changes, protecting the power storage device without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a buffer range is set for power charge and discharge, then the power storage device is protected from excessive operations, but the range of electrical power available for other devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the buffer range based on the operational state of the air pump. By making the buffer range variable rather than fixed, the system protects the power storage device while maximizing the electrical power available for other devices during different operating conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the buffer range is fixed, then the control system is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying operational conditions and temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The control device changes the buffer range parameter based on operational conditions and temperature variations. This allows the system to adapt to different scenarios without requiring a fundamentally complex control mechanism, as the adjustment is based on pre-established relationships between temperature/operational state and appropriate buffer ranges.
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
Optimizes power management by absorbing rapid power fluctuations, protecting the power storage device from excessive charging or discharging, and ensuring stable operation of the air pump.
Implementation Method 1
The power generation cells generate electrical power by electrochemical reactions between a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas supplied from an air pump
Implementation Method 2
a power storage device configured to be able to supply electrical power to the pump
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell system including a power storage device and an air pump sets a buffer that is allocated within a range of an amount of electrical power chargeable to and dischargeable from the power storage device, the buffer including, as an acceleration buffer, an amount of electrical power dischargeable from the power storage device to the air pump while a rotational speed of the air pump is accelerated, calculates steady AP power consumption of the air pump, and sets the acceleration buffer based on the calculated steady AP power consumption and rated electrical power of the air pump.