Method for distinguishing the cause of voltage losses in a fuel cell device, fuel cell device and motor vehicle having such a device

US11888194B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AUDI AG · DE

Inventors

• Oscar Montoya · Ludwigsburg, DE
• Kai Müller · Ainring, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 2021
• Grant date: Jan 30, 2024
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for distinguishing the cause of voltage losses in a fuel cell device includes: a) Detection of a quasi-stationary operation of the fuel cell device, b) Acquisition and storage of a measured current-voltage characteristic curve with the current values and the voltage values of a fuel cells stack of the fuel cell device, c) Use of a PtOx model to determine PtOx voltage losses and calculation of a corrected current-voltage characteristic curve for the PtOx-free and normally humidified fuel cell stack, and d) Comparison of the current-voltage characteristic curves determined in step b) and in step c) and detection of an at least partially dried-out fuel cell stack if the measured current-voltage characteristic curve runs below the corrected current-voltage characteristic curve. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle comprising a fuel cell device are also provided.