Fuel Cell Vehicle Power Generation Strategy by Route Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell vehicles face challenges in rapidly supplying power due to the output characteristics of fuel cells, which degrade acceleration performance and durability, and existing technologies do not optimize fuel efficiency across the entire travel route.
Innovation Solution
A system that divides the expected travel route into multiple driving sections based on travel route information and establishes a power generation strategy for each section, controlling fuel cell power generation to reflect actual energy consumption and maximize efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the fuel cell operates continuously to provide driving energy, then the vehicle can maintain operation, but unnecessary energy consumption occurs during deceleration or stationary states
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell operates periodically rather than continuously - stopping power generation during deceleration or stationary states when driving force is not required, and resuming when needed. This periodic operation pattern eliminates unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining vehicle operation continuity through coordinated battery support.
2Loss of energy
If the fuel cell stops power generation during deceleration to save energy, then fuel efficiency improves, but the vehicle cannot respond rapidly to sudden acceleration demands
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is charged in advance during fuel cell operation at high efficiency points, storing energy that can be rapidly discharged when sudden acceleration is needed. This preliminary energy storage action enables rapid response to acceleration demands without requiring the fuel cell to operate inefficiently during transient states.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the fuel cell and the motor. It absorbs excess energy when the fuel cell operates at high efficiency points and supplies energy rapidly when sudden acceleration is needed, decoupling the fuel cell operation from immediate power demands.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fuel cell output voltage changes rapidly to match vehicle load demands, then the vehicle can respond to changing power requirements, but the fuel cell durability is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The battery serves as an intermediary that absorbs rapid power fluctuations, allowing the fuel cell to operate at stable output levels. The battery compensates for sudden power demands or reductions, preventing rapid voltage changes in the fuel cell that would degrade its durability while still meeting vehicle power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the fuel cell to maintain operation within high efficiency ranges. By controlling the fuel cell to operate at optimal points and using the battery to handle transient power variations, the system achieves both adaptability to vehicle demands and protection of fuel cell durability.
4Power
If the fuel cell operates at high output to meet peak power demands, then acceleration performance improves, but the energy consumption efficiency of the fuel cell decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Energy is stored in the battery in advance when the fuel cell operates at high efficiency points, rather than always operating the fuel cell at high output to meet peak demands. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the system to meet acceleration power needs while maintaining overall fuel cell energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the power distribution between fuel cell and battery based on real-time vehicle demands and fuel cell efficiency characteristics. The fuel cell operates preferentially in high efficiency ranges, while the battery provides dynamic power supplementation during transient high-demand situations, optimizing the balance between power delivery and energy efficiency.
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 optimizes fuel efficiency across the entire travel route, improves fuel cell durability by utilizing high-energy consumption efficiency sections, and prevents overcharging or overdischarging of the battery.
Implementation Method 1
A fuel cell is a device that receives hydrogen and air from an outside to generate electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction inside the fuel cell stack
Data Source
AI summary
A system for improving fuel efficiency of a fuel cell vehicle, includes a fuel cell that provides driving energy to a vehicle, an information collection unit that collects travel route information of the vehicle including at least one of the altitude, speed limit and traffic condition of the road between the departure and the destination, and a controller that divides the travel route of the vehicle into a plurality of sections through the travel route information of the vehicle collected in the information collection unit, individually establishes the power generation strategy of the fuel cell for the plurality of sections divided, and controls the power generation of the fuel cell according to an established power generation strategy of the fuel cell when the vehicle arrives at each section, and control method thereof.