Fuel Cell Cooling Pump Control for Temperature and Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell vehicles face challenges in accurately controlling the temperature of the fuel cell stack, leading to inefficiencies and potential flooding due to inadequate cooling systems, which affect performance and acceleration response.
Innovation Solution
A control method for the cooling water pump that compares derived temperature and output values with predetermined criteria to operate in normal or stop modes, using estimated stack temperatures and output requirements to optimize pump operation, including re-start modes based on specific conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cooling water pump operates continuously to maintain fuel cell temperature, then temperature stability is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary pump operation
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water pump operation is made dynamic by switching between stop mode, re-start mode, and normal mode based on real-time comparison of stack temperature and required output with predetermined criteria. The pump RPM is adjusted dynamically rather than operating continuously at fixed speed, optimizing the balance between temperature stability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control method changes the operational parameters of the cooling water pump based on temperature and output conditions. By monitoring stack temperature and required output, the system adjusts pump operation parameters (on/off status, RPM) to match actual cooling needs, preventing both overheating and unnecessary energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the cooling water pump operates in stop mode to improve fuel efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring stack temperature and required output, comparing these values with predetermined criteria, and adjusting pump operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures temperature control precision is maintained even when the pump operates in stop mode, as the system responds to actual temperature conditions rather than operating continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The control method uses preliminary action by predicting when pump re-start is needed based on current temperature and output conditions. By comparing stack temperature and required output with predetermined criteria before temperature deviation occurs, the system prepares to activate the pump in advance, maintaining temperature control precision while minimizing unnecessary operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cooling water pump operates in normal mode to maintain temperature, then temperature control is improved, but acceleration response deteriorates due to cooling delays
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operation mode is dynamically adjusted based on real-time conditions. During acceleration or high output demands, the system quickly transitions to normal mode to provide immediate cooling, while during steady-state low-output operation, it switches to stop mode. This dynamic response improves acceleration response by eliminating delays associated with continuous pump operation during transient conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control method implements preliminary action by using re-start mode as an intermediate state before full normal mode operation. When temperature criteria are met but output increases, the pump is re-started in preparation for potential cooling needs, allowing smoother transitions and faster acceleration response without the delay of starting from complete stop.
4Device complexity
If the cooling water pump is controlled based on simple temperature thresholds, then control simplicity is improved, but flooding prevention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control method monitors multiple parameters simultaneously (stack temperature and required output) rather than relying on simple temperature thresholds alone. By comparing both parameters with predetermined criteria and adjusting pump operation based on their combination, the system achieves more reliable flooding prevention while maintaining relatively simple control logic suitable for implementation in fuel cell vehicle control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A control method of a cooling water pump of fuel cell vehicle is provided. The method includes comparing a derived temperature value, including a cooling water temperature of a fuel cell or an estimated temperature of a stack of the fuel cell, with predetermined temperature criteria and comparing a required output value of the stack of the fuel cell with predetermined output criteria. The cooling water pump is then operated in a normal mode when the derived temperature value is greater than the temperature criteria or when the required output value is greater than the output criteria. Additionally, the cooling water pump is operated in a stop mode when the derived temperature value is less than the temperature criteria and, simultaneously, when the required output value is less than the output criteria.