KR101233504B1 - Method and System for selection controlling of Fuel cell or Battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for selectively controlling a fuel cell and a battery power source. The system module in the present invention is driven by a power source provided from a battery or fuel cell. At this time, when the power consumption of the system module and the capacity of the fuel cell are compared, when the power consumption is large, or when the power consumption increases momentarily, power is supplied from the battery. However, when the battery is not installed in the system module or the battery capacity is insufficient, the system module is driven only by the power supplied from the fuel cell. Therefore, the power consumption of the system module is controlled so as not to exceed the capacity of the fuel cell, and if the power consumption continues to increase, it limits the predetermined function running in the system module. Accordingly, the present invention selectively operates the system by selectively receiving the fuel cell or the battery power, and in particular, further improves stability by controlling power consumption of the system module when the system is driven only by the fuel cell.

Fuel cell, battery, storage battery, power consumption.

Description

Method and System for Selection Control of Fuel Cell or Battery

1 is a system housing configuration with a typical fuel cell system.

2 is a system configuration diagram for selection control of a fuel cell and a storage battery according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a system driving by receiving a fuel cell and battery power according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a process flow diagram of battery charging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a process flow diagram for limiting system functionality when a battery is not installed or when battery capacity is low in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

1 fuel cell module 50 microprocessor

60: system module 61: battery

62: embedded controller 64: charging unit

65: BIOS 70: operation module

80: sensing resistance

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the use of fuel cells and batteries, and in particular, the selection of fuel cells and accumulators to selectively supply power of fuel cells and accumulators based on power consumption of mobile devices to improve the efficiency of storage. It relates to a control method and a system thereof.

Recently, fuel cells have been developed as energy sources to replace secondary battery batteries used in portable computers such as laptop computers or notebook computers. The fuel cell generally has a porous anode and a cathode attached to both sides of the polymer electrolyte. Electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen as a fuel occurs at the anode (anode or anode), and electrochemical reduction of oxygen as an oxidant occurs at the cathode (reduction electrode or cathode). At this time, electrical energy is generated due to the movement of generated electrons.

As described above, the hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell is used as a gas by purifying only hydrogen through a desulfurization process → reforming reaction → hydrogen purification process of a hydrocarbon (CH-based) fuel such as LNG, LPG, and gasoline in a reformer. It is used as a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) method that uses methanol as a direct fuel. Among them, the direct methanol fuel cell is a reforming reaction in the electrode by directly supplying a methanol mixture of methanol and water in a fixed ratio (about 10%: 90%) to the anode of the stack, which is a power generation device. Because of this, the use of the reformer becomes unnecessary, which has the advantage of simplifying the whole system. Therefore, the direct methanol fuel cell can be miniaturized and encapsulated and used in mobile devices such as the portable computer.

However, the fuel cell has a disadvantage in that the response characteristic according to the load change imposed on the fuel cell does not respond quickly to changes in the supply conditions of the reaction gas and the characteristics of the external peripheral device. Therefore, a system that uses a relatively quick response to changes in external conditions in combination with the fuel cell is used to respond quickly to external load changes by the storage battery. This will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a system housing having a general fuel cell system.

As shown, a DMFC stack 10 for generating electricity is provided. The methanol storage tank 20 is connected by the methanol circulation path 30 to supply methanol to the DMFC stack 10. An air line for compressing and supplying air to the DMFC stack 10 by the compressor 12 is provided at an input side, and a discharge line for discharging CO ₂ and H ₂ O generated at the DMFC stack 10 is an output side. Is provided. The discharge line of the DMFC stack 10 is provided with a first separator 14 and a second separator 16 for separating the CO ₂ and H ₂ O.

The output side of the methanol storage tank 20 is provided with a first pump 22 for supplying methanol, which is delivered through the first separation unit 14 and the second separation unit 16 together with the methanol. A second pump 24 for supplying H ₂ O is provided. At the output end of the first pump 22, a sensor 26 for detecting the concentration of methanol supplied from the methanol storage tank 20 is mounted.

A first DC / DC converter 40 is provided to supply DC electricity generated from the DMFC stack 10 while maintaining a constant voltage. In addition, the Li-ion battery 42 power in addition to the DMFC stack 10 is configured to output through the second DC / DC converter 44. The microprocessor 50 selects the power of the DMFC stack 10 and the power of the battery 42 and adjusts the output voltage of the DC / DC converters 40 and 44.

As such, when the DMFC stack 10 and the battery 42 are complexly mounted in the system housing, the DMFC stack 10 or the battery 42 is output from the DMFC stack 10 or the battery 42 according to a control operation of the microprocessor 50. The power source was used as the operating power source. In other words, as described above, a storage battery that responds quickly to changes in external conditions is used together with a fuel cell. As a result, battery cells can be used for a long time without external charging by fuel cells.

As described above, a technology using a fuel cell and a storage battery in combination with a general fuel cell system is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-1549 (Name: Load control method and apparatus for a standalone fuel cell / battery complex system). Has been filed.

Specifically, the technology divides the fuel cell to serve as a power source for an external load as well as to charge the rechargeable battery to operate the fuel cell / battery complex system with high efficiency, while maintaining the state of charge of the rechargeable battery in a certain range. The fuel cell output is controlled according to the change in the charge amount and the external load.

However, the technology controls the fuel cell output by applying the 'IF-THEN' rule according to the state of charge and the external load value of the storage battery and the magnitude of the load value, based on the output value of the fuel cell. Load sharing between storage batteries and fuel cells has been determined. That is, only the output of the fuel cell is controlled according to the state of charge of the battery regardless of the power consumption of the system in which the fuel cell is mounted and driven. Accordingly, if power consumption greater than the capacity of the fuel cell is generated in a state where the capacity of the battery is not sufficient, a problem occurs in that the system does not operate normally.

In addition, since the fuel cell and the storage battery are provided together in one system, there is a disadvantage in that the overall configuration of the system becomes complicated due to the additional mounting of the control components.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to control the fuel cell and the storage battery selection method and the system for efficient power supply by comparing the power consumption and fuel cell capacity of the system module The purpose is to provide.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to control to limit a certain function of the system so that the system is driven within the capacity range of the fuel cell when the battery capacity is insufficient.

In the fuel cell and storage battery selection control method of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the step of driving the system module in accordance with the fuel cell supply, detecting the power consumption of the system module and compared with the fuel cell capacity And receiving power from the storage battery when the power consumption exceeds the fuel cell capacity according to the comparison result.

In the present invention, when the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity, further comprising the step of selectively charging according to the battery capacity.

In the present invention, power is continuously supplied if the power consumption is within the fuel cell capacity.

In the present invention, if it is difficult to drive the system module by the battery is not installed or the battery power supply, the step of limiting the function of the system module so that the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity.

In addition, the fuel cell and storage battery selection control system of the present invention for achieving the above object, the fuel cell module with a built-in fuel cell, the power consumption of the system module and the fuel cell capacity, the comparison And a system module for selectively receiving power from the fuel cell or a battery mounted therein according to the result, and having a sensing means for sensing the fuel cell capacity and the power consumption of the system module. It is done.

The fuel cell module according to the present invention includes the fuel cell, a converter for outputting power of the fuel cell, and a microprocessor for variably adjusting the output power of the converter.

The system module according to the present invention includes an embedded controller for selectively controlling the power supply of the battery by comparing the power consumption with the fuel cell capacity, and the embedded controller when the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity. And a charging unit for selectively charging the storage battery, and a BIOS for limiting the function of the system module so that the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity.

The system module according to the present invention further includes a second switching element forming a supply path of AC power, and an AC / DC converter for converting AC power supplied through the second switching element into DC power. .

The sensing means of the present invention is preferably a sensing resistor.

The embedded controller and the storage battery of the present invention are connected to an SM bus.

The embedded controller and the microprocessor of the present invention are connected to an I2C (Inter Integrated Circuit) or SM Bus (System Management Bus).

According to the present invention having such a configuration, when the power consumption of the system module exceeds the fuel cell capacity, insufficient power is supplied from the storage battery, and when the storage battery is not installed or the storage capacity is insufficient, the power consumption of the fuel cell capacity is reduced. It can be seen that the function of the system module is limited so as not to exceed.

Hereinafter, a method for controlling selection of a fuel cell and a storage battery and a system thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

2 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration for selecting and controlling a fuel cell and a storage battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, the fuel cell module 1 includes a fuel cell module 1 mounted thereon and a system module 60 mounted therein. In the present invention, the system module 60 is preferably a mobile device.

The fuel cell module 1 is provided with a DMFC stack 10 that generates electricity using liquid methanol directly as a fuel, as in the prior art. Here, since the configuration of the fuel cell module 1 is the same as in the prior art, the same reference numerals are used in the embodiments of the present invention, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. However, the present invention is configured such that only the power generated in the DMFC stack 10 is output by removing the lithium-ion battery configuration provided to the fuel cell module 1. Therefore, the power generated in the DMFC stack 10 is supplied to the system module 60 by adjusting the output voltage by the DC / DC converter 40.

