초록 ▼

A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system in accordance with the invention predicts a possibility of collision of a vehicle. If determining that the possibility of collision is high (YES at S12), the control apparatus stops the fuel cell power generation system. By

A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system in accordance with the invention predicts a possibility of collision of a vehicle. If determining that the possibility of collision is high (YES at S12), the control apparatus stops the fuel cell power generation system. By stopping the power generation before a collision occurs, the safety of the fuel cell power generation system can be improved. If after the system stops, a collision does not occur (NO at S16), the system is restarted. If a collision occurs (YES at S16), high-voltage relays are switched off to stop the supply of electric power from an electricity storage to various loads of the vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, comprising: prediction means for predicting a possibility of collision of a vehicle; stop means for stopping the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system; electricity storage means for

The invention claimed is: 1. A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, comprising: prediction means for predicting a possibility of collision of a vehicle; stop means for stopping the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system; electricity storage means for storing an electric power generated by a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system; a load that consumes an electric power, wherein the load is a motor for driving the vehicle; disconnection means for electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage means from each other; and detection means for detecting a collision of the vehicle, wherein the stop means stops the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system if the prediction means determines that the possibility of collision is high, wherein an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell is forcibly reduced prior to a collision, and wherein if the detection means detects a collision of the vehicle, the disconnection means electrically disconnects the load and the electricity storage means from each other. 2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the prediction means determines that the possibility of collision is high, the stop means discontinues supply of a gas to a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the prediction means determines that the possibility of collision is high, the stop means purges the gas supplying passage of a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the prediction means determines that the possibility of collision is high, the stop means electrically disconnects a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system from another electrical system. 5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising start means for staffing the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, wherein if the prediction means determines that the possibility of collision is high and then, within a predetermined time that follows, the detection means does not detect a collision of the vehicle, the staff means restarts the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 6. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising start means for starting the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, wherein if the prediction means determines that the possibility of collision is high and then a vehicle speed reaches zero without the detection means detecting the collision of the vehicle, the staff means restarts the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 7. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prediction means predicts the possibility of collision using an acceleration sensor. 8. The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the acceleration sensor is also used for a purpose other than prediction of the possibility of collision. 9. The control apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising control means for executing an antilock brake system control as the purpose other than prediction of the possibility of collision. 10. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prediction means predicts the possibility of collision using a distance measuring sensor. 11. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prediction means determines a magnitude of the possibility of collision, and wherein the stop means stops the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system if the magnitude of the possibility of collision determined by the prediction means is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. 12. The control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the prediction means determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a vehicle speed of the vehicle. 13. The control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the prediction means determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a distance to an obstacle. 14. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the prediction means determines the distance to the obstacle using a distance measuring sensor. 15. The control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the prediction means determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a relative speed of the vehicle with respect to an obstacle. 16. The control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the prediction means determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a distance to an obstacle. 17. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system includes a hydrogen source that supplies hydrogen to a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 18. The control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the hydrogen source includes a reformer that generates hydrogen. 19. A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, comprising: determination means for determining whether a vehicle will collide with an external object; stop means for stopping the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system; electricity storage means for storing an electric power generated by a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system; a load that consumes an electric power, wherein the load is a motor for driving the vehicle; disconnection means for electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage means from each other; and detection means for detecting a collision of the vehicle, wherein the stop means stops the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system if the determination means determines that the vehicle will collide with the external object, wherein an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell is forcibly reduced prior to a collision, and wherein if the detection means detects a collision of the vehicle, the disconnection means electrically disconnects the load and the electricity storage means from each other. 20. The control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the determination means determines whether the vehicle will collide with an obstacle present forward of the vehicle in a traveling direction of the vehicle which is the external object. 21. The control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the determination means determines whether the vehicle will collide with the external object using a distance measuring sensor. 22. A control method for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, comprising the steps of: storing an electric power generated by a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system in an electricity storage means; providing an electric power to a load, wherein the load is a motor for driving the vehicle; determining whether a possibility of collision of a vehicle is high; stopping the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system if it is determined that the possibility of collision of the vehicle is high; forcibly reducing an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell prior to a collision; detecting a collision of the vehicle; and if a collision of the vehicle being detected, electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage means from each other. 23. The control method according to claim 22, wherein if it is determined that the possibility of collision of the vehicle is high, supply of hydrogen from a hydrogen source to a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system is stopped, and hydrogen is released from a hydrogen supplying passage of the fuel cell to outside. 24. A control method for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, comprising the steps of: storing an electric power generated by a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system in an electricity storage means; providing an electric power to a load, wherein the load is a motor for driving a vehicle; determining whether the vehicle will collide with an external object; stopping the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system if it is determined that the vehicle will collide with the external object; forcibly reducing an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell prior to a collision; detecting a collision of the vehicle; and if a collision of the vehicle being detected, electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage means from each other. 25. A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, comprising: an electricity storage device for storing an electric power generated by a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system; a load that consumes an electric power, wherein the load is a motor for driving the vehicle; electronic control logic including: first control logic that predicts a possibility of collision of the vehicle; second control logic that stops the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system if the first control logic determines that the possibility of collision is high; and third control logic for electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage device from each other; and a sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle, wherein if the sensor detects a collision of the vehicle, the third control logic electrically disconnects the load and the electricity storage device from each other, wherein an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell is forcibly reduced prior to a collision. 26. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein if the first control logic determines that the possibility of collision is high, the second control logic discontinues supply of a gas to a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 27. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein if the first control logic determines that the possibility of collision is high, the second control logic purges the gas supplying passage of a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 28. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein if the first control logic determines that the possibility of collision is high, the second control logic electrically disconnects a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system from another electrical system. 29. The control apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising fourth control logic for starting the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, wherein if the first control logic determines that the possibility of collision is high and then, within a predetermined time that follows, the sensor does not detect a collision of the vehicle, the fourth control logic restarts the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 30. The control apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising fourth control logic for starting the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, wherein if the first control logic determines that the possibility of collision is high and then a vehicle speed reaches zero without the sensor detecting the collision of the vehicle, the fourth control logic restarts the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 31. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first control logic predicts the possibility of collision using an acceleration sensor. 32. The control apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the acceleration sensor is also used for a purpose other than prediction of the possibility of collision. 33. The control apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising fifth control logic for executing an antilock brake system control as the purpose other than prediction of the possibility of collision. 34. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first control logic predicts the possibility of collision using a distance measuring sensor. 35. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first control logic determines a magnitude of the possibility of collision, and wherein the second control logic stops the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system if the magnitude of the possibility of collision determined by the first control logic is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. 36. The control apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first control logic determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a vehicle speed of the vehicle. 37. The control apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first control logic determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a distance to an obstacle. 38. The control apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the first control logic determines the distance to the obstacle using a distance measuring sensor. 39. The control apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first control logic determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a relative speed of the vehicle with respect to an obstacle. 40. The control apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first logic determines the magnitude of the possibility of collision based on a distance to an obstacle. 41. A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system, comprising: an electricity storage device for storing an electric power generated by a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system; a load that consumes an electric power, wherein the load is a motor for driving a vehicle; electronic control logic including: first control logic that determines whether the vehicle will collide with an external object; second control logic that stops the vehicle mounted fuel cell power generation system if the first control logic determines that the vehicle will collide with the external object; and third control logic for electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage device from each other; and a sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle, wherein if the sensor detects a collision of the vehicle, the third control logic electrically disconnects the load and the electricity storage device from each other, wherein an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell is forcibly reduced prior to a collision. 42. The control apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the first control logic determines whether the vehicle will collide with an obstacle present forward of the vehicle in a traveling direction of the vehicle which is the external object. 43. The control apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the first control logic determines whether the vehicle will collide with the external object using a distance measuring sensor. 44. The control apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system includes a hydrogen source that supplies hydrogen to a fuel cell of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell power generation system. 45. The control apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the hydrogen source includes a reformer that generates hydrogen. 46. A control apparatus for a vehicle including a fuel cell, comprising: an electricity storage device for storing an electric power generated by the fuel cell; a load that consumes an electric power, wherein the load is a motor for driving the vehicle; electronic control logic including: first control logic that predicts a possibility of collision of the vehicle; second control logic that outputs the predicted possibility to a control apparatus for the fuel cell; and third control logic for electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage device from each other; and a sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle, wherein if the sensor detects a collision of the vehicle, the third control logic electrically disconnects the load and the electricity storage device from each other, wherein an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell is forcibly reduced prior to a collision. 47. A control apparatus for a vehicle including a fuel cell, comprising: an electricity storage device for storing an electric power generated by the fuel cell; a load that consumes an electric power, wherein the load is a motor for driving the vehicle; electronic control logic including: first control logic that determines whether the vehicle will collide with an external object; second control logic that outputs information regarding a collision to a control apparatus for the fuel cell if the first control logic determines that the vehicle will collide with the external object; and third control logic for electrically disconnecting the load and the electricity storage device from each other; and a sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle, wherein if the sensor detects a collision of the vehicle, the third control logic electrically disconnects the load and the electricity storage device from each other, wherein an amount of fuel gas in at least one of the fuel cell and a gas supplying passage via which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell is forcibly reduced prior to a collision.