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EP-4268303-B1 - FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME

EP4268303B1EP 4268303 B1EP4268303 B1EP 4268303B1EP-4268303-B1

Inventors

  • WEXEL, DIRK
  • REUTER, DANIEL
  • HELLER, FLORIAN

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20211103

Claims (13)

  1. Method for operating a fuel cell system (100) comprising a housing (210) having two openings (212), and a fuel cell (310) arranged in the housing (210), comprising the following sub-steps: i. Providing air (500), and dividing the air (500) into a first partial air stream (510) and a second partial air stream (520); and ii. Guiding the second partial air stream (520) through a first opening (212) into the housing (210), guiding the second partial air stream (520) along the fuel cell (310), and discharging the second partial air stream (520) through the second opening (212) from the housing (210). Characterized in that a second fuel sensor (400) is provided, and the content of fuel (600) in the air (500) present outside the housing (210) in the vicinity of the second opening (212) is measured by means of the second fuel sensor (400).
  2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the following sub-steps iii and iv: iii. Providing fuel (600); and iv. Guiding the first partial air stream (510) and the fuel (600) into the fuel cell (310), converting chemical energy (110) released during the chemical reaction occurring in the fuel cell (310) between fuel (600) and oxygen (530) contained in the first partial air stream (510) into electrical energy (120).
  3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein sub-steps ii and iv are carried out simultaneously.
  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an air filter (220) is further provided and during sub-step ii the second partial air stream (520) discharged from the housing (210) is filtered by means of the air filter (220).
  5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a fuel sensor (400) is further provided and by means of the fuel sensor (400) the content of fuel (600) in the second partial air stream (520) present in the housing (210) is measured.
  6. Fuel cell system (200) comprising the following components: i. a housing (210) having two openings (212); ii. a fuel cell (310) arranged in the housing (210); and iii. a ventilation system (240) through which air (500) can be conducted, wherein air (500) can be introduced into the housing (210) through the first opening (212); and air (500) present in the housing (210) can be discharged from the housing (210) through the second opening (212), characterized in that the fuel cell system (200) further comprises a second fuel sensor (400) and the second fuel sensor (400) is arranged outside the housing (210) in the vicinity of the second opening (212).
  7. Fuel cell system (200) according to claim 6, wherein the fuel cell system (200) further comprises at least one fuel sensor (400) and the at least one fuel sensor (400) is arranged in the housing (210).
  8. Fuel cell system (200) according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the fuel cell system (200) further comprises an air filter (220) and the air filter (220) is arranged on the outside of the housing (210) covering the second opening (212).
  9. Fuel cell system (200) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the fuel cell system (200) further comprises an additional fuel cell (310) arranged in the housing (210) and the fuel cells (310) are arranged as a fuel cell stack (300).
  10. Control unit (230) for controlling a fuel cell system (200) according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the control unit (230) can be connected to the fuel cell system (200) in terms of signal technology such that the ventilation system (240) can be controlled by means of the control unit (230), and wherein the control unit (230) comprises program modules in which it is stored how air (500) can be introduced into the housing (210) and discharged from the housing (210) by means of the ventilation system (240).
  11. Computer program product with program code means stored on a computer-readable data carrier for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 5 when the computer program product is executed on a computer, in particular on a control unit (230) according to claim 10.
  12. Computer program with coded instructions for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1-5 when the computer program is executed on a computer, in particular on a computer in a control unit (230) according to claim 10.
  13. Signal sequence with computer-readable instructions for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1-5 when the signal sequence is processed by a computer, in particular by a control unit (230) according to claim 10.

Description

Technical field WO 2015/180746 A1 The invention discloses a fuel cell system with at least one fuel cell stack arranged in a housing, wherein the housing has at least one ventilation connection to the environment or another volume. The invention is characterized in that the ventilation connection includes a valve device. Also from the realm of technology are the printed materials. DE 10 2018 200681 A1 , DE 10 2017 204110 A1 , JP 2013 247051 A1 and US 2018 166731 A1 known. Description According to the present disclosure, a fuel cell system and a method for its operation are to be specified, which makes it possible to keep the fuel content near a potential ignition source below a critical threshold, so that unwanted ignition processes are prevented. One aspect of the disclosure relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system. Further aspects relate to a fuel cell system, a control unit for controlling a fuel cell system, and a computer program product, a computer program, and a signal sequence for carrying out the method for operating a fuel cell system. The dependent claims constitute advantageous embodiments of the disclosure. The dependent claims can be combined with one another in a technologically meaningful manner. The description, particularly in conjunction with the figures, further characterizes and specifies the disclosure. Accordingly, a method for operating a fuel cell system with a housing having two openings and a fuel cell arranged in the housing is provided, comprising the following steps: (i.) supplying air, as well as dividing the air into a first air stream and a second air stream; and (ii.) directing the second air stream into the housing through a first opening, directing the second air stream along the fuel cell, and discharged the second air stream from the housing through the second opening. Fuel can accumulate in the housing by The fuel enters the housing from the fuel cell through diffusion or permeation via the fuel cell's seals. This means that potentially flammable fuel escaping from the fuel cell can be removed from the vicinity of a potential ignition source, thereby increasing the operational safety of the fuel cell system. In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps: (iii.) providing fuel; and (iv.) directing the first partial air stream and the fuel into the fuel cell, converting chemical energy released during the chemical reaction of fuel and oxygen contained in the first partial air stream in the fuel cell into electrical energy. Accordingly, the fuel cell is also suitable for providing electrical energy, which opens up a wide range of possible uses, for example its use in a motor vehicle to provide immediately usable and easily storable drive energy. In one embodiment, sub-steps ii and iv are carried out simultaneously. Accordingly, the inventive method can also be carried out during electricity generation using the fuel cell. This increases the efficiency of the method. In one embodiment, an air filter is further provided, and during sub-step ii, the second partial airflow derived from the housing is filtered by means of the air filter. Furthermore, the airflow resulting from the derivation of the second airflow from the housing, and thus the entire airflow that is directed into, through, and out of the housing, can be throttled or adjusted by means of the air filter. This means that, among other things, environmentally critical elements can be prevented from entering the surrounding area or the environment. This can increase the safety of the process. In one embodiment, a fuel sensor is also provided and the fuel content in the second partial air flow present in the housing is measured using the fuel sensor. Accordingly, information is provided that can serve as a basis for specifically controlling sub-step ii. For example, it becomes possible to only introduce air into the The system introduces and extracts fuel from the housing when the fuel concentration exceeds a critical value. Furthermore, the air filter allows the airflow into, through, and out of the housing to be adjusted so that the fuel concentration within the housing remains consistently below a limit. This reduces operating costs. According to the invention, a second fuel sensor is provided, and this second fuel sensor measures the fuel concentration in the air outside the housing in the vicinity of the second opening. Accordingly, further information is provided that can be used as a basis for the safety of the fuel cell system. If the amount of fuel outside the housing exceeds a critical limit, increased air can be introduced into and extracted from the housing. Furthermore, if the increased air circulation does not reduce the amount of fuel outside the housing to the desired extent, the operation of the fuel cell can also be interrupted. This can increase the safety of the process. In one embodiment, fuel exiting the fuel cell during sub-step ii is enriched in the second a