System and method for fuel cell operation mode selection during power demand events
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Stanley L Bower, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In at least one embodiment, a vehicle system including a fuel cell stack and a least one controller. The fuel cell stack configured to provide energy for a vehicle. The at least one controller is programmed to control the fuel cell stack to enter into a zero gross power (ZGP) mode responsive to at least the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is less than a maximum time duration. The at least one controller is further programmed to control the fuel cell stack to enter into a fuel cell shutdown mode responsive to the at least the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is greater than maximum time duration.
Claims9
A vehicle system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack configured to provide energy for a vehicle;
- and
- at least one controller programmed to:
- control the fuel cell stack to enter into a zero gross power (ZGP) mode responsive to the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is less than a maximum time duration, the vehicle decelerating after exhibiting the negative torque demand, and an overall time in which the vehicle comes to a complete stop being less than the maximum time duration;
- and
- control the fuel cell stack to enter into a fuel cell shutdown mode responsive to the vehicle exhibiting the negative torque demand for a period that is greater than the maximum time duration.
A method comprising:
- providing energy via a fuel cell stack for a vehicle;
- controlling, via at least one controller, the fuel cell stack to enter into a zero gross power (ZGP) mode responsive to the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is less than a maximum time duration;
- controlling the fuel cell stack to enter into a fuel cell shutdown mode responsive to the vehicle exhibiting the negative torque demand for a period that is greater than the maximum time duration;
- and
- controlling the fuel cell stack to enter into the fuel cell shutdown mode responsive to the vehicle exhibiting the negative torque demand and the vehicle not exhibiting a deceleration event.
A computer-program product embodied in a non-transitory computer read-able medium that is executable by one or more controllers to select a mode for a fuel cell, the computer-program product comprising instructions for:
- providing energy via the fuel cell for storage on at least one battery on a vehicle;
- controlling, via at least one controller, the fuel cell to enter into a zero gross power (ZGP) mode responsive to the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is less than a maximum time duration, the vehicle decelerating after exhibiting the negative torque demand, and an overall time in which the vehicle comes to a complete stop being less than the maximum time duration;
- and
- controlling the fuel cell to enter into a fuel cell shutdown mode responsive to the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is greater than maximum time duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.