Fuel Cell Voltage Transducer Segmentation for Air Pump Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell systems face challenges in efficiently managing the voltage conversion between the fuel cell, electric storage device, and motor/air pump driving units, leading to insufficient air pump voltage and potential underperformance in generating target electric power.
Innovation Solution
A control method that includes a fuel cell system with voltage transducers (SUC and SUDC) to convert electric storage device voltage to motor driving voltage and air pump driving voltage, with a controller setting the required air pump voltage based on target generated electric power, ensuring the secondary side voltage satisfies the air pump's needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the secondary side voltage is set to satisfy motor driving requirements, then the motor operates effectively, but the air pump cannot receive sufficient voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The single secondary side voltage output is segmented into two independent voltage outputs, allowing the motor to receive optimized voltage for ease of operation while the air pump receives dedicated voltage ensuring reliable operation.
2Device complexity
If a single voltage transducer is used for both motor and air pump, then the device complexity is reduced, but the voltage conversion efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single inefficient voltage transducer for both loads, the system segments the voltage conversion function into dedicated outputs, improving conversion efficiency for each load while maintaining acceptable device complexity through integrated control.
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 prevents insufficient air pump driving voltage and ensures the fuel cell system generates the target electric power, improving system efficiency and performance by optimizing voltage settings across the fuel cell and motor/air pump units.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage transducer configured to convert from an electric storage device voltage to a motor driving voltage or from the motor driving voltage to the electric storage device voltage
Implementation Method 2
a fuel cell configured to generate electricity through reaction of an oxidant gas and a fuel gas so as to output a fuel cell voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A control method of a fuel cell system includes generating electricity in a fuel cell through reaction of an oxidant gas and a fuel gas so as to output a fuel cell voltage. An electric storage device voltage is outputted from an electric storage device. The electric storage device voltage serves as a primary side voltage. A motor driving voltage serves as a secondary side voltage and is to be applied to a motor driving device to drive a motor. The secondary side voltage is applied to an air pump driving device to drive an air pump so as to supply the oxidant gas to the fuel cell. A required air pump voltage to apply to the air pump driving device is set in accordance with a target generated electric power of the fuel cell. The secondary side voltage is set so as to satisfy the required air pump voltage.