Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell power management system including: a fuel cell; a battery; a charge sensor operatively coupled to the battery; a speedometer; and a processor that includes a memory. The processor is configured to calculate a mapping of desired fuel cell power output as a function of the battery charge and the speed of the vehicle and, using the mapping, the battery charge, the speed of the vehicle, and a motor power request, calculate the desired traction power output of the fuel cell. The processor then sets the traction power output of the fuel cell to the desired traction power output of the fuel cell, sets the desired traction power output of the battery to the motor power request minus the traction power output of the fuel cell, and sets the traction power output of the battery to the desired traction power output of the battery.

Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to heating and cooling automotive fuel cells. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller may be used to control the temperature of fluid in the fuel cells. The PID may be configured to calculate and control the saturation limits of the I-term of the PID controller to reduce integral wind-up.

Abstract: A system for controlling gas flow in a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack, a pressure sensor, and a valve to adjust a flow of gas through the fuel cell circuit. The system further includes an ECU designed to estimate pressure values of the gas at multiple locations in the fuel cell circuit based on the detected pressure of the gas and based on flow resistance values (including at the valve), the estimated pressure values including an estimated sensor pressure value at a location of the pressure sensor. The ECU is further designed to determine a pressure deviation between the detected pressure and the estimated sensor pressure value. The ECU is further designed to adjust the flow resistance value of the valve to determine a final flow resistance value of the valve that causes the pressure deviation to reach or drop below a threshold deviation amount.

Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to heating and cooling automotive fuel cells. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller may be used to control the temperature of fluid in the fuel cells. The PID may be configured to calculate and control the saturation limits of the I-term of the PID controller to reduce integral wind-up.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fluid flow in a fuel cell circuit of a vehicle. A system may have a fuel cell stack configured to receive hydrogen gas. The system may have a current sensor configured to detect current flowing through the fuel cell stack. The system may have a plurality of actuators, which may include at least one injector, a pump, and a shut valve. The system may have an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU may estimate pressures of the hydrogen gas and non-hydrogen gases in the circuit. The ECU may determine a current increase rate based on the detected current. The ECU may apply a compensatory hydrogen gas stoic to a base hydrogen gas stoic to meet a target hydrogen gas stoic by controlling one or more of the actuators based on the estimated pressures when the current increase rate is above a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A system for controlling gas flow in a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack and a valve designed to adjust gas flow through the circuit. The system further includes an ECU that is designed to determine a target flow rate of the gas through the valve. The ECU is further designed to determine a flow compensation value corresponding to an amount of compensation of the target flow rate of the gas through the valve that compensates for fluid accumulation or decumulation in the fuel cell circuit. The ECU is further designed to determine a compensated target flow rate of the gas through the valve based on the target flow rate and the flow compensation value. The ECU is further designed to determine a desired valve position of the valve based on the compensated target flow rate and to control the valve to have the desired valve position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fluid flow in a fuel cell circuit of a vehicle. A system may have a fuel cell stack configured to receive hydrogen gas. The system may have a current sensor configured to detect current flowing through the fuel cell stack. The system may have a plurality of actuators, which may include at least one injector, a pump, and a shut valve. The system may have an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU may estimate pressures of the hydrogen gas and non-hydrogen gases in the circuit. The ECU may determine a current increase rate based on the detected current. The ECU may apply a compensatory hydrogen gas stoic to a base hydrogen gas stoic to meet a target hydrogen gas stoic by controlling one or more of the actuators based on the estimated pressures when the current increase rate is above a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A system for controlling gas flow in a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack and a valve designed to adjust gas flow through the circuit. The system further includes an ECU that is designed to determine a target flow rate of the gas through the valve. The ECU is further designed to determine a flow compensation value corresponding to an amount of compensation of the target flow rate of the gas through the valve that compensates for fluid accumulation or decumulation in the fuel cell circuit. The ECU is further designed to determine a compensated target flow rate of the gas through the valve based on the target flow rate and the flow compensation value. The ECU is further designed to determine a desired valve position of the valve based on the compensated target flow rate and to control the valve to have the desired valve position.

Abstract: A system for controlling gas flow in a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack, a pressure sensor, and a valve to adjust a flow of gas through the fuel cell circuit. The system further includes an ECU designed to estimate pressure values of the gas at multiple locations in the fuel cell circuit based on the detected pressure of the gas and based on flow resistance values (including at the valve), the estimated pressure values including an estimated sensor pressure value at a location of the pressure sensor. The ECU is further designed to determine a pressure deviation between the detected pressure and the estimated sensor pressure value. The ECU is further designed to adjust the flow resistance value of the valve to determine a final flow resistance value of the valve that causes the pressure deviation to reach or drop below a threshold deviation amount.