Explosion-protected fuel cell system and method for deactivating a fuel cell system

A fuel cell system, comprising:

• a fuel cell assembly,
• a hydrogen feed line for feeding hydrogen to the fuel cell assembly,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen feed line,
• a high-pressure hydrogen reservoir,
• a hydrogen line for feeding hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into a hydrogen supply line for the fuel cell assembly, which connects the hydrogen line and the hydrogen feed line with each other,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen line for reducing the hydrogen pressure,
• a 3/2-way valve in the hydrogen line downstream of the pressure reducer or in the hydrogen supply line, and
• a hydrogen pressure relief line connected to the 3/2-way valve,
• wherein the 3/2-way valve, in a first switching position, allows the flow of gas from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into the hydrogen supply line, and in a second switching position, allows the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply line into the hydrogen pressure relief line.

A tank module for supplying a fuel cell assembly with hydrogen, comprising:

• a high-pressure hydrogen reservoir,
• a hydrogen line for feeding hydrogen from the high-pressure reservoir into a hydrogen supply line for the fuel cell assembly,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen line for reducing the hydrogen pressure,
• a 3/2-way valve in the hydrogen line downstream of the pressure reducer, and
• a hydrogen pressure relief line connected to the 3/2-way valve,
• wherein the 3/2-way valve, in a first switching position, permits the flow of gas from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into the hydrogen supply line, and in a second switching position, permits the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply line into the hydrogen pressure relief line.

A method of deactivating a fuel cell system comprising:

• providing a fuel cell system comprising
• a fuel cell assembly,
• a hydrogen feed line for feeding hydrogen to the fuel cell assembly,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen feed line,
• a high-pressure hydrogen reservoir,
• a hydrogen line for feeding hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into a hydrogen supply line for the fuel cell assembly, which connects the hydrogen line and the hydrogen feed line with each other,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen line for reducing the hydrogen pressure,
• a 3/2-way valve in the hydrogen line downstream of the pressure reducer or in the hydrogen supply line, and
• a hydrogen pressure relief line connected to the 3/2-way valve,
• wherein the 3/2-way valve, in a first switching position, allows the flow of gas from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into the hydrogen supply line, and in a second switching position, allows the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply line into the hydrogen pressure relief line;
• characterized in that feeding of hydrogen from the hydrogen line into the hydrogen supply line is terminated and immediately thereafter the 3/2-way valve is switched from the first switching position to the second switching position.

A method of activating and deactivating a fuel cell system comprising:

• providing a fuel cell system comprising
• a fuel cell assembly,
• a hydrogen feed line for feeding hydrogen to the fuel cell assembly,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen feed line,
• a high-pressure hydrogen reservoir,
• a hydrogen line for feeding hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into a hydrogen supply line for the fuel cell assembly, which connects the hydrogen line and the hydrogen feed line with each other,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen line for reducing the hydrogen pressure,
• a 3/2-way valve in the hydrogen line downstream of the pressure reducer or in the hydrogen supply line, and
• a hydrogen pressure relief line connected to the 3/2-way valve,
• wherein the 3/2-way valve, in a first switching position, allows the flow of gas from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into the hydrogen supply line, and in a second switching position, allows the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply line into the hydrogen pressure relief line;
• characterized in that feeding of hydrogen from the hydrogen line into the hydrogen supply line is terminated and immediately thereafter the 3/2-way valve is switched from the first switching position to the second switching position;
• and,
• characterized in that hydrogen is provided for being fed from the hydrogen line into the hydrogen supply line, and thereafter the 3/2-way valve is switched from the second switching position to the first switching position.

Use of a 3/2-way valve for pressure-relieving the hydrogen supply line and, optionally, part of the hydrogen feed line of a fuel cell system, comprising:

• providing a fuel cell system comprising
• a fuel cell assembly,
• a hydrogen feed line for feeding hydrogen to the fuel cell assembly,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen feed line,
• a high-pressure hydrogen reservoir,
• a hydrogen line for feeding hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into a hydrogen supply line for the fuel cell assembly, which connects the hydrogen line and the hydrogen feed line with each other,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen line for reducing the hydrogen pressure,
• a 3/2-way valve in the hydrogen line downstream of the pressure reducer or in the hydrogen supply line, and
• a hydrogen pressure relief line connected to the 3/2-way valve,
• wherein the 3/2-way valve, in a first switching position, allows the flow of gas from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into the hydrogen supply line, and in a second switching position, allows the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply line into the hydrogen pressure relief line;
• wherein switching of the 3/2-way valve from the first switching position to the second switching position causes hydrogen to be released from the hydrogen supply line and, optionally, from said part of the hydrogen feed line into the atmosphere.

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a fuel cell system comprising
• a fuel cell assembly,
• a hydrogen feed line for feeding hydrogen to the fuel cell assembly,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen feed line,
• a high-pressure hydrogen reservoir,
• a hydrogen line for feeding hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into a hydrogen supply line for the fuel cell assembly, which connects the hydrogen line and the hydrogen feed line with each other,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen line for reducing the hydrogen pressure,
• a 3/2-way valve in the hydrogen line downstream of the pressure reducer or in the hydrogen supply line, and
• a hydrogen pressure relief line connected to the 3/2-way valve,
• wherein the 3/2-way valve, in a first switching position, allows the flow of gas from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into the hydrogen supply line, and in a second switching position, allows the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply line into the hydrogen pressure relief line;
• or
• a tank module that supplies the fuel cell assembly with hydrogen, the tank module comprising
• a high-pressure hydrogen reservoir,
• a hydrogen line for feeding hydrogen from the high-pressure reservoir into a hydrogen supply line for the fuel cell assembly,
• a pressure reducer in the hydrogen line for reducing the hydrogen pressure,
• a 3/2-way valve in the hydrogen line downstream of the pressure reducer, and
• a hydrogen pressure relief line connected to the 3/2-way valve,
• wherein the 3/2-way valve, in a first switching position, permits the flow of gas from the high-pressure hydrogen reservoir into the hydrogen supply line, and in a second switching position, permits the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply line into the hydrogen pressure relief line.