Fuel cell system for extinguishing fires

1. A fire fighting system for extinguishing a fire source in a room, the fire fighting system comprising:

a fuel cell for producing a nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air, the fuel cell having a cathode and an anode; and

a conduit assembly for supplying the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air to the fire source to reduce an oxygen content around the fire source, such that the fire source is extinguished,

an air supply of the fuel cell supplying external air from outside the room to the cathode of the fuel cell;

a conduit measurement unit measuring at least one of the oxygen content and the hydrogen content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly;

wherein the system is configured to adjust a lambda value of the cathode by regulating an air supply of the fuel cell based at least on the output of the conduit measurement unit, thereby controlling the oxygen content of the room;

wherein the lambda value represents the ratio between the oxygen amount supplied to the fuel cell and the oxygen amount converted inside the fuel cell; and

wherein the cathode exhaust air has a lower oxygen content and a higher nitrogen content than the air supply from outside the room to the cathode of the fuel cell.

2. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a regulating unit for triggering the supply of the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air to the fire source.

3. The fire fighting system of claim 2 ,

wherein the regulating unit regulates at least one of an air supply to the cathode of the fuel cell, a fuel supply to the anode of the fuel cell, and the supply of the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air to the fire source.

4. The fire fighting system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a first measurement unit for measuring at least one physical parameter selected from the group consisting of oxygen content within the room, a hydrogen content within the room, a temperature within the room, a pressure within the room, and development of smoke within the room; and

a first data line for transmitting the measured physical parameters from the first measurement unit to the regulating unit.

5. The fire fighting system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a second measurement unit for measuring a physical parameter, selected from the group consisting of the oxygen content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, the hydrogen content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, the carbon dioxide content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, the carbon monoxide content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, the nitrogen oxide content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, the volume flow of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, the temperature of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, the pressure of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly, and the moisture content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly.

6. The fire fighting system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a second data line for transmitting the measured physical parameters from the second measurement unit to the regulating unit.

7. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pressure relief valve for regulating a pressurization in the room.

8. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

a compressor for compressing the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air, so that the fire extinguishing power is increased; and

a heat exchanger for cooling the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air.

9. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a condenser for condensing water out of the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air; and

a water tank for storing the condensed water.

10. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a supply line for providing an air supply of the cathode of the fuel cell from the room, whereby the oxygen content in the room can be lowered further.

11. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a climate control assembly for temperature regulation of the room.

12. The fire fighting system of claim 2 ,

wherein the regulating unit further regulates at least one of a heat exchanger, for cooling the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air, a compressor for compressing the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air so that the fire extinguishing power is increased, a pressure relief valve for regulating a pressurization in the room, a climate control assembly for temperature regulation of the room, a bleed valve, and a supply of the water.

13. The fire fighting system of claim 1 ,

wherein an electrical energy and a thermal energy required in the fire fighting system are provided directly from the fuel cell.

14. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an extinguishing system.

15. The fire fighting system of claim 1 , wherein the room is a room in an aircraft.

16. An aircraft comprising a fire fighting system for fire fighting in a room of the aircraft, the system comprising:

a fuel cell for producing a nitrogen enriched cathode exhaust air, the fuel cell having a cathode and an anode; and

a conduit assembly for supplying the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air to the fire source to reduce an oxygen content around the fire source, such that the fire source is extinguished,

an air supply of the fuel cell supplying external air from outside the room to the cathode of the fuel cell;

a conduit measurement unit measuring at least one of the oxygen content and the hydrogen content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly;

wherein the system is configured to adjust a lambda value of the cathode by regulating an air supply of the fuel cell based at least on the output of the conduit measurement unit, thereby controlling the oxygen content of the room;

wherein the lambda value represents the ratio between the oxygen amount supplied to the fuel cell and the oxygen amount converted inside the fuel cell; and

wherein the cathode exhaust air has a lower oxygen content and a higher nitrogen content than the air supply from outside the room to the cathode of the fuel cell.

17. A method for fire fighting in a room, comprising:

supplying external air from outside the room to the cathode of the fuel cell;

producing a nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air with a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode;

measuring at least one of the oxygen content and the hydrogen content of the exhaust air in the conduit assembly; and

supplying the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air to a fire source, so that an oxygen content around the fire source is reduced, such that the fire source is extinguished, wherein a lamba value of the cathode is adjusted by regulating an air supply of the fuel cell based at least on the output of a conduit measurement unit, thereby controlling the oxygen content of the room;

wherein the lambda value represents the ratio between the oxygen amount supplied to the fuel cell and the oxygen amount converted inside the fuel cell; and

wherein the cathode exhaust air has lower oxygen content and a higher nitrogen than the air supply from outside the room to the cathode of the fuel cell.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

triggering the supply of the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air to the fire source.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

measuring at least one physical parameter selected from the group consisting of an oxygen content within the room, a hydrogen content within the room, a temperature within the room, a moisture content within the room, a pressure within the room, and a detection of a fire characteristic within the room; and

transmitting the measured physical parameters from the measurement unit to a regulating or control unit for triggering the supply of the nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust air to the fire source.