Method for detection and diagnosis of isolation faults in fuel cell hybrid vehicles

US7862944B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Hartmut Hinz · Kronberg, DE
• Steffen Doenitz · Darmstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 13, 2005
• Grant date: Jan 4, 2011
• Expiry date: Oct 28, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An isolation fault detection system for detecting isolation faults in a fuel cell system associated with a fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The isolation fault detection system measures a stack voltage potential, a positive fuel cell voltage potential, a negative fuel cell voltage potential, a positive battery voltage potential, and an overall battery voltage potential. The isolation fault detection system then uses these voltage potentials in mesh equations to compare the measured voltage potentials to voltage potentials that would occur during a loss of isolation. In one embodiment, the isolation fault detection system uses these five measured voltage potentials to determine whether an isolation fault has occurred at four separate locations in the fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The system also can detect the location of the isolation fault.