Fuel cell system and gas leak detection method
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
When a command for stopping electric generation by a fuel cell is issued, shutoff valves are closed (at time t1), and then a time-dependent change in pressure (P) in a closed passage area including the fuel cell is detected. A pressure change speed (dP1, i.e., an inclination of L1) when the pressure (P) is in a first pressure range (Ra) in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure and a pressure change speed (dP2, i.e., an inclination of L2) when the pressure (P) is in a second pressure range (Rb) that is on a high pressure side of the first pressure range (Ra) are detected, and both the pressure change speeds (dP1, dP2) are compared with each other. When a difference between both the pressure change speeds (dP1, dP2) is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (Pc), it is determined that there is a hole in an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell.
23 Citations
40 Claims
-
1-20. -20. (canceled)
-
21. A fuel cell system which includes a fuel cell;
- a supply passage that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell;
a discharge passage that discharges the hydrogen gas from the fuel cell;
at least one valve element which is located in a predetermined portion in at least one of the supply passage and the discharge passage, and which closes off a hydrogen passage in the fuel cell; and
control means for performing control that closes the at least one valve element, comprising;
pressure detection means for detecting pressure in the hydrogen passage; and
leak determination means for performing analysis of a change in the pressure detected by the pressure detection means when the at least one valve element is closed by the control means, and determining whether there is leak of the hydrogen gas based on a result of the analysis.
- a supply passage that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell;
-
22. A gas leak detection method for detecting hydrogen gas leak in a fuel cell system which includes a fuel cell;
- a supply passage that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell;
a discharge passage that discharges the hydrogen gas from the fuel cell; and
at least one valve element which is located in a predetermined portion in at least one of the supply passage and the discharge passage, and which closes off a hydrogen passage in the fuel cell, comprising the steps of;
(a) closing the at least one valve element;
(b) detecting pressure in the hydrogen passage in the fuel cell; and
(c) performing analysis of a change in the pressure detected in the step (b) when the at least one valve element is closed in the step (a), and determining whether there is leak of the hydrogen gas based on a result of the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
- a supply passage that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell;
-
26. A fuel cell system comprising:
-
a fuel cell;
a supply passage that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell;
a discharge passage that discharges the hydrogen gas from the fuel cell;
at least one valve element which is located in a predetermined portion in at least one of the supply passage and the discharge passage, and which closes off a hydrogen passage in the fuel cell;
a controller that performs control of closing the at least one valve element;
a pressure detector that detects pressure in the hydrogen passage; and
a leak determination device that performs analysis of a change in the pressure detected by the pressure detector when the at least one valve element is closed by the controller, and determines whether there is leak of hydrogen based on a result of the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification