Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Supply With Switched Storage Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charge/discharge systems do not effectively manage the charge/discharge control of multiple electric power storage devices, leading to inefficiencies in supplying electric power to loads.
Innovation Solution
An electric power supply system that utilizes a hydrogen supply unit, hydrogen storage units, fuel cell units, and electric power storage units, along with a control unit to manage the switching of hydrogen sources and electric power storage, enabling efficient power supply to loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single electric power storage device is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity and efficiency of supplying electric power to the load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the electric power storage function into multiple independent storage devices (first electric power storage device and second electric power storage device). Each device can be independently controlled for charging and discharging, allowing parallel operation to increase overall power supply capacity and efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically switches the operational state of each fuel cell and electric power storage device based on real-time system demands and component status. This dynamic allocation allows the system to optimize power distribution, balance loads, and maintain high productivity by adapting to changing conditions without requiring a permanently complex configuration
2Power
If multiple fuel cells and storage devices operate simultaneously, then the electric power supply capacity increases, but the reliability and safety of hydrogen management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements periodic switching between different fuel cells and storage devices, allowing them to operate in alternating cycles. This periodic operation reduces continuous stress on individual components, enables regular maintenance windows, and distributes wear evenly across the system, thereby maintaining high power capacity while improving reliability through reduced operational stress
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates hydrogen supply to multiple fuel cells and manages charging/discharging of multiple storage devices. It monitors hydrogen levels, pressure, and flow rates, and switches hydrogen supply sources based on safety conditions, ensuring reliable and safe hydrogen management while enabling multiple power-generating components to operate simultaneously
3Duration of action of moving object
If continuous operation of fuel cells is maintained, then the electric power generation is sustained, but the durability of fuel cells and storage devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching between multiple fuel cells and storage devices, allowing each component to have operational cycles followed by rest or charging cycles. This periodic operation pattern sustains continuous overall power generation while reducing cumulative stress on individual components, thereby extending their operational lifespan and durability
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit manages the lifecycle of each component by switching operational loads between multiple fuel cells and storage devices. When one component reaches optimal wear thresholds or requires maintenance, the system discards it from active service and recovers it through rest periods or charging, while another component takes over to maintain continuous power generation. This rotation strategy extends overall system durability
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
The system efficiently supplies electric power to loads by using multiple electric power sources, safely filling and discharging hydrogen, and reducing the burden on fuel cells and electric power storage devices, thereby minimizing deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogen generation device that performs electrolysis to generate hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell that generate the electric power based on hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage unit
Data Source
AI summary
An electric power supply system supplies electric power to an external load. The system includes a hydrogen supply unit including a hydrogen generation device that performs electrolysis to generate hydrogen, a hydrogen storage unit including a first storage device and a second storage device that store hydrogen obtained by the hydrogen supply unit, a fuel cell unit1 including a fuel cell that generates the electric power based on hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage unit, an electric power storage unit including a first electric power storage device and a second electric power storage device that store the electric power obtained by the fuel cell, and a control unit. The control unit controls switching a source of supply of hydrogen to the fuel cell among the first storage device, the second storage device, and both the first storage device and the second storage device.