Fuel Cell Start Sequencing Based on Shutdown Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell arrangements with multiple systems, there is a need to determine when to start and stop each system to meet power demands while minimizing degradation due to prolonged shutdowns, which conventional methods fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining a starting sequence for a fuel cell arrangement that considers the power and energy needs, shutdown duration times, and predetermined degradation characteristics of each system to optimize operation and reduce degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple fuel cell systems are operated to meet high power demands, then power output is improved, but degradation increases due to repeated start-up and shutdown cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines a starting sequence in advance based on predicted power demands over an upcoming time range. By proactively scheduling start-up times for fuel cell systems before power demands occur, the system avoids reactive start-stop cycles that cause degradation, thus resolving the contradiction between meeting power demands and reducing degradation from repeated cycling
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation of individual fuel cell systems based on real-time power demands and the determined starting sequence. The control unit monitors actual power consumption and modifies the operation status of fuel cell systems accordingly, enabling flexible power output while maintaining optimized start-up patterns that reduce degradation
2Reliability
If fuel cell systems are kept running continuously to avoid shutdown degradation, then degradation is reduced, but power flexibility decreases when power demands fluctuate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit predicts future power demands over an upcoming time range and determines a starting sequence in advance. This allows the system to keep fuel cell systems running during predicted high-demand periods while scheduling strategic shutdowns during low-demand periods, thereby maintaining both low degradation and high power flexibility simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation status of fuel cell systems based on the determined starting sequence and actual power consumption. This enables the system to respond flexibly to fluctuating power demands while following an optimized start-up schedule that minimizes degradation, resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and power flexibility
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining a starting sequence for a fuel cell arrangement (1) comprising a plurality of fuel cell systems (10), said starting sequence comprising the following information for each fuel cell system (10) in said fuel cell arrangement (1): whether or not the fuel cell system (10) should be started and, if the fuel cell system (10) should be started, the starting time for the fuel cell system (10), said starting sequence being determined using the following as input: - a power and/or energy need required from the fuel cell arrangement (1) over an upcoming time range; - a shutdown duration time of each fuel cell system (10), indicative of the time elapsed since the fuel cell system (10) was lastly shutdown, and - a predetermined degradation characteristic of each fuel cell system (10) as a function of shutdown duration time. The invention also relates to a control unit (30), a fuel cell system (1), a vehicle (100), a computer program and to a computer readable medium.