Method for electrically starting up a fuel cell
View Patent ↗A method is used to start up a fuel cell electrically in a fuel cell installation, especially a fuel cell for use in a motor vehicle, with a gas-generating system producing a hydrogen-containing gas flow. The gas flow from the gas-generating system and an oxygen-containing gas flow are brought together and combusted after the fuel cell. The fuel cell is started up electrically as a function of a temperature course existing in the region of combustion of the gas flows.
1. A method for providing an electric power absorber with electric power from a fuel cell in a fuel cell installation, comprising:
combining a hydrogen-containing gas flow from a gas-generating system and an oxygen-containing gas flow downstream of the fuel cell;
combusting the combined gas flows in a catalytic burner;
determining a temperature existing in the catalytic burner or in exhaust gases immediately after the catalytic burner; and
connecting the fuel cell into a circuit having the electric power absorber if the temperature determined exceeds a specified value.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature is measured by a temperature sensor.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising adding an additional fuel to the combined gas flows.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the connecting occurs as soon as an amount of additional fuel reaches a specified value with complete combustion and the temperature is a constant temperature.
5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising passing the oxygen-containing gas flow through a cathode space of the fuel cell, and passing the hydrogen-containing gas flow through an anode space of the fuel cell before combining the hydrogen-containing and oxygen-containing gas flows and prior to connecting the fuel cell into said circuit.
6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising passing the oxygen-containing gas flow through a cathode space of the fuel cell, passing a portion of the hydrogen containing gas flow through an anode space of the fuel cell, and passing a remaining portion of the hydrogen-containing gas flow through a bypass line past the fuel cell before combining the hydrogen-containing and oxygen-containing gas flows and prior to connecting the fuel cell into said circuit.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting occurs at ambient pressure.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting occurs at a pressure above ambient pressure.
9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
throttling of the gas flow from the gas-generating system, thereby building up an elevated pressure level and causing an initial decline in the temperature; and
increasing the temperature to the specified value.
10. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring the temperature; and
increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the gas-generating system with increasing temperature.
11. A method for providing an electric power absorber with electric power from a fuel cell in a motor vehicle fuel cell installation, comprising:
combining a hydrogen-containing gas flow from a gas-generating system and an oxygen-containing gas flow downstream of the fuel cell;
combusting the combined gas flows in a catalytic burner;
determining a temperature existing in the catalytic burner or in exhaust eases immediately after the catalytic burner; and
connecting the fuel cell into a circuit having the electric power absorber if the temperature determined exceeds a specified value.