Fuel cell diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic method

• US 7,791,349 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Chisato
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US11/819,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 324/425, 324/228, 324/260, 324/426, 324/432, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 429/90, 429/10, 429/12
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0276 Sealing means characterised by their form H01M8/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04529 of the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04582 of the individual fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04641 of the individual fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04649 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04671 of the individual fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04679 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2457 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2465 Details of groupings of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/247 Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell diagnostic apparatus that diagnoses a fuel cell in which a plurality of power generating cells are stacked together includes a voltage applying device that applies voltage from outside of the fuel cell; a magnetic field measuring device that measures a magnetic field in or around the fuel cell when external voltage is being applied; and a diagnostic device that diagnoses the state of the fuel cell from the measurement results of the magnetic field. By diagnosing an in-plane distribution of current in the power generating cells by measuring the magnetic field, the distribution of water in an electrolyte membrane after power is generated can be diagnosed based on the diagnostic results of that in-plane distribution of the current.

Claims

1. A fuel cell diagnostic apparatus that diagnoses a fuel cell in which a plurality of power generating cells are stacked together, comprising:

a voltage applying device that applies an external voltage to the fuel cell;

a magnetic field measuring device that measures a magnetic field in or around the fuel cell when the external voltage is being applied; and

a diagnostic device that detects the presence of an abnormal cell from the measurement results of the magnetic field.

2. The fuel cell diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applying device generates a magnetic field in or around the fuel cell by applying external voltage from a cell monitor that measures the power generating status of the fuel cell by measuring the cell voltage of the power generating cells.

3. The fuel cell diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic device diagnoses an in-plane distribution of current in the power generating cells.

4. The fuel cell diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the diagnostic device diagnoses a distribution of water in an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell based on the diagnostic results of the in-plane distribution of current in the power generating cells.

5. The fuel cell diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applying device applies external voltage to the fuel cell while separators of the plurality of power generating cells are shorted.

6. The fuel cell diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the state of the fuel cell is diagnosed when power is not being generated in the fuel cell.

7. A fuel cell diagnostic method for a fuel cell in which a plurality of power generating cells are stacked together, comprising:

applying an external voltage to the fuel cell;

measuring a magnetic field in or around the fuel cell when the external voltage is being applied; and

detecting the presence of an abnormal cell from the measurement results of the magnetic field.

8. The diagnostic method for a fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein external voltage is applied to the fuel cell from a cell monitor that measures the power generating status of the fuel cell by measuring the cell voltage of the power generating cells.

9. The diagnostic method for a fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein an in-plane distribution of current in the power generating cells is diagnosed.

10. The diagnostic method for a fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein a distribution of water in an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell is diagnosed based on the diagnostic results of the in-plane distribution of current in the power generating cells.

11. The diagnostic method for a fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein the applying an external voltage occurs while separators of the plurality of power generating cells are shorted.

12. The diagnostic method for a fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein the state of the fuel cell is diagnosed when power is not being generated in the fuel cell.

13. A fuel cell diagnostic apparatus that diagnoses a fuel cell in which a plurality of power generating cells are stacked together, comprising:

voltage applying means for applying an external voltage to the fuel cell;

magnetic field measuring means for measuring a magnetic field in or around the fuel cell when the external voltage is being applied; and

diagnosing means for detecting the presence of an abnormal cell from the measurement results of the magnetic field.