A system for a fuel cell vehicle includes a providing fuel cell fuel port, a fuel cell fuel storage tank, a fuel cell fuel flowmeter, and a pressure regulator. The fuel cell fuel storage tank is fluidically coupled to the providing fuel cell fuel port. The fuel cell fuel flowmeter is coupled between the fuel cell fuel port and the fuel cell fuel storage tank and is configured to measure flow of fuel cell fuel from the fuel cell fuel storage tank to the providing fuel cell fuel port. The pressure regulator is coupled between the fuel cell fuel flowmeter and the fuel cell fuel storage tank and is configured to control pressure of fuel cell fuel flowing from the fuel cell fuel storage tank to the providing fuel cell fuel port.

The invention relates to a method for detecting a leak in an energy converter system (1) containing a gas. A pressure regulator (3) is used to regulate a gas pressure in the energy converter system (1), and the pressure regulator (3) has a gas metering valve (4). The method has the following steps: a. measuring an inlet pressure (10) of the pressure regulator (3) and measuring an outlet pressure (12) of the pressure regulator (3), b. measuring an output variable (16) of the energy converter system (1) and calculating a gas requirement in the energy converter system (1) on the basis of the output variable (16) of the energy converter system (1), c. determining a first calculated flow (20) through the pressure regulator (3) on the basis of the measured inlet pressure (10) of the pressure regulator (3) and the measured outlet pressure (12) of the pressure regulator (3), d. determining a second calculated flow (22) through the pressure regulator (3) on the basis of the gas requirement, e. comparing the first calculated flow (20) with the second calculated flow (22) by generating a first comparison value (24) from the first calculated flow (20) and the second calculated flow (22), and f. determining a first threshold (26) and generating an error signal (32) if the value of the comparison value (24) is greater than the first threshold (26).

The invention relates to a method for detecting a leak in an energy converter system (1) containing a gas. A pressure regulator (3) is used to regulate a gas pressure in the energy converter system (1), and the pressure regulator (3) has a gas metering valve (4). The method has the following steps: a. measuring an inlet pressure (10) of the pressure regulator (3) and measuring an outlet pressure (12) of the pressure regulator (3), b. measuring an output variable (16) of the energy converter system (1) and calculating a gas requirement in the energy converter system (1) on the basis of the output variable (16) of the energy converter system (1), c. determining a first calculated flow (20) through the pressure regulator (3) on the basis of the measured inlet pressure (10) of the pressure regulator (3) and the measured outlet pressure (12) of the pressure regulator (3), d. determining a second calculated flow (22) through the pressure regulator (3) on the basis of the gas requirement, e. comparing the first calculated flow (20) with the second calculated flow (22) by generating a first comparison value (24) from the first calculated flow (20) and the second calculated flow (22), and f. determining a first threshold (26) and generating an error signal (32) if the value of the comparison value (24) is greater than the first threshold (26).

A method of controlling a fuel cell device includes: a step of determining whether impedance between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode is greater than a predetermined threshold during a steady operation of the fuel cell device; a step of decreasing a flow rate of a gas circulating via a circulation passage connecting a gas introduction passage of the gas supply unit to a gas discharge passage when the impedance is greater than the predetermined threshold; a step of measuring the voltage between the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode when the impedance is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, and determining whether the voltage is equal to or less than a first predetermined threshold; and a step of increasing the flow rate of the gas circulating via the circulation passage when the voltage is equal to or less than the first predetermined threshold.

Disclosed is a method and a device configured to control deterioration avoidance operation of a fuel cell system. In one aspect, the method may include starting the deterioration avoidance operation when an operation of a fuel cell is restarted in a state where an energy storage device is operating, and the fuel cell is stopped; controlling anode hydrogen pressure based on a predetermined condition, the condition indicating that the anode hydrogen pressure needs to be increased; determining hydrogen recirculation and supplying hydrogen including a process to determine whether to recirculate hydrogen based on a predetermined condition, the condition indicating that hydrogen needs to be recirculated, before supplying hydrogen; determining air recirculation and supplying air including a process to determine whether to recirculate air based on a predetermined condition, the condition indicating that air needs to be recirculated, before supplying air; and terminating the deterioration avoidance operation and starting operation of the fuel cell.

A modular flow battery includes a battery stack container housing a plurality of redox flow battery stacks in fluid communication with at least one pair of electrolyte containers including an anolyte container for holding an anolyte and a catholyte container for holding a catholyte. Additional pairs of electrolyte containers can be connected to the battery stack container to increase an amount of energy that can be stored by the modular flow battery system. Respective housings enclosing each of the battery stack container and the electrolyte containers are configured for operation in a stacked configuration. In this manner, the energy storage capacity of the modular flow battery system can be further increased with substantially no increase in a lateral area occupied by the system.

A modular flow battery includes a battery stack container housing a plurality of redox flow battery stacks in fluid communication with at least one pair of electrolyte containers including an anolyte container for holding an anolyte and a catholyte container for holding a catholyte. Additional pairs of electrolyte containers can be connected to the battery stack container to increase an amount of energy that can be stored by the modular flow battery system. Respective housings enclosing each of the battery stack container and the electrolyte containers are configured for operation in a stacked configuration. In this manner, the energy storage capacity of the modular flow battery system can be further increased with substantially no increase in a lateral area occupied by the system.

A fuel cell system installed in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell; a secondary battery; a load including a drive motor and an air compressor; a fuel cell converter; a secondary battery converter; a failure detection unit; a first state determination unit; a reverse rotation detection unit; and a control unit. The control unit performs a limp-home traveling control that supplies electric power from the secondary battery to the drive motor when the secondary battery converter fails. When the vehicle is not in the first state, the control unit prohibits regeneration of the drive motor. When the vehicle is in the first state, the control unit supplies a reaction current to the air compressor. When the reaction current is applied and a reverse rotation of the air compressor is detected, the control unit does not apply the reaction current thereafter.

A hydrogen leakage detection system for detecting a hydrogen leakage in a fuel cell system includes: an outer shell configured to accommodate a hydrogen flow section; a hydrogen sensor; and a porous sheet disposed to delimit at least a part of a space within the outer shell and allowing permeation of hydrogen through the porous sheet in a thickness direction thereof. The hydrogen flow section is disposed in a region below the porous sheet, and the hydrogen sensor is disposed in a region above the porous sheet.

A hydrogen leakage detection system for detecting a hydrogen leakage in a fuel cell system includes: an outer shell configured to accommodate a hydrogen flow section; a hydrogen sensