Work Vehicle Energy Management for Fuel Cell Battery Standby Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing management systems for work vehicles equipped with fuel cells and batteries struggle to efficiently manage energy distribution and battery capacity during travel, particularly in varying terrain and load conditions, leading to potential battery depletion and hydrogen gas depletion.
Innovation Solution
A management device that calculates required electric power based on travel routes and generates instructions for the vehicle to standby and recharge using fuel cell power when battery capacity falls below a threshold, optimizing energy use and preventing depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the work vehicle travels using assist electric power from the battery during traveling uphill, then the vehicle can maintain required power output, but the battery remaining capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The management device calculates the required electric power amount for the entire travel route in advance and determines standby locations where the battery can be recharged by the fuel cell before critical depletion occurs. This preliminary planning ensures the battery maintains sufficient capacity throughout the journey while meeting power demands during uphill travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the battery's remaining capacity and compares it against the calculated required electric power amount. When the remaining capacity approaches the required amount, the system provides feedback to instruct the vehicle to standby and recharge, creating a closed-loop control that prevents battery depletion while optimizing power utilization.
2Quantity of substance
If the management device instructs the work vehicle to standby for battery recharging, then the battery remaining capacity is maintained, but travel time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management device performs preliminary calculations of the required electric power amount based on the travel route and fuel cell's generated power. By determining standby locations and timing in advance, the system minimizes unnecessary waiting time while ensuring the battery is recharged at optimal moments, balancing capacity maintenance with travel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The work vehicle autonomously executes standby instructions at calculated locations without requiring external intervention. The vehicle self-manages its energy state by stopping at predetermined locations to allow fuel cell recharging of the battery, reducing the need for continuous external control and minimizing operational disruption.
3Productivity
If the management device calculates required electric power amount based on travel route and fuel cell output, then energy management is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management device integrates multiple functions into a single system: it calculates the required electric power amount based on travel route characteristics, monitors battery remaining capacity in real-time, determines optimal standby locations, and provides control instructions. This multi-functional integration optimizes energy management while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The management device autonomously performs energy optimization calculations and control decisions without requiring external input or intervention. It self-determines when and where the vehicle should standby for recharging based on its internal calculations of power requirements and battery state, reducing the complexity of external control systems while maintaining optimized energy management.
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 effectively manages battery capacity and hydrogen levels, preventing depletion and maintaining vehicle performance, thereby enhancing productivity and extending battery life while optimizing route selection based on mine state and battery status.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell that uses hydrogen gas as a fuel
Implementation Method 2
a battery in order to suppress the loaded amount of the fuel cell and to absorb regenerative electric power
Data Source
AI summary
An electric power amount calculation unit calculates, based on a travel route of a work vehicle at a work site and generated electric power from a fuel cell, a required electric power amount of a battery for traveling on the travel route. An instruction unit instructs, in a case where the remaining capacity of the battery falls below the required electric power amount, the work vehicle to stand by until the remaining capacity of the battery is charged to be equal to or more than the required electric power amount by the generated electric power of the fuel cell.