Operating method for a fuel cell system

US9698436B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Stefan HAASE · Munich, DE
• Marcel STERZENBACH · Landshut, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 7, 2016
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2017
• Expiry date: Mar 7, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An operating method is provided for a fuel cell system with a radiator structure which is flowed through by ambient air and a fuel cell stack, at least part of the outgoing air flow of the fuel cell stack can be guided onto the radiator structure such that, at the radiator structure, the guided outgoing air flow causes an increase in mass flow of the ambient air through the radiator structure according to the jet pump principle. At least part of the outgoing air flow of the fuel cell stack can be guided through a gas expansion machine. The division of energy which is contained in the outgoing air flow and can be recovered in the gas expansion machine and/or at the radiator structure according to the jet pump principle is changed by an electronic control unit in a manner which is adapted to boundary conditions. This division is set and changed, in particular, using the temperature of the medium to be cooled in the radiator structure and the required electrical power of the fuel cell stack, by the pressure drop in the gas expansion machine being set by targeted setting of the flow conditions prevailing therein and/or the magnitude of the outgoing air flow which is guided through the …