Nucellsys Gmbh

Daimler Ag

Uwe Limbeck

Cosimo Mazzotta

Manfred Strohmaier

Roger-Marcelo Barleben

Hans-Joerg Pflugfelder

A fuel cell system () includes at least one fuel cell () provided with an anode area () and a cathode area () which is separated from the anode area () by an electrolyte () and a first liquid separator (). A liquid out () of the first liquid separator () is connected to a second liquid separator () or cathode gas discharge line () via a first bypass line ().

Fuel cell system with a liquid separator

In a method to cold-start a fuel cell system at sub-zero temperatures, the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack, upstream of which is connected a heating device to heat a cooling agent to be circulated by a coolant pump. To reduce the demand for stored electrical energy, the cold fuel cell stack is operated at such a capacity that it generates power that is sufficient only to operate the heating device and the coolant pump. The power generated by the fuel cell stack is used to operate the heating device for heating the cooling agent as well as the coolant pump, whereby the coolant pump circulates the cooling agent between the fuel cell stack and the heating device. The heating device is switched off as soon as the fuel cell stack reaches a preset temperature that is higher than the original temperature.

Method to cold-start fuel cell system at sub-zero temperatures

A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack designed to react reactants for current generation, a cold start detection apparatus for detecting a cold start state of a fuel cell stack and a load which may be connected to the fuel cell stack. A control device is designed to connect the load when the fuel cell stackis in the cold start state. The supply of the reactants for the fuel cell stack is conformed to connection of the load, and the control device is designed with software and/or circuitry so as to vary the connected load in one or more step load changes in response to detection of the cold start state of the fuel cell stack.

Fuel cell system with improved cold start properties and method of operating same

A fuel cell system for a vehicle includes a fuel cell arrangement that is coupleable to a vehicle drive as a primary load, and to a plurality of secondary loads. A control apparatus which controls the primary load and the secondary loads includes a monitoring circuit that is operable in a special operating mode of the fuel cell system, with the secondary loads being switched on and/or off as a manipulated variable in order to maintain the output voltage, as a reference variable, at a low voltage value that is formed by a cell voltage of the fuel cells of less than 0.45 V on average.

Fuel cell system for a vehicle, method for monitoring a fuel cell system

A power generation system has a fuel cell stack and at least one condensation point in the system at which water present after shutdown of the power generation system can condense or collect. Drying after shutdown is improved by maintaining a temperature gradient between the condensation point and at least one other component in the power generation system after shutdown. In one embodiment, the temperature gradient is maintained by housing the fuel cell stack in a thermally insulated container and arranging the condensation point outside of the insulating container. In another embodiment, drying after shutdown is accomplished with an adsorption unit having a water-adsorbing material arranged in a desired location within the power generation system.

Growing community of inventors

Kirchheim, Germany

Uwe Limbeck