Safety process and device for starting up a fuel cell
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorPierre Charlat
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Abstract
A device for starting up a fuel cell includes: two valves (17 and 18) mounted in the inlet and the outlet of the hydrogen circuit of the anode compartment; and a controlled bridge circuit (24) between the inlet of the hydrogen circuit to the anode compartment and either the anode compartment or the ambient.
Claims10
Safety device for starting up a fuel cell (1) comprised by at least one element comprising an anode compartment (3) and a cathode compartment (2) connected, as to the anode, to a hydrogen circulation circuit (14) and, as to the cathode, to an air circulation circuit (11),
- the device comprising:
- two valves (17 and 18) disposed in the inlet (15) and the outlet (16) of the hydrogen circuit of the anode compartment,
- at least the valve (17) disposed in the inlet of the hydrogen circuit being progressively controllable.
Process for rendering inert a fuel cell, characterized in that to ensure the startup of said cell
- the hydrogen circuit of the anode compartment is progressively opened to cause to circulate any air that may be included in contact with the catalyst of the anode and to bring about the formation of water and to constitute a neutral gaseous mixture
- simultaneously, the pressure of said gaseous mixture is measured and the complete opening of the hydrogen circuit is carried out after a predetermined time,
- then the nominal hydrogen pressure is stabilized in the anode compartment,
- then the air supply circuit of the cathode compartment is opened so as to establish stabilized conditions of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.