Fuel Cell Vehicle Power Allocation for Balanced SOH Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel cell vehicles face an imbalance in power usage ratios between the cell stack and the battery due to uneven degradation, leading to unnecessary replacements and increased costs when one power source falls below the manufacturer's guaranteed state of health (SOH) before the other.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell vehicle system that adjusts power allocation ratios between the cell stack and battery based on their respective SOH differences, using a power allocation correction factor to ensure equivalent degradation, thereby maintaining balanced power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed power allocation ratio is used between cell stack and battery, then the power distribution is simple to control, but the state of health (SOH) balance between the two power sources deteriorates over time due to uneven degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The power allocation ratio is changed from a fixed value to a dynamically adjustable parameter. The controller continuously monitors the SOH of both the cell stack and battery, and automatically adjusts the power allocation ratio in real-time based on their degradation states, ensuring both power sources degrade at similar rates and extend overall system lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism is implemented where the controller receives SOH data from both the cell stack and battery, compares their degradation levels, and uses this information to adjust the power allocation ratio. This closed-loop control ensures that the power distribution adapts to the actual degradation states, preventing one power source from degrading significantly faster than the other.
2Reliability
If the power allocation ratio is adjusted to balance SOH degradation, then the reliability and lifespan of power sources are improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts the power allocation ratio by changing operational parameters rather than modifying the physical structure. The controller modifies the electrical power distribution parameters based on SOH measurements, allowing flexible adaptation without adding complex mechanical or structural components to the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically monitors its own operational parameters (SOH of cell stack and battery) and self-adjusts the power allocation ratio without requiring external intervention. This autonomous operation minimizes the need for additional control infrastructure while maintaining optimal power distribution.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If one power source degrades faster than the other, then the overall system lifespan is limited by the faster-degrading component, but increasing power usage from the healthier component accelerates its degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by not fully utilizing the capacity of the healthier power source. Instead of maximizing power output from the less degraded component, the controller deliberately limits its usage to prevent accelerated degradation, ensuring both power sources are used in a balanced manner that extends the overall system lifespan.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a fuel cell vehicle and a method of allocating power thereof. The fuel cell vehicle includes a cell stack including a plurality of stacked unit cells, a battery, and a main controller configured to correct and vary a predetermined power allocation ratio using a power allocation correction factor in which a result of comparing a first state of health (SOH) of the cell stack with a second SOH of the battery is provided. Each of the predetermined power allocation ratio and the corrected power allocation ratio represents a power usage ratio of at least one of the cell stack or the battery.