Non-invasive measurement method for controlling the functioning of a membrane fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018301723-A1
Application number	US-201816013561-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Jan 28, 2015
Publication date	Oct 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell comprising at least one membrane, comprising the following steps:
putting at least two conductive means in contact with two different surface elements of the same first conductive plate, said plate being able to be a distribution plate belonging to a first cell, measurement of one or more electrical voltages between said conductive means electrically connected to an electrical-voltage measurement device.

First claim

1 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell, comprising at least one subcell, comprising a membrane, two electrodes, two distribution plates with on at least one of their faces a channel for distributing the fuel gases and/or a channel for recovering the products of the electrochemical reactions performed in the cell, and at least one first conductive plate that may optionally be one of said distribution plates; at least two first conductive means being in contact with two different surface elements of the same first conductive plate.

2 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell according to claim 1 , in which said conductive means are electrically connected to a voltage measurement device for measuring one or more voltages between said conductive means.

3 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell according to claim 2 , in which the electrical voltages measured are communicated by means forming an electronic interface.

4 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell according to claim 1 , in which at least two second conductive means are in contact with two different surface elements of the same conductive plate belonging to the cell.

5 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell according to claim 4 , in which said second conductive means are electrically connected to a voltage measurement device for measuring one or more voltages between said second conductive means.

6 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell according to claim 1 , in which said first conductive means and/or said second conductive means are placed as close as possible to the distribution and/or recovery channel or channels.

7 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell according to claim 1 , further comprising means for measuring voltage as direct current and/or as current modulated at various frequencies.

8 . Device for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell according to claim 1 , further comprising means for modifying at least one operating parameter of said cell, in order to increase the power of said cell, according to one or more voltages measured.

Assignees

• Commissariat Energie Atomique

Inventors

• Bigarre Janick
• Galiano Herve
• Buvat Pierrick
• Martemianov Serguei

Classifications

• H01M8/04932

  of the individual fuel cell · CPC title

• H01M8/04582

  of the individual fuel cell · CPC title

• H01M8/04089

  of gaseous reactants · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/04589

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title