IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,535,268
Granted Patent B2
US 12,535,268 · App. 18/553,859 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Fuel cell power-supply management device and fuel cell power-supply management method

Inventors: Tatsuya Minagawa (Tokyo, JP); Naoki Yamano (Wako, JP); Akihisa Sato (Tokyo, JP); Ayato Ito (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
F25J1/0275F25J1/001F25J1/0252F25J2210/90
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,535,268
App. No.
18/553,859
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel cell power-supply management device and a fuel cell power-supply management method enabling efficient recovery and utilization of boil-off gas. The fuel cell power-supply management device includes: a boil-off gas accumulation amount recognition unit that recognizes an accumulation amount of the boil-off gas in a boil-off gas accumulation unit; a demand status recognition unit that recognizes a demand status for each use of the boil-off gas; a boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit that determines a recovery timing of the boil-off gas accumulated in the boil-off gas accumulation unit, based on an accumulation amount of the boil-off gas recognized by the boil-off gas accumulation amount recognition unit or a demand status of the boil-off gas recognized by the demand status recognition unit; and a boil-off gas utilization processing arrangement unit that arranges utilization processing of the boil-off gas recovered from the boil-off gas accumulation unit at the recovery timing.

Claims (30)

1 . A fuel cell power-supply management device that manages a fuel cell power-supply having a liquid hydrogen tank and a boil-off gas accumulation unit for accumulating boil-off gas generated in the liquid hydrogen tank, the fuel cell power-supply management device comprising:

a boil-off gas accumulation amount recognition unit that recognizes an accumulation amount of boil-off gas in the boil-off gas accumulation unit;

a demand status recognition unit that recognizes a demand status for each use of the boil-off gas;

a boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit that determines a recovery timing of the boil-off gas accumulated in the boil-off gas accumulation unit, based on an accumulation amount of the boil-off gas or a demand status of the boil-off gas, the accumulation amount being recognized by the boil-off gas accumulation amount recognition unit, the demand status being recognized by the demand status recognition unit; and

a boil-off gas utilization processing arrangement unit that arranges utilization processing of the boil-off gas recovered from the boil-off gas accumulation unit at the recovery timing.

2 . The fuel cell power-supply management device according to claim 1 , further comprising a periodic inspection arrangement unit that arranges periodic inspection of the fuel cell power-supply in synchronization with the recovery timing,

wherein the boil-off gas utilization processing arrangement unit arranges, as the utilization processing, the periodic inspection in which the power generated by utilizing boil-off gas recovered from the boil-off gas accumulation unit is used.

3 . The fuel cell power-supply management device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information for an area where the fuel cell power-supply is installed;

a power outage occurrence probability estimation unit that estimates power outage occurrence probability in the area for a predetermined period ahead based on the weather information; and

a boil-off gas recovery condition change unit that relaxes a condition for determining the recovery timing when the power outage occurrence probability is lower than a predetermined value, relative to when the power outage occurrence probability is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the condition being determined by the boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit for the predetermined period.

4 . The fuel cell power-supply management device according to claim 3 , wherein the boil-off gas recovery condition change unit prohibits the boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit from determining the recovery timing for the predetermined period when the power outage occurrence probability is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value higher than the predetermined value.

5 . The fuel cell power-supply management device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information for an area where the fuel cell power-supply is set;

a power outage occurrence probability estimation unit that estimates power outage occurrence probability in the area for a predetermined period ahead based on the weather information; and

a boil-off gas recovery condition change unit that prohibits the boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit from determining the recovery timing for the predetermined period when the power outage occurrence probability is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

6 . The fuel cell power-supply management device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information for an area where the fuel cell power-supply is installed;

a power outage occurrence probability estimation unit that estimates power outage occurrence probability in the area for a predetermined period ahead based on the weather information; and

a boil-off gas recovery condition change unit that relaxes a condition for determining the recovery timing when the power outage occurrence probability is lower than a predetermined value, relative to when the power outage occurrence probability is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the condition being determined by the boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit for the predetermined period.

7 . The fuel cell power-supply management device according to claim 6 , wherein the boil-off gas recovery condition change unit prohibits the boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit from determining the recovery timing for the predetermined period when the power outage occurrence probability is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value higher than the predetermined value.

8 . The fuel cell power-supply management device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information for an area where the fuel cell power-supply is set;

a power outage occurrence probability estimation unit that estimates power outage occurrence probability in the area for a predetermined period ahead based on the weather information; and

a boil-off gas recovery condition change unit that prohibits the boil-off gas recovery timing determination unit from determining the recovery timing for the predetermined period when the power outage occurrence probability is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

9 . A fuel cell power-supply management method executed by a computer for managing a fuel cell power-supply having a liquid hydrogen tank and a boil-off gas accumulation unit for accumulating boil-off gas generated in the liquid hydrogen tank, the fuel cell power-supply management method comprising:

a boil-off gas accumulation amount recognition step that recognizes an accumulation amount of boil-off gas in the boil-off gas accumulation unit;

a demand status recognition step that recognizes a demand status for each use of the boil-off gas;

a boil-off gas recovery timing determination step that determines a recovery timing of the boil-off gas accumulated in the boil-off gas accumulation unit, based on an accumulation amount of the boil-off gas or a demand status of the boil-off gas, the accumulation amount being recognized by the boil-off gas accumulation amount recognition step, the demand status being recognized by the demand status recognition step; and

a boil-off gas utilization processing arrangement step that arranges utilization processing of the boil-off gas recovered from the boil-off gas accumulation unit at the recovery timing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2023
From: MINAGAWA, TATSUYA; YAMANO, NAOKI; SATO, AKIHISA; ITO, AYATO
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065130/0867 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-066273 · Apr 9, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240183608A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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