The system module 60 senses power consumption of the system module 60 and selectively supplies power of the battery 61 in comparison with the capacity of the DMFC stack 10 (hereinafter referred to as a fuel cell) 10. An embedded controller (EC) 62 is provided to control the BIOS 65 to control the first switch 63 and limit the system function according to the power consumption. The charging unit 64 transmits a voltage level of the battery 61 to the microprocessor 50, and is provided with a charging circuit to charge the battery 61 within the capacity range of the fuel cell 10 based on the power consumption. ) To control.

The system module 60 may receive an AC power directly from the AC adapter 66 in addition to the fuel cell 10 and the battery 61 and use it as an operating power source. Accordingly, the second switch 68 intermittently formed by the embedded controller 62 is provided to form the AC power supply path and receive AC power from the AC adapter 66. An AC / DC converter 69 is provided to provide the AC power to the operation module 70 when the second switch 68 is turned on.

A sensing resistor 80 is provided between the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 40 of the fuel cell module 1 and the power input terminal of the system module 60. The embedded controller 62 detects a power level value of the fuel cell 10 and power consumption of the system module 60 existing at the front and rear ends of the sensing resistor 80.

In addition, the microprocessor 50 and the embedded controller 62 are preferably interconnected by an inner integrated circuit (I2C) or a system management bus (SM bus). In addition, the embedded controller 62 may be configured to receive the voltage level value of the battery 61 through a SM bus.

Next, a method of controlling selection of a fuel cell and a storage battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

First, in step 100, when the system module 60 is driven on according to a power switch operation not shown, the embedded controller 62 controls the microprocessor 50 to control the DC from the fuel cell 10. Allow power to be supplied. Since the fuel cell module 1 and the system module 60 are connected by a power supply line, I2C, and an SM bus, the DC power is supplied, and thus the system module 60 is driven.

As such, while the power supply is being made, the embedded controller 62 consumes the output power of the fuel cell 10 and the consumption required by the system module 60 from the front end and the rear end of the sensing resistor 80. Power is sensed and provided (step 102). Typically, since the fuel cell 10 is designed with a fixed power supply capacity, the fuel cell 10 senses a power level value, and the system module 60 detects a power consumption that varies variably depending on whether various functions are performed.

In step 104, when the embedded controller 62 determines that only the DC power provided from the fuel cell 10 can provide sufficient power consumption for a function executed in the system module 60, the 105th power controller 105 may provide sufficient power consumption. The system module 60 is driven using only the DC power output from the fuel cell 10 without any other power supply. That is, the embedded controller 62 keeps the first switch 63 off so that power is not supplied from the battery 61.

However, if the power consumption of the system module 60 detected by the embedded controller 62 from the rear end of the sensing resistor 80 exceeds the capacity of the fuel cell 10 in step 104, the embedded controller 62 requires the embedded controller 62. The controller 62 should receive insufficient power from the battery 61. In operation 106, the first switch 63 is turned on, and in operation 108, power is supplied from the battery 63 to the system module 60. In this case, the BIOS 65 under the control of the embedded controller 62 normally controls a system function.

As such, the system module 60 is selectively supplied with power from the fuel cell 10 or the battery 61.

4 is a flowchart of a battery charging process according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In step 110, the embedded controller 62 reads the voltage level of the battery 61. The voltage level of the leaded battery 61 is transmitted to the microprocessor 50 of the fuel cell module 1. This is to determine the state of charge of the battery 61 according to the voltage level, and to charge the battery 61 by the power of the fuel cell 10 when the capacity of the battery 61 is not sufficient.

When the battery needs to be charged in step 112, as in step 114, the embedded controller 62 detects power consumption of the system module 60. In operation 116, when the power consumption is greater than the capacity of the fuel cell 10, the battery is waiting for charging (operation 117).

However, when the power consumption is smaller than the capacity of the fuel cell 10 in step 116, the embedded controller 62 turns on the charging unit 64 as a battery charging mode. Then, in step 118, the DC power regulated by the DC / DC converter 40 according to the control operation of the microprocessor 50 is applied to the battery 61 via the charging unit 64. Charging of the battery 61 starts in response to the output voltage application. In operation 120, when full charge is performed according to the battery charge level monitoring of the embedded controller 62, the charging unit 64 is turned off to stop the charging process.

That is, the battery charging is performed only when the power consumption of the system module 60 does not exceed the capacity of the fuel cell 10. This is to supply insufficient power from the battery 61 when the power consumption exceeds the capacity of the fuel cell 10, but if the capacity of the battery 61 is insufficient, substantially charging of the battery 61 Because you can't.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process limiting system function when a battery is not installed or when battery capacity is insufficient, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, when the capacity is insufficient to approximately 10% or less of the battery 61 as described above, or when the battery 61 is not installed in the system module 60, only by the output power of the fuel cell 10. The system runs. Thus, the embedded controller 62 may need to selectively limit system functionality.

In other words, if the voltage level of the battery 61 is not sufficient, or if the battery 61 is not mounted, as in step 130, the embedded controller 62 includes the embedded in step 132. The controller 62 notifies the bios 65 of the power consumption so that the power consumption of the system module 60 does not exceed the capacity of the fuel cell 10.

Then, in step 134, the bios 65 compares the power consumption with the capacity of the fuel cell 10. If the power consumption is within the capacity of the fuel cell 10, the BIOS 65 proceeds to step 135 and the system module ( Drive normally without limiting the function of 60).

However, if the power consumption exceeds the capacity of the fuel cell 10, the system module 60 may be abnormally driven. In this case, the system module 60 may proceed to step 136 to reduce the power consumption. Limit the functionality. The function limitation of the system module 60 is to sufficiently control until the power consumption is within the capacity of the fuel cell 10 so that ultimately the power consumption does not exceed the capacity of the fuel cell 10.

On the other hand, when the AC adapter 62 is connected to the system module 60, the embedded controller 62 drives the second switch 68 to be turned on so that power is applied, and through the AC / DC converter 69. The converted DC power is supplied to the operation module 70. At this time, the embedded controller 62 checks the battery voltage level as described above. If the capacity of the battery 61 is not sufficient, the embedded controller 62 starts the battery charging by driving the charger 64 on. do.

As described above, the present invention described in the above embodiments may be performed when comparing the power consumption of the system module with the capacity of the fuel cell, selectively supplying battery power or performing battery charging, and when the power consumption exceeds the fuel cell capacity. It can be seen that the function of the system module is limited.

As described above, according to the fuel cell and storage battery selection control method of the present invention and the system, by comparing the power consumption of the system module and the capacity of the fuel cell to selectively receive insufficient power from the battery mounted in the system module Therefore, according to the stable power supply of the fuel cell and the battery there is an effect that can improve the system stability.

In addition, since the power consumption of the system module does not exceed the capacity of the fuel cell when the battery is not installed or the battery capacity is insufficient, the system power may be prevented from being turned off due to lack of power. .

Furthermore, since the battery is charged only when the capacity of the fuel cell is compared with the capacity of the fuel cell of the system module, efficient battery charging can be expected.

Claims (11)

Driving the system module according to the fuel cell supply; Sensing the power consumption of the system module and comparing it with the fuel cell capacity, and And receiving power from the storage battery when the power consumption exceeds the fuel cell capacity according to the comparison result. And if it is difficult to drive the system module due to the non-battery power or the battery power supply, the system function is limited so that the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity. delete The method of claim 1, And when the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity, selectively charging the battery according to the capacity of the storage battery. The method of claim 1, And continuously supplying power when the power consumption is within the fuel cell capacity. A fuel cell module with a built-in fuel cell, A system module for comparing the power consumption of the system module with the capacity of the fuel cell, and selectively receiving power from the fuel cell or a storage battery mounted therein according to the comparison result; Sensing means for sensing the fuel cell capacity and the power consumption of the system module, The system module may limit system functions such that the power consumption does not exceed the capacity of the fuel cell when the battery is not installed or when the system module is difficult to drive due to battery power. Optional control system. 6. The method of claim 5, The fuel cell module, The fuel cell, A converter for outputting power of the fuel cell, and And a microprocessor for variably adjusting the output power of the converter. 6. The method of claim 5, The system module, An embedded controller for selectively controlling the storage battery power supply by comparing the power consumption with the fuel cell capacity; A charging unit for selectively charging the storage battery by the embedded controller when the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity, and And a BIOS for limiting the function of the system module so that the power consumption does not exceed the fuel cell capacity. 8. The method of claim 7, The system module, A second switching element forming a supply path of the AC power source, and And an AC / DC converter for converting AC power supplied through the second switching element into DC power. 6. The method of claim 5, And the sensing means is a sensing resistor. 8. The method of claim 7, The embedded controller and the storage battery is connected to the SM bus (System Management Bus) characterized in that the fuel cell and the battery selection control system. The method according to claim 6 or 7, The embedded controller and the microprocessor is connected to the I2C (Inter Integrated Circuit) or SM Bus (System Management Bus) characterized in that the fuel cell and the storage system selection control system.

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