Fuel cell block and method for adjusting the removal of inert gas from the fuel cell block

US5397655A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Willi Bette · Erlangen, DE
• Josef Lersch · Heroldsbach, DE
• Arno Mattejat · Bubenreuth, DE
• Karl Strasser · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 5, 1993
• Grant date: Mar 14, 1995
• Expiry date: Nov 5, 2013

Classification

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

Abstract

In a method for adjusting the removal of inert gas from a fuel cell block having a number of fuel cells, a progressive rise in a proportion of inert gas results in a cathode-side or anode-side gas mixture flowing through the fuel cells. An inert-gas-rich gas mixture is drained out as a function of a voltage drop, and the voltage drop is measured between at least two immediately adjacent fuel cells. A fuel cell block includes a number of adjacent fuel cells having electrodes and gas chambers. At least one bipolar plate contacts the electrodes of adjacent fuel cells over a large area. Two spaced-apart contacts are disposed between at least two of the adjacent fuel cells on the at least one bipolar plate. A control element for a gas mixture leaving one of the gas chambers and having a high proportion of inert gas, is adjusted by a voltage drop picked up at the contacts.