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Gas leak detection method for fuel cell

  • US 6,815,107 B2
  • Filed: 07/26/2002
  • Issued: 11/09/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting a gas leak for a fuel cell having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, comprising the steps of:

  • maintaining a pressure of fuel gas which is supplied to an anode to be higher than a pressure of a gas which is supplied to a cathode by changing one of the pressure of the fuel gas supplied to the anode and the pressure of the gas supplied to the cathode in a pulsed manner;

    measuring an output voltage of the fuel cell in an activated over-potential region; and

    determining a gas leak exists when the output voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage value, wherein;

    the output voltage is measured in the activated over-potential region in a state in which pressure of the fuel gas which is supplied to the anode is maintained higher than pressure of the gas which is supplied to the cathode; and

    gas leak is determined to exist when the output voltage is lower than predetermined voltage value.

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