Fuel cell output characteristic estimation apparatus and output characteristic estimation method, fuel cell system and vehicle having the same, and fuel cell output control method and data storage medium

Abstract

An output characteristic of a fuel cell is estimated by detecting an output current of the fuel cell and a voltage between terminals of the fuel cell, and then estimating the output characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected output current and the detected voltage between the terminals, and a basic output characteristic of the fuel cell.

1 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus for estimating an output characteristic of a fuel cell whose output characteristic has undergone a change over time, comprising:
 a current-voltage detector that detects an output current of the fuel cell and a voltage between terminals of the fuel cell; and   a controller that estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell after the output characteristic has undergone a change due to ageing degradation of the fuel cell over time on the basis of the detected output current and the detected voltage between the terminals, detected by the current-voltage detector, and a predetermined basic output characteristic of the fuel cell;   a basic output characteristic correction device that corrects the basic output characteristic of the fuel cell based on the detected output current and the detected output voltage of the fuel cell;   a power supply that supplies electric power to, and receives the electric power from, the fuel cell; and   a converter connected to terminals of the power supply and transforms the voltage between the terminals of the power supply so as to be applied to the terminals of the fuel cell.   
   
   
       2 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller derives the basic output characteristic from at least one of a fuel supply pressure applied to the fuel cell and a temperature of the fuel cell. 
   
   
       3 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller derives the basic output characteristic from an output characteristic of the fuel cell corresponding to at least one of the fuel supply pressure applied to the fuel cell and the temperature of the fuel cell, and an internal resistance of the fuel cell corresponding to the temperature of the fuel cell. 
   
   
       4 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller estimates an internal resistance of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected output current, the detected voltage between the terminals, and the basic output characteristic, and estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of the estimated internal resistance of the fuel cell. 
   
   
       5 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller estimates an internal resistance of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected output current, the detected voltage between the terminals, and the basic output characteristic, and estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of the estimated internal resistance of the fuel cell. 
   
   
       6 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller estimates the internal resistance of the fuel cell on the basis of the detected output current, the detected voltage between the terminals, and the basic output characteristic, and estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of the estimated internal resistance of the fuel cell. 
   
   
       7 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of the output characteristic corresponding to at least one of the fuel supply pressure applied to the fuel cell and the temperature of the fuel cell, and the estimated internal resistance. 
   
   
       8 . A fuel cell system having a fuel cell whose output characteristic has undergone a change over time, the fuel cell system comprising:
 a fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus for estimating an output characteristic of the fuel cell after the output characteristic has undergone a change due to ageing degradation of the fuel cell over time, including a current-voltage detector that detects an output current of the fuel cell and a voltage between terminals of the fuel cell, and a controller that:
 estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell after the output characteristic has undergone a change due to ageing degradation of the fuel cell over time on the basis of the detected output current and the detected voltage between the terminals, detected by the current-voltage detector, and a predetermined basic output characteristic of the fuel cell; 
 sets a target output of the fuel cell using the output characteristic of the fuel cell estimated by the controller; and 
 adjusts an output of the fuel cell such that the set target output is generated by the fuel cell; 
   a basic output characteristic correction device that corrects the basic output characteristic of the fuel cell based on the detected output current and the detected output voltage of the fuel cell;   a power supply that supplies electric power to, and receives the electric power from, the fuel cell system;   wherein the controller sets the target output of the fuel cell on the basis of an output required to be generated by the fuel cell system, and when the set target output of the fuel cell is in excess of, or short of, the required output of the fuel cell system, the controller changes supply of the electric power to or from the power supply; and   a converter connected to terminals of the power supply and transforms the voltage between the terminals of the power supply so as to be applied to the terminals of the fuel cell.   
   
   
       9 . A fuel cell system according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller changes the voltage between the terminals of the fuel cell into a voltage corresponding to the set target output. 
   
   
       10 . A fuel cell system according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller changes the voltage between the terminals of the fuel cell into a voltage corresponding to the set target output. 
   
   
       11 . A fuel cell system according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller changes the voltage between the terminals of the fuel cell into a voltage corresponding to the set target output. 
   
   
       12 . A fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus for estimating a fuel cell output characteristic that changes over time comprising:
 A current-voltage detector that detects an output current and an output voltage of the fuel cell; and   a controller that estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell based on the detected output current, the detected voltage, and a basic output characteristic of the fuel cell, which changes over time,   wherein the output characteristic of the fuel cell is estimated when it is determined that the basic output characteristic of the fuel cell has changed.   
   
   
       13 . The fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell based on an output voltage, which is derived from the basic output characteristic of the fuel cell, and corresponds to the detected output current, and the detected output voltage. 
   
   
       14 . The fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the controller estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell based on a difference between the output voltage and the detected output voltage. 
   
   
       15 . The fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller estimates the output characteristic of the fuel cell based on a basic output characteristic of the fuel cell, detected at a first time point; and the output current and the output voltage, both of which are detected at a second time point when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the first time point. 
   
   
       16 . The fuel cell output characteristic estimating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller estimates the outer characteristic of the fuel cell after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from when the output characteristic of the fuel cell is equal to the basic output characteristic.