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US 12,749,695 B2Granted
Hydrogen leak sensing device and method for fuel cell vehicle
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
InventorHae Pin Choi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, disclosed are a hydrogen leak sensing device and method for a fuel cell vehicle. The device comprises a processor configured to control a valve of a hydrogen tank, wherein the processor may calculate a state of fuel (SOF) of the hydrogen tank when the valve is closed and a SOF of the hydrogen tank when the valve is opened, and determine whether hydrogen leak has occurred based on the calculated SOFs.
Claims13
A hydrogen leak sensing device for a fuel cell vehicle, the device comprising:
- a hydrogen tank configured to store hydrogen gas;
- a regulator configured to depressurize high-pressure hydrogen gas output from the hydrogen tank;
- a pressure sensor configured to mount on a fuel supply line connecting the hydrogen tank to the regulator;
- a temperature sensor, alone or in combination with a mass sensor, or a flow sensor, each configured to detect information regarding the hydrogen tank, wherein the temperature sensor is installed inside the hydrogen tank and configured to measure an internal temperature of the hydrogen tank;
- a processor operably coupled to the hydrogen tank, the regulator, and the sensor(s), and configured to control a valve of the hydrogen tank;
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- receive a wake-up signal in a state in which power is not supplied to the processor when a deviation between the internal temperature of the hydrogen tank and an air temperature outside the hydrogen tank is greater than a predetermined level;
- calculate, by executing stored instructions, a first state of fuel (SOF) of the hydrogen tank based on one of a measured temperature, a measured pressure, a measured mass, or a measured flow of hydrogen immediately after the valve is closed, and calculate, by executing stored instructions, a second SOF of the hydrogen tank based on one of a measured temperature, a measured pressure, a measured mass, or a measured flow of hydrogen after a predetermined time duration has elapsed after the valve is opened;
- and
- determine via a hardware-implemented comparison whether a hydrogen leak has occurred in the hydrogen tank based on the calculated first and second SOFs,
- wherein the valve is a tank valve installed at an outlet end of the hydrogen tank, and
- wherein the processor is further configured to control a fuel cell system by inhibiting the fuel cell system from starting upon determining that the hydrogen leak has occurred.
9 more elements
A hydrogen leak sensing method for a fuel cell vehicle having a hydrogen tank configured to store hydrogen gas, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a processor, a wake-up signal in a state in which power is not supplied to the processor when a deviation between an internal temperature of the hydrogen tank and an air temperature outside the hydrogen tank is greater than a predetermined level;
- closing a valve of the hydrogen tank and calculating, via the processor executing stored instructions, a first SOF of the hydrogen tank using one of a measured temperature, a measured pressure, a measured mass, or a measured flow of hydrogen immediately after the valve closes;
- opening the valve of the hydrogen tank and calculating, via the processor, a second SOF of the hydrogen tank based on one of a measured temperature, a measured pressure, a measured mass, or a measured flow of hydrogen after a predetermined time duration has elapsed after the valve is opened;
- and
- hardware-implemented comparing of the first SOF with the second SOF, and diagnosing that a hydrogen leak has occurred when a difference or ratio therebetween exceeds a predetermined threshold,
- wherein, upon diagnosing the hydrogen leak, the method further comprises controlling, by the processor, a fuel cell system in communication with a fuel supply line by inhibiting the fuel cell system from starting.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.