Fuel cell water drain valve control with vehicle tilt compensation
View Patent ↗System and methods for removing water and/or other liquids from a fuel cell system at a variety of vehicle tilt orientations are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method for regulating a sump system in a vehicle may include receiving orientation information from one or more orientation sensors associated with the vehicle and/or the sump system. Based on the orientation information, an adjusted fill level of the sump system may be determined (e.g., using a look-up table or the like). A drain valve of the sump system may be selectively actuated to regulate a level of liquid in the sump system at or below the adjusted level.
1. A method for regulating a sump system comprising:
initiating a sump drain event by actuating a drain valve of the sump system;
receiving orientation information from one or more orientation sensors;
determining an adjusted sump drain termination fill level in the sump system based on the orientation information; and
terminating the sump drain event by actuating the drain valve of the sump system to maintain a level of liquid in the sump system at or above the adjusted sump drain termination fill level.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusted sump drain termination fill level defines an effective volume of the sump system at a particular orientation associated with the orientation information to prevent the loss of fuel cell reactants through the drain valve.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the orientation information comprises sump system orientation information.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sump system is included in a vehicle and the orientation information comprises vehicle orientation information.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusted sump drain termination fill level is determined based on the orientation information using a look-up table associated with the sump system.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the orientation information comprises, pitch angle information and roll angle information.
7. A system comprising:
a fuel cell system;
a sump system coupled to the fuel cell system configured to collect liquid from the fuel cell system, the sump system comprising a drain valve configured to selectively remove liquid from the sump system when actuated; and
a fuel cell control system communicatively coupled to the drain valve, the fuel cell control system programmed to terminate a sump drain event by selectively actuating the drain valve to maintain a level of liquid in the sump system at or above a sump drain termination fill level determined based on orientation information received from one or more orientation sensors.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the fuel cell control system is programmed to determine the adjusted sump drain termination fill level based on the orientation information using a look-up table associated with the sump system.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sump system is included in a vehicle and the orientation information comprises vehicle orientation information.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the orientation information comprises at least one of sump system orientation information, pitch angle information and roll angle information.
11. A vehicle comprising:
a fuel cell system configured to provide electrical energy for the vehicle;
a sump system coupled to the fuel cell system configured to collect liquid from the fuel cell system, the sump system comprising a drain valve configured to selectively remove liquid from the sump system when actuated; and
a fuel cell control system communicatively coupled to the drain valve, the fuel cell control system programmed to terminate a sump drain event by selectively actuating the drain valve to maintain a level of liquid in the sump system at or above a sump drain termination fill level determined based on orientation information received from one or more orientation sensors.