Detection of small anode leaks in fuel cell systems
First Claim
1. A method for determining if there is a leak in an anode side of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system, said method comprising:
- determining that the fuel cell system is in a shut-down condition;
depleting a cathode side of the fuel cell stack of oxygen;
increasing the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined pressure set-point after the cathode side is depleted of oxygen;
sealing the anode side of the fuel cell stack when it has reached the pressure set-point;
monitoring a decay of the pressure in the anode side of the fuel cell stack; and
comparing the pressure decay to a predetermined pressure decay to determine whether the pressure decay indicates that there is a leak in the anode side of the fuel cell stack.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting small hydrogen leaks in an anode of a fuel cell system. The method includes determining that a shut-down sequence has begun, and if so, deplete the cathode side of a fuel cell stack of oxygen. The method then increases the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined set-point, and monitors the pressure decay of the anode side of the stack. The method compares the rate of pressure decay to an expected pressure decay rate, and if the measured pressure decay rate exceeds the expected pressure decay rate by a certain threshold, determines that a potential leak exists.
4 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for determining if there is a leak in an anode side of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system, said method comprising:
-
determining that the fuel cell system is in a shut-down condition; depleting a cathode side of the fuel cell stack of oxygen; increasing the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined pressure set-point after the cathode side is depleted of oxygen; sealing the anode side of the fuel cell stack when it has reached the pressure set-point; monitoring a decay of the pressure in the anode side of the fuel cell stack; and comparing the pressure decay to a predetermined pressure decay to determine whether the pressure decay indicates that there is a leak in the anode side of the fuel cell stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for determining if there is a leak in an anode side of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system, said method comprising:
-
determining that the fuel cell system is in a shut-down condition; depleting a cathode side of the fuel cell stack of oxygen by coupling the stack an auxiliary load without providing cathode air to the stack; increasing the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell stack relative to the cathode side to a predetermined pressure set-point after the cathode side is depleted of oxygen; monitoring a decay of the pressure in the anode side of the fuel cell stack after the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell stack has been increased to the pressure set-point; and determining that an anode leak is present if the anode pressure reaches a predetermined pressure threshold within a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system for determining if there is a leak in an anode side of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system, said system comprising:
-
means for determining that the fuel cell system is in a shut-down condition; means for depleting a cathode side of the fuel cell stack of oxygen; means for increasing the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined pressure set-point after the cathode side is depleted of oxygen; means for sealing the anode side of the fuel cell stack when it has reached the pressure set-point; means for monitoring a decay of the pressure in the anode side of the fuel cell stack; and means for comparing pressure decay to an expected pressure decay to determine whether the pressure decay indicates that there is a leak in the anode side of the fuel cell stack. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification