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US 12,489,129 B2Granted
Fuel cell system and method for controlling the same
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
InventorGa Jeon Chon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a fuel cell system and a method for controlling the same which in a constant current operation mode in which an output current of a fuel cell stack is constant, controls a hydrogen supply unit, an air supply unit, or a hydrogen recirculation unit differently depending on the size of a target output current to prevent the local flooding of the fuel cell stack in the constant current operation mode.
Claims14
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack that comprises an anode to which hydrogen is supplied, a cathode to which air is supplied, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) between the anode and the cathode;
- a hydrogen supply unit that is configured to supply hydrogen to the anode;
- an air supply unit that is configured to supply air to the cathode;
- a hydrogen recirculation unit that is connected to the anode to recirculate discharged hydrogen from an outlet to an inlet;
- and
- a control unit that, in a constant current operation mode in which an output current of the fuel cell stack is constant, is configured to control the hydrogen supply unit, the air supply unit, or the hydrogen recirculation unit differently depending on a size of a target output current to prevent local flooding of the fuel cell stack in the constant current operation mode,
- wherein the control unit is forth her configured to select a cu rent region ling to the target output current;
- wherein the current region comprises a high current region, a medium current region, and a low current region depending on the size of the target output current;
- and
- wherein the control unit is further configured to control the hydrogen supply unit the air supply unit, or the hydrogen recirculation unit differently depending on the current region corresponding to the target output current.
7 more elements
A method for controlling a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack that comp rise s a anode to which hydrogen is supplied, a cathode to which air is supplied, and a membrane assembly (MEA) between the anode and the cathode;
- a hydrogen supply unit that is configured to supply the hydrogen to the anode;
- an air supply unit that is configured to supply air to the cathode;
- a hydrogen recirculation unit that is connected to the anode to recirculate discharged hydrogen from an outlet to an inlet;
- and
- a control unit that, in a constant current operation mode in which an output current of the fuel cell stack is constant, is configured to control the hydrogen supply unit, the air supply unit, or the hydrogen recirculation unit differently depending on a size of a target output current to prevent local flooding of the fuel cell stack in the constant current operation mode;
- wherein the control unit is further configured to select a current region corresponding to the target output current;
- and
- wherein the current region comprises a high current region, a medium current region, and a low current region depending on the size of the target output current;
- the method comprising steps of:
- operating the fuel cell stack in the constant current operation mode in which the output current is constant by the control unit;
- and
- controlling the hydrogen supply unit, the air supply unit, or the hydrogen recirculation unit differently depending on the size of the target output current by the control unit to prevent local flooding of the fuel cell stack in the constant current operation mode.
10 more elements
A method for controlling a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack that comprises an anode to which hydrogen is supplied, a cathode to which air is supplied, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) between the anode and the cathode;
- a hydrogen supply unit that is configured to supply hydrogen to the anode;
- a air supply is configured to supply air the cathode;
- a hydrogen unit that is connected to the anode to recirculate discharged hydrogen from an outlet to an inlet;
- and
- a control unit that in a constant current operation mode in which an output current of the fuel cell stack is constant, is configured to control the hydrogen supply unit, the air supply unit, or the hydrogen recirculation unit differently depending on a size of a target output current to prevent local flooding of the fuel cell stack in the constant current operation mode,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- operating, by the control unit, the fuel cell stack in the constant current operation mode in which the output current is constant;
- and
- controlling the hydrogen supply unit, the air supply unit, or the hydrogen recirculation unit differently depending on the size of the target output current, by the control unit, to prevent local flooding of be fuel cell ent operation mode
- wherein the step of controlling comprises steps of:
- controlling the air supply unit to increase a flow rate of the air supplied to the cathode by the control unit;
- and
- controlling the hydrogen supply unit and the air supply unit to change a pressure difference of the hydrogen and air supplied to the anode and the cathode by the control unit.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.