# US 11,444,300 B2 · Method for the predictive operation of a fuel cell or a high-voltage accumulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,300 B2 - Document ID: US11444300B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/449,016 - Filed: 2017-03-03 - Published: 2017-06-22 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-05 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Max Eschenbach; Johannes Schmid - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444300B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04828: Humidity; Water content - B60L 1/003: {to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors} - B60L 50/52: characterised by DC-motors - B60L 53/00: Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles - B60L 58/40: for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells - H01M 8/04223: during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells - H01M 8/04225: during start-up - H01M 8/04253: {Means for solving freezing problems} - H01M 8/04701: Temperature - H01M 8/04947: {of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors} - H01M 8/04955: Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells - H01M 8/04992: characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence - H01M 16/006: {of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries} - B60L 2240/12: Speed - B60L 2240/22: Yaw angle - B60L 2240/34: Cabin temperature - B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts - B60L 2240/642: Slope of road - B60L 2240/662: Temperature - B60L 2240/667: Precipitation - H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - H01M 2250/402: Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators - Y02B 90/10: Applications of fuel cells in buildings - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method for the predictive operation of a fuel cell or a high-voltage accumulator, involving the steps of: detecting at least one external parameter, the at least one external parameter representing driving behavior data, navigation data and/or environmental data; and adjusting the at least one current desired fuel cell operating parameter on the basis of the at least one external parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for predictive operation of a fuel cell of a vehicle by a control unit of the vehicle programmed to execute the method, the method comprising the steps of: detecting at least one external parameter with a vehicle sensor system, wherein the at least one external parameter represents driving behavior information and/or navigation information of the vehicle; predicting, by the control unit, at least one future value of at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell, based on the at least one external parameter, while the fuel cell is currently operated to power the vehicle according to at least one current setpoint for the operating parameter of the fuel cell; and adapting, by the control unit, the current setpoint for the operating parameter of the fuel cell, on the basis of the predicted future value of the operating parameter of the fuel cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a setpoint operating parameter is the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell, and the setpoint moisture content is reduced before the end of a journey. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the setpoint moisture content and/or a duration of the reduction is adapted to take into account a predicted storage location of the fuel cell and/or the predicted ambient temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setpoint moisture content is adapted to take into account a storage location of the fuel cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein before an end of a journey, the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell is reduced if it is to be assumed that a frost start or cold start is to follow. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a change in the at least one setpoint operating parameter is based on a predicted load range and a dynamic requirement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell, and/or a fuel cell system comprising the fuel cell, functions itself as a buffer for moisture and/or cooling capacity for a predictive operating mode of the fuel cell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein before predicted operation of the fuel cell in an upper load range for an uphill journey: the setpoint operating temperature of the fuel cell is lowered and/or additional cooling capacity which is not necessary for the instantaneous operation is made available and is buffered in a cooling system of the fuel cell system, and/or additional moisture which is not necessary for the instantaneous operation is introduced into the fuel cell and is buffered in the fuel cell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the case of predicted operation in an upper load range of the fuel cell: the setpoint temperature of the fuel cell and/or a maximum nitrogen oxide partial pressure at the anode are/is reduced, and/or the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell and/or the setpoint fuel partial pressure at the anode are/is increased, and/or in the case of predicted operation in a lower load range of the fuel cells the setpoint temperature of the fuel cell and/or the maximum nitrogen oxide partial pressure at the anode are/is increased, and/or the setpoint moisture content of the fuel cell and/or the setpoint fuel partial pressure at the anode are/is reduced. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein for the predictive operation of the fuel cell various operating modes are provided, wherein at least two operating modes in at least one characteristic curve differ for at least one setpoint operating parameter, and wherein the various operating modes are provided for various load ranges and various dynamic requirements, and wherein an operating mode of the fuel cell is selected as a function of a predicted load range and a predicted dynamic requirement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one predicted operating parameter comprises a predicted load range and a predicted dynamic requirement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one external parameter further presents environmental information. ### Claim 13 A method for operating a motor vehicle by a control unit of the vehicle programmed to execute the method, wherein the method comprises: detecting at least one external parameter with a vehicle sensor system, wherein the at least one external parameter represents driving behavior information and/or navigation information of the vehicle; predicting, by the control unit, at least one future value of at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell, based on the at least one external parameter, while the fuel cell is currently operated to power the vehicle according to at least one current setpoint for the operating parameter of the fuel cell; and adapting, by the control unit, the current setpoint for the operating parameter of the fuel cell, on the basis of the predicted future value of the operating parameter of the fuel cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of: adapting a ratio of the setpoint capacity of the fuel cell to the setpoint capacity of a high-voltage accumulator as a function of the at least one external parameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ratio of the setpoint capacity of the fuel cell to the setpoint capacity of the high-voltage accumulator is adapted as a function of the operating mode of the fuel cell and/or of the storage location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, comprising the step of: reducing consumption and/or switching off at least one energy consumer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein an energy consumer is a passenger-compartment air conditioning system of the vehicle, and in the case of predicted operation in an upper load range, a capacity of the passenger-compartment air conditioning can already be reduced or switched off before operation in the upper load range, with the result that more cooling capacity can be fed to the at least one fuel cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one predicted operating parameter comprises a predicted load range and a predicted dynamic requirement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one external parameter further presents environmental information.