US 11,990,656 B2
System and methods for determining a stack current request based on fuel cell operational conditions
Jacob Bryant, Portland, OR (US); John Robey, Clackamas, OR (US); Troy Fox, Tigard, OR (US); Chenyao Chen, Portland, OR (US); Tabassum Hossainy, Portland, OR (US); and David Brisbine, Sandy, OR (US)
Assigned to Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., Fairview, OR (US)
Filed by Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., Fairview, OR (US)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/842,566.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/234,638, filed on Aug. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/222,321, filed on Jul. 15, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/211,087, filed on Jun. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0407094 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04 (2016.01); H01M 8/0432 (2016.01); H01M 8/04858 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/0491 (2013.01) [H01M 8/04358 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for requesting a current magnitude from a fuel cell, the method comprising:
based at least on one of a battery state of charge, a coolant temperature, and a fan speed, selecting a process from among a plurality of processes including at least normal processing, smart idle processing, and smart ceiling processing;
operating under the selected process to request a current magnitude from the fuel cell; and
outputting by the fuel cell the requested current magnitude;
wherein:
normal processing comprises requesting the current magnitude from the fuel cell based at least on the battery state of charge and in a stepwise manner where each current magnitude step includes a debounce range with respect to at least one other current magnitude step;
smart idle processing comprises requesting the current magnitude from the fuel cell based at least on the battery state of charge and the coolant temperature, wherein the current magnitude requested is sufficiently high to raise the coolant temperature towards a smart idle coolant temperature setpoint; and
smart ceiling processing comprises requesting the current magnitude from the fuel cell based on at least the fan speed and the coolant temperature, wherein the current magnitude requested is sufficiently low to reduce the coolant temperature towards a smart ceiling coolant temperature setpoint.