Split Battery Fuel Cell Startup in Cold Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell systems face challenges in initializing and starting up efficiently at reduced temperatures due to battery inefficiencies and safety issues, leading to delayed startup and increased failure events, particularly when using lithium-ion batteries.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with a startup battery and a running battery, having an uneven size ratio, is heated using coolant warmed by the startup battery, allowing it to reach charging conditions faster, thus initiating the fuel cell more quickly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a battery system is used to initialize and start a fuel cell at reduced temperatures, then the fuel cell can operate at cold temperatures, but the battery experiences reduced efficiency and capacity leading to delayed startup and increased failure events
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into a startup battery and a running battery with different size ratios. The startup battery is specifically designed to provide high power output for initialization and startup operations, while the running battery handles sustained operation. This segmentation allows the startup battery to be optimized for cold temperature performance without compromising the overall system capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the battery system have different properties optimized for their specific functions. The startup battery has characteristics optimized for high power delivery at cold temperatures, while the running battery is optimized for energy storage and sustained operation. This local optimization ensures each component performs its function effectively under varying temperature conditions.
2Temperature
If heating elements and insulation are used to mitigate degraded temperatures, then the battery can maintain thermal conditions, but this delays and sometimes ends initialization for startup when heating is severely insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The startup battery is pre-heated using waste heat from the fuel cell stack before the fuel cell needs to be initialized. This preliminary heating action ensures the startup battery reaches optimal temperature for cold temperature operation without delaying the initialization process, as the heating occurs in parallel with other startup preparations.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste heat that would otherwise be discarded from the fuel cell stack is converted into a useful resource for pre-heating the startup battery. This transforms a potentially harmful effect (heat waste) into a beneficial action (battery pre-heating), eliminating the need for additional heating elements and insulation while reducing startup time.
3Temperature
If the entire battery system is heated, then all batteries reach charging conditions, but this delays startup when only the startup battery needs to be warmed
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into separate heating zones with independent temperature control. The startup battery has its own heating system that operates independently from the running battery heating system. This allows selective heating of only the startup battery when needed, significantly reducing the time and energy required for startup preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of heating the entire battery system, only the necessary portion (startup battery) is heated to the required temperature. This partial action approach applies heating resources selectively where needed, avoiding the time and energy waste of heating the entire battery system when only a portion requires it for startup operations.
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 reduces startup time and enhances safety by ensuring the startup battery reaches charging conditions sooner, enabling the fuel cell to power a load without delaying the entire battery system's heating process.
Implementation Method 1
the startup battery powers a heater of the battery system
Implementation Method 2
warm coolant to flow towards the startup battery
Implementation Method 3
allow warm coolant to flow towards the startup battery
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to heating a startup battery within a battery system to rapidly initialize and start a fuel cell (FC). In one embodiment, a method includes triggering coolant flow using a startup battery that actuates controllable valves coupled to the startup battery, and the startup battery powers a FC and the startup battery is coupled to a heater and a running battery. The method also includes initiating the heater for a battery system to warm coolant using the startup battery, the battery system includes the startup battery and the running battery. The method also includes starting the FC with the startup battery, expanding the coolant flow, and switching on the running battery to power a load upon satisfaction of a threshold for charging the startup battery.