Fuel Cell Power Conversion Control for Start-Up Battery Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel cell vehicles, unnecessary power movement occurs between the fuel cell system and the high voltage battery during the starting sequence, leading to heating issues and inefficiencies due to insufficient charging of the low voltage battery, which can cause instability and noise in the power electronics.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a power conversion device with a bidirectional high voltage DC-DC converter and a low voltage DC-DC converter, along with a cooling device and a controller that manages the power conversion and cooling based on the state of charge of the batteries, optimizing the charging and power distribution to prevent unnecessary power movement and maintain battery health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power fast moves from the high voltage battery to the low voltage battery during starting sequence, then the low voltage battery charging is ensured, but the BHDC is heated unnecessarily when E-BOP power requirement is not expected
Solution Approach 1:
The controller predicts the required power of the E-BOP in advance during the starting sequence and determines whether fast charging of the low voltage battery is necessary before initiating power transfer. This prevents unnecessary power movement and BHDC heating when the E-BOP power requirement is not expected, while ensuring charging when needed.
2Ease of operation
If the low voltage battery is charged with insufficient capacity, then the vehicle can be started, but power instability and noise occur in the power electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the charging state of the low voltage battery and the power requirements of the E-BOP in real-time, adjusting the power transfer from the high voltage battery to ensure sufficient charging capacity. This feedback mechanism maintains power electronics stability while enabling vehicle starting capability.
3Speed
If the BHDC operates without predicting E-BOP power requirement, then the system responds quickly, but unnecessary power movement causes energy loss and heating
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary prediction of E-BOP power requirements during the starting sequence, determining in advance whether fast charging is needed. This allows the system to respond quickly when charging is required while avoiding unnecessary power movement and energy loss when charging is not needed.
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 solution enhances the stability of the fuel cell system's initialization by reducing radiation noise and ensuring efficient power management, thereby improving the starting sequence efficiency and reducing heating issues in the power electronics.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device that flows coolant to cool the power conversion device
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for managing power of a fuel cell is provided. The apparatus includes a power conversion device that converts a high voltage into a low voltage and supplies the converted low voltage to a low voltage battery, a cooling device that flows coolant to cool the power conversion device, and a controller that controls driving of the power conversion device and the cooling device based on the remaining state of charge (SOC) of the low voltage battery.