Method for operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell
First Claim
1. A method for operating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit cells, each of said unit cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes sandwiching said polymer electrolyte membrane, and electroconductive separators, which generates electricity with the supply of a fuel gas to one of said electrodes and an oxidant gas to the other of said electrodes, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining an electric output of said single unit cell or a group of said unit cells after the stoppage of the supply of either said fuel gas or said oxidant gas and the introduction of another gas to at least one of said pair of electrodes; and
comparing said electric output to a predetermined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for easily, quickly and accurately detecting a cross leak or a micro short-circuit in a unit cell or group of cells of a fuel cell stack is provided by determining an electric output of the unit cell or group of cells after stoppage of fuel and/or oxidant and preferably during the introduction of a non-fuel and non-oxidant gas to the cell.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for operating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit cells, each of said unit cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes sandwiching said polymer electrolyte membrane, and electroconductive separators, which generates electricity with the supply of a fuel gas to one of said electrodes and an oxidant gas to the other of said electrodes, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining an electric output of said single unit cell or a group of said unit cells after the stoppage of the supply of either said fuel gas or said oxidant gas and the introduction of another gas to at least one of said pair of electrodes; and
comparing said electric output to a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit cells, each of said unit cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of electrodes sandwiching said polymer electrolyte membrane, and electroconductive separators on either of said electrodes, which generates electricity with the supply of a fuel gas to one of said electrodes and an oxidant gas to the other of said electrodes,
wherein said fuel cell further comprises a control unit for determining said single unit cell or a group of said unit cells as defective when an electric output thereof is not greater than a predetermined value after the stoppage of the supply of either said fuel gas or said oxidant gas and the introduction of another gas to at least one of said pair of electrodes.
Specification