Membrane permeation adjustment in PEM fuel cell

A method for correcting an estimation of nitrogen in a fuel cell stack, said method comprising:

• continuously measuring the pressure of an anode sub-system after shutdown of the fuel cell stack;
• determining if the pressure of the anode sub-system has reached approximately atmospheric pressure at a faster rate than the time necessary for the anode sub-system to reach approximately atmospheric pressure after a previous shutdown or calibrated time value;
• and
• correcting the estimation of nitrogen in the anode side of the stack if the pressure in the anode sub-system has reached approximately atmospheric pressure at a faster rate than the previous shutdown or calibrated time value.

A system for correcting an estimation of nitrogen in an anode side of a fuel cell stack, said system comprising:

• the fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side;
• a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in an anode sub-system of a fuel cell system;
• and
• a controller programmed to control the estimation of nitrogen in the anode side of the stack, said controller determining if the pressure in the anode sub-system equilibrates with atmospheric pressure in a shorter period of time after shutdown compared to the time necessary for the anode sub-system to reach approximately atmospheric pressure after a previous shutdown or calibrated time value, and correcting the estimation of nitrogen in the anode side of the stack if the pressure in the anode sub-system equilibrates with atmospheric pressure in a shorter period of time compared to the previous shutdown or calibrated time value.