Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving Potential

Thermal management strategies implemented on-board fuel cell electrified vehicles (FCEVs) are currently based on heuristic reactive approaches. In this framework, developing predictive thermal management approaches that anticipate the travel needs of FCEV users could lead to improved hydrogen saving...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pier Giuseppe Anselma, Sara Luciani, Andrea Tonoli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2023-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10114925/
_version_ 1797822172723412992
author Pier Giuseppe Anselma
Sara Luciani
Andrea Tonoli
author_facet Pier Giuseppe Anselma
Sara Luciani
Andrea Tonoli
author_sort Pier Giuseppe Anselma
collection DOAJ
description Thermal management strategies implemented on-board fuel cell electrified vehicles (FCEVs) are currently based on heuristic reactive approaches. In this framework, developing predictive thermal management approaches that anticipate the travel needs of FCEV users could lead to improved hydrogen savings. However, the theoretical hydrogen saving achievable by predictive thermal management needs assessment first to quantify the technical and economical viability of the technology proposal. This paper lays the foundations in this domain by analyzing the a priori optimal thermal management of a fuel cell system in an FCEV. Initially, an electrochemical and thermal modeling technique for the fuel cell system is described. A reactive rule-based approach is then selected as the baseline controller for the coolant rate and the instantaneous radiator fan state of the FCEV. Then, the optimal control problem formulation for the thermal management of fuel cell systems in FCEVs is discussed and solved using a dynamic programming (DP) based optimization approach that makes use of a priori information about the entire driving mission. The fuel cell system is evaluated while the FCEV performs one to ten repetitions of the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Cycle (WLTC) at different ambient temperatures ranging from −20 °C to 40 °C. When compared to the baseline reactive control technique, the offline optimal benchmark can save up to 10.2% hydrogen. Results presented in this paper demonstrate the potential of hydrogen saving achievable by improving the thermal management of automotive fuel cell systems. Moreover, they may be used to develop and benchmark real-time capable predictive thermal management strategies for fuel cell systems in FCEVs.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T10:04:01Z
format Article
id doaj.art-17f3aa84c6f54fb5a431e0ec1c77a5ad
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2169-3536
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T10:04:01Z
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher IEEE
record_format Article
series IEEE Access
spelling doaj.art-17f3aa84c6f54fb5a431e0ec1c77a5ad2023-05-22T23:00:24ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362023-01-0111480804809810.1109/ACCESS.2023.327283010114925Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving PotentialPier Giuseppe Anselma0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8646-4310Sara Luciani1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5900-1409Andrea Tonoli2Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, ItalyThermal management strategies implemented on-board fuel cell electrified vehicles (FCEVs) are currently based on heuristic reactive approaches. In this framework, developing predictive thermal management approaches that anticipate the travel needs of FCEV users could lead to improved hydrogen savings. However, the theoretical hydrogen saving achievable by predictive thermal management needs assessment first to quantify the technical and economical viability of the technology proposal. This paper lays the foundations in this domain by analyzing the a priori optimal thermal management of a fuel cell system in an FCEV. Initially, an electrochemical and thermal modeling technique for the fuel cell system is described. A reactive rule-based approach is then selected as the baseline controller for the coolant rate and the instantaneous radiator fan state of the FCEV. Then, the optimal control problem formulation for the thermal management of fuel cell systems in FCEVs is discussed and solved using a dynamic programming (DP) based optimization approach that makes use of a priori information about the entire driving mission. The fuel cell system is evaluated while the FCEV performs one to ten repetitions of the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Cycle (WLTC) at different ambient temperatures ranging from −20 °C to 40 °C. When compared to the baseline reactive control technique, the offline optimal benchmark can save up to 10.2% hydrogen. Results presented in this paper demonstrate the potential of hydrogen saving achievable by improving the thermal management of automotive fuel cell systems. Moreover, they may be used to develop and benchmark real-time capable predictive thermal management strategies for fuel cell systems in FCEVs.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10114925/Dynamic programmingelectrified vehiclefuel cell systemhydrogen economyoptimal controlthermal management
spellingShingle Pier Giuseppe Anselma
Sara Luciani
Andrea Tonoli
Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving Potential
IEEE Access
Dynamic programming
electrified vehicle
fuel cell system
hydrogen economy
optimal control
thermal management
title Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving Potential
title_full Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving Potential
title_fullStr Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving Potential
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving Potential
title_short Dynamic Programming for Thermal Management of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems: Investigating Hydrogen Saving Potential
title_sort dynamic programming for thermal management of automotive fuel cell systems investigating hydrogen saving potential
topic Dynamic programming
electrified vehicle
fuel cell system
hydrogen economy
optimal control
thermal management
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10114925/
work_keys_str_mv AT piergiuseppeanselma dynamicprogrammingforthermalmanagementofautomotivefuelcellsystemsinvestigatinghydrogensavingpotential
AT saraluciani dynamicprogrammingforthermalmanagementofautomotivefuelcellsystemsinvestigatinghydrogensavingpotential
AT andreatonoli dynamicprogrammingforthermalmanagementofautomotivefuelcellsystemsinvestigatinghydrogensavingpotential