US-12626937-B2 - Fuel cell power system

US12626937B2US 12626937 B2US12626937 B2US 12626937B2US-12626937-B2

Abstract

A fuel cell power system includes a plurality of fuel cell systems that include a fuel cell stack and a fuel tank for storing fuel gas and supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell power system includes an auxiliary machine that is connected to be electrically switchable to any of the plurality of fuel cell system, and consume electric power output from the plurality of fuel cell systems. The fuel cell power system includes a control device that switches the fuel cell system to which the auxiliary machine is connected, on the basis of the states of the plurality of the fuel cell systems.

Inventors

Kenji Taruya
Satoru Kawase
Ryo Jimba
Ryota KITAMOTO
Yoshinaka HIRATA

Assignees

HONDA MOTOR CO.,LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220224
Priority Date: 20210330

Claims (18)

1 . A fuel cell power system comprising: a plurality of fuel cell systems including a fuel cell stack and a fuel tank for storing fuel gas and supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an auxiliary machine configured to be connected to be electrically switchable to any of the plurality of fuel cell systems, and consume electric power output from the plurality of fuel cell systems; and a control device configured to switch the fuel cell system to which the auxiliary machine is connected, on a basis of a state of the plurality of the fuel cell systems, wherein the state of the plurality of fuel cell systems include a difference in a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, among the plurality of fuel cell systems.
2 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where a difference in a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, among the plurality of fuel cell systems, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the auxiliary machine is connected to the fuel cell system having a small remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, the control device is configured to switch a connection of the auxiliary machine to the fuel cell system having a large remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank.
3 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 2 , wherein in a case where the difference in the remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, among the plurality of fuel cell systems, after the connection of the auxiliary machine is switched, is less than the predetermined value, the control device is configured to switch a connection destination of the auxiliary machine to the fuel cell system at an original connection destination.
4 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 2 , wherein the control device is configured to switch a connection destination of the auxiliary machine connected to a fuel cell system of which a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank is less than a predetermined value to a fuel cell system of which a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, and the control device is configured to stop electric power generation by the fuel cell system of which the remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank is less than the predetermined value.
5 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to switch a connection destination of the auxiliary machine connected to a fuel cell system of which a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank is less than a predetermined value to a fuel cell system of which a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, and the control device is configured to stop electric power generation by the fuel cell system of which the remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank is less than the predetermined value.
6 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 1 , wherein the state of the plurality of fuel cell systems includes a difference in a degree of deterioration of the fuel cell stack, among the fuel cell systems.
7 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 6 , wherein in a case where the difference in the degree of deterioration of the fuel cell stack, among the plurality of fuel cell systems, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the control device is configured to switch a connection destination of the auxiliary machine connected to the fuel cell system having a high degree of deterioration of the fuel cell stack to the fuel cell system having a low degree of deterioration of the fuel cell stack.
8 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 7 , wherein in a case where the difference in the degree of deterioration of the fuel cell stack, among the plurality of fuel cell systems, is less than the predetermined value, the control device is configured to switch the connection destination of the auxiliary machine for which the fuel cell system at the connection destination has been switched to the fuel cell system at an original connection destination.
9 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 6 , wherein in a case where a difference in a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, among the plurality of fuel cell systems, is less than a predetermined value, and the difference in the degree of deterioration of the fuel cell stack, among the plurality of fuel cell systems, is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the control device is configured to switch a connection destination of the auxiliary machine to the fuel cell system having a low degree of deterioration of the fuel cell stack.
10 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to stop an operation of the auxiliary machine before a connection destination of the auxiliary machine is switched, and to restart the operation of the auxiliary machine after the connection destination of the auxiliary machine is switched.
11 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to adjust power consumption of the auxiliary machine on a basis of a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank of the fuel cell system.
12 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary machine is an electric machine that is installed in a vehicle including the fuel cell power system.
13 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 12 , wherein the electric machine includes an electric machine that is not used for running, stopping, or steering the vehicle.
14 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 12 , wherein the electric machine includes an electric machine that is not currently in operation.
15 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 12 , wherein a power source of the electric machine is turned on or off by a user.
16 . The fuel cell power system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device holds in advance a table in which information related to the auxiliary machine is stored, including power consumption of the auxiliary machine.
17 . A fuel cell power system comprising: a plurality of fuel cell systems including a fuel cell stack and a fuel tank for storing fuel gas and supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an auxiliary machine configured to be connected to be electrically switchable to any of the plurality of fuel cell systems, and consume electric power output from the plurality of fuel cell systems; and a control device configured to switch the fuel cell system to which the auxiliary machine is connected, on a basis of a state of the plurality of the fuel cell systems, wherein the control device is configured to switch the plurality of fuel cell systems to which the auxiliary machine is connected, on a basis of a required output of the auxiliary machine.
18 . A fuel cell power system comprising: a plurality of fuel cell systems including a fuel cell stack and a fuel tank for storing fuel gas and supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an auxiliary machine configured to be connected to be electrically switchable to any of the plurality of fuel cell systems, and consume electric power output from the plurality of fuel cell systems; and a control device configured to switch the fuel cell system to which the auxiliary machine is connected, on a basis of a state of the plurality of the fuel cell systems, wherein the auxiliary machine includes a first auxiliary machine having less power consumption and a second auxiliary machine having more power consumption than the first auxiliary machine, and in a case where a difference in a remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, among the plurality of fuel cell systems, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the first auxiliary machine is connected to the fuel cell system having a large remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, and the second auxiliary machine is connected to the fuel cell system having a small remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank, the control device is configured to switch a connection of the auxiliary machine such that the first auxiliary machine is connected to the fuel cell system having the small remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank and the second auxiliary machine is connected to the fuel cell system having the large remaining amount of the fuel gas in the fuel tank.

Description

The contents of the following Japanese patent application(s) are incorporated herein by reference: 2021-058419 filed in JP on Mar. 30, 2021. BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field The present invention relates to a fuel cell power system. 2. Related Art Patent Document 1 describes “a fuel cell system capable of preventing excessive discharge of a battery and preventing unnecessary driving of an air pump when a converter is abnormal”. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-152279 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle 100 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a first FC unit 10a and a second FC unit 10b in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of switching the connection of a high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first example. FIG. 4B is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first example. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of switching the connection of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first embodiment. FIG. 6A is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the second example. FIG. 6B is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the second example. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of switching the connection of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first embodiment. FIG. 8A is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the third example. FIG. 8B is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the third example. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth example of switching the connection of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first embodiment. FIG. 10A is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the fourth example. FIG. 10B is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the fourth example. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth example of switching the connection of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first embodiment. FIG. 12A is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the fifth example. FIG. 12B is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the fifth example. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a first FC unit 10c and a second FC unit 10d in a second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of switching the connection of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the second embodiment. FIG. 15A is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first example. FIG. 15B is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the first example. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of switching the connection of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the second embodiment. FIG. 17A is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the second example. FIG. 17B is an image diagram of a connection state of the high voltage auxiliary machine 17 in the second example. FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a computer 2200. DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In the following, an example in which a fuel cell power system is mounted on a (electric) vehicle will be described. The vehicle is, for example, a fuel cell vehicle that uses the electric power generated by a fuel cell as the electric power for running or the electric power for operating in-vehicle devices. The vehicle is an example of a moving body, and is an automobile such as a two-wheeled vehicle, a three-wheeled vehicle, or a four-wheeled vehicle. In addition, the vehicle may be, for example, a large vehicle such as a bus or a truck capable of mounting a plurality of fuel cell systems. The fuel cell power system may be mounted on a moving body other than a vehicle (for example, a ship, a flying object, a robot), and may be mounted on a stationary fuel cell system. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the solution of the invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle 100 according to a first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 includes a first fuel cell system 100a, a second fuel cell system 100b, and a high voltage auxiliary machine 17. The vehicle 100 is, for example, a large ve