Fuel Cell Residual Water Draining Before Cold Parking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of residual water freezing in fuel cells during low-temperature starting stops in fuel cell vehicles leads to performance deterioration and potential damage, exacerbated by prolonged Cold Shutdown processes that degrade the emotional quality and durability of the fuel cell.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that preemptively drains residual water in fuel cells before parking or termination by detecting parking availability and controlling an air compressor to manage voltage and air supply, minimizing exposure to high potentials and reducing drain time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air compressor is driven to supply a large amount of air to drain residual water after fuel cell termination, then the residual water is effectively removed preventing freezing damage, but the noise quality deteriorates and the process time becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary draining action by detecting parking availability during vehicle operation and activating the air compressor before the fuel cell is fully terminated. This preemptive drainage removes residual water while the vehicle is still in operation, avoiding the need for prolonged compressor operation after termination, thereby reducing noise impact while ensuring durability protection
2Reliability
If the air compressor operates for a long duration to ensure complete residual water drainage, then the fuel cell is protected from freezing damage, but the noise quality deteriorates and fuel cell exposure to high potential increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary draining action by detecting parking availability during vehicle operation and activating the air compressor before the fuel cell is fully terminated. This preemptive drainage removes residual water while the vehicle is still in operation, avoiding the need for prolonged compressor operation after termination, thereby reducing noise impact while ensuring durability protection
3Productivity
If residual water remains in the fuel cell during winter operation, then the system maintains continuous operation capability, but the water freezes causing mass transfer resistance increase and voltage drop
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors outdoor temperature through the temperature sensor and adjusts the draining control strategy accordingly. When the temperature is at or below the reference temperature (0°C), the system activates the preliminary draining function upon detecting parking availability, ensuring residual water is removed before freezing can occur, thus maintaining both operation stability and performance reliability
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
Reduces the time required for low-temperature starting stops, prevents emotional quality degradation, and maintains fuel cell durability by effectively draining residual water before parking or termination.
Implementation Method 1
The CSD drives an air compressor of a vehicle so as to supply a large amount of air to the fuel cell under a non-load condition for a certain period of time
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method of draining residual water of a fuel cell for a vehicle are proposed. The system includes a fuel cell; an outdoor temperature sensor measuring an outdoor temperature; a drainer draining residual water in the fuel cell; and a controller previously controlling the drainer to drain the residual water in the fuel cell before parking of the vehicle is completed or an operation of the fuel cell is terminated, when a parking available situation is detected during driving of the vehicle in a state where the outdoor temperature is equal to or less than a reference temperature.