Method for operating an air system, and control unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an air system (1) for supplying oxygen to at least one fuel cell, wherein the air system (1) comprises an air path (2) having an integrated air filter (3) and an integrated air compressor (4), and wherein ambient air is drawn in by means of the air compressor (4), purified by means of the air filter (3), and compressed by means of the air compressor (4) before being fed as an oxygen source to the fuel cell. According to the invention, a diagnosis of the air filter (4) is carried out during the operation of the air system (1) and is used for detecting excessively high loading of the air filter (3), determining the degree of loading of the air filter (3), detecting unauthorized removal of the air filter (3), detecting a leak in the air path (2) upstream of the air compressor (4), and/or detecting a hose collapse, wherein the present pressure difference (Δp) across the air filter (3) is ascertained, and the loading of the air filter (3) is inferred from the present pressure difference (Δp). The invention also relates to a control unit for carrying out steps of the method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.