Method for the detection of fuel cell system short circuits

摘要

An apparatus and method to detect a short circuit event in a fuel cell system of a vehicle. The detection relies on three existing sensors within the fuel cell system, two current sensors and a voltage sensor. A controller executes an algorithm with a set of thresholds stored in a computer readable medium to monitor the sensors to sense if any of the threshold values are crossed. If crossed, the controller may take remedial action to stop the short circuit and/or prevent damage to the fuel cell system. A mode manager may work with the controller to determine when the operating conditions of the fuel cell system are ideal for sensing for a low voltage condition indicative of a short circuit event. A pair of integrators may be electrically coupled to an alternating current sensor to differentiate a short circuit event from a high frequency resistance current.

主权项

1. An apparatus to detect a fuel cell system short circuit event, the apparatus comprising:
a first sensor electrically coupled to a power output of a fuel cell and configured to sense a first current; a second sensor electrically coupled to the power output of the fuel cell and configured to sense a second current; a third sensor electrically coupled to the power output of the fuel cell and configured to sense a voltage; and a controller electrically coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor and configured to measure the first current, the second current, and the voltage and execute an algorithm in a computer readable medium to indicate a short circuit event when at least one of the first current crosses a first threshold value, the second current crosses a second threshold value, or the voltage crosses a third threshold value.