IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,424,464
Granted Patent B2
US 11,424,464 · App. 17/024,832 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Fuel cell system, method of controlling fuel cell system, and storage medium

Inventors: Ryoji Sakai (Wako, JP); Akihiro Matsui (Wako, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
H01M8/04932H01M8/04626H01M10/44H01M10/46H01M16/006H02J7/0048B60L50/70B60L53/54B60L58/12B60L58/30H01M2220/20H01M2250/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,424,464
App. No.
17/024,832
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel cell system includes fuel cell, electrical storage device that stores electric power generated by the fuel cell, and control device of the fuel cell, the control device performs first control which causes the fuel cell to generate power and increases charging rate of the electrical storage device and second control which restricts output of the fuel cell to be smaller than that in the first control and decreases charging rate of the electrical storage device, and when switching condition, in which electric power demand from the external devices becomes greater than predetermined electric power or state in which electric power demand from the external devices is greater than the predetermined electric power continues for predetermined time, is satisfied, the control device increases power output by the fuel cell during the first control being performed to be larger than that before the switching condition was satisfied.

Claims (20)

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell;

an electrical storage device configured to store electric power generated by the fuel cell; and

a control device configured to perform power generation control for at least the fuel cell,

wherein the control device acquires a charging rate of the electrical storage device,

when the electric power stored in the electrical storage device is supplied to external devices, the control device performs a first control which causes the fuel cell to generate power and increases a charging rate of the electrical storage device and a second control which restricts a power generation output of the fuel cell to be smaller than that in the first control and decreases a charging rate of the electrical storage device, and

when a switching condition, in which an electric power demand from the external devices becomes greater than a predetermined electric power or a state in which an electric power demand from the external devices is greater than the predetermined electric power continues for a predetermined time, is satisfied, the control device increases a power generation output generated by the fuel cell during the first control being performed to be larger than that before the switching condition was satisfied.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein, before the switching condition is satisfied, the control device causes the fuel cell to generate power which has a maximum power generation efficiency.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein, after the switching condition is satisfied, the control device causes the fuel cell to generate power that is an upper limit specified by regulations.

4. A method of controlling a fuel cell system, which is performed by a control device of a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell and an electrical storage device configured to store electric power generated by the fuel cell,

the method comprising:

performing power generation control for at least the fuel cell;

acquiring a charging rate of the electrical storage device;

when the electric power stored in the electrical storage device is supplied to external devices, performing a first control which causes the fuel cell to generate power and increases a charging rate of the electrical storage device and a second control which restricts a power generation output of the fuel cell to be smaller than that in the first control and decreases a charging rate of the electrical storage device; and

when a switching condition, in which an electric power demand from the external devices becomes greater than a predetermined electric power or a state in which an electric power demand from the external devices is greater than the predetermined electric power continues for a predetermined time, is satisfied, increasing a power generation output generated by the fuel cell during the first control being performed to be larger than that before the switching condition was satisfied.

5. A computer-readable storage medium, on which a program is stored, the program configured to cause a control computer of a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell; and an electrical storage device configured to store electric power generated by the fuel cell, to perform:

processing of performing power generation control for at least the fuel cell;

processing of acquiring a charging rate of the electrical storage device;

when the electric power stored in the electrical storage device is supplied to external devices, processing of performing a first control which causes the fuel cell to generate power and increases a charging rate of the electrical storage device and a second control which restricts a power generation output of the fuel cell to be smaller than that in the first control and decreases a charging rate of the electrical storage device; and

when a switching condition, in which an electric power demand from the external devices becomes greater than a predetermined electric power or a state in which an electric power demand from the external devices is greater than the predetermined electric power continues for a predetermined time, is satisfied, processing of increasing a power generation output generated by the fuel cell during the first control being performed to be larger than that before the switching condition was satisfied.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: SAKAI, RYOJI; MATSUI, AKIHIRO
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054014/0773 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-176864 · Sep 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210098806A1 · Apr 1, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,441,214