The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 05, 2000
Filed:
May. 28, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Willi Bette, Erlangen, DE;
Josef Lersch, Heroldsbach, DE;
Assignee:
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
429 13 ; 429 23 ;
Abstract
A method for identifying a gas leak between anode and cathode gas areas of a PEM fuel cell includes detecting a cell voltage. The anode and cathode gas areas are purged with nitrogen in a first time period. The cathode gas area is filled with oxygen and the anode gas area is filled with hydrogen in a second time period. A drop in the cell voltage below a limit value as a function of time is then measured and evaluated. The method ensures reliable identification of the gas leak. A fuel cell system operating according to the method is also provided.