초록 ▼

A control technique for use in a fuel processor is disclosed. In one aspect, a control system includes a subsystem manager controller the operation of a respective physical subsystem for each of a plurality of physical subsystems in the fuel processor. The subsystem managers take their direction fro

A control technique for use in a fuel processor is disclosed. In one aspect, a control system includes a subsystem manager controller the operation of a respective physical subsystem for each of a plurality of physical subsystems in the fuel processor. The subsystem managers take their direction from a master control manager. In a second aspect, the subsystem managers collectively form a layer operating in conjunction with a second layer capable of interfacing the subsystem managers to their respective physical subsystems, a third layer capable of interfacing the subsystem managers with the second layer. In a third aspect, master control manager manages the operation of each physical subsystem through a respective subsystem manager, directs state transitions of the subsystem managers, and routs interaction between the subsystem managers from the master control manager.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A control system for use a fuel processor, comprising: a plurality of subsystem managers, each subsystem manager controlling a respective one of a plurality of physical subsystems of a fuel processor;a hardware-dependent layer for controlling hardware-dependent aspects of more than one of the plu

1. A control system for use a fuel processor, comprising: a plurality of subsystem managers, each subsystem manager controlling a respective one of a plurality of physical subsystems of a fuel processor;a hardware-dependent layer for controlling hardware-dependent aspects of more than one of the plurality of physical subsystems; anda master control manager for controlling the fuel processor through the subsystem managers. 2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control system further comprises a diagnostic layer through which the subsystem managers report error conditions in their respective physical subsystem. 3. The control system of claim 1, wherein each subsystem manager comprises: an information exchange module through which the subsystem manager acquires determines the feasibility of requested events and identifies the actions for implementing requested events;a physical module with which the information exchange module identifies the actions for implementing requested events; anda control module with which the physical module determines which actions are to be taken to implement a requested event. 4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the control system further comprises a diagnostic layer through which the subsystem managers report error conditions in their respective physical subsystem. 5. The control system of claim 3, wherein each subsystem manager further comprises a diagnostics module that communicates with the control module and the physical module to monitor the physical subsystem for error conditions. 6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the master control manager controls the fuel processor by directing state transitions of the subsystem managers and routing interaction between the subsystem managers. 7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the subsystem managers transition among a plurality of states, including: an off state;at least one operational state into which the subsystem may transition from the off state; andat least one shutdown state into which the subsystem may transition from any of the operational states. 8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the at least one operational state includes at least one of: a manual state into which the subsystem may transition from the off state;a manager check state into which the subsystem may transition from the off state;a preheat state into which the subsystem may transition from the manager check state;a startup state into which the subsystem may transition from the preheat state; anda run state into which the subsystem may transition from the startup state. 9. The control system of claim 7, wherein the at least one shutdown states includes at least one of: a standard shutdown state; andan emergency shutdown state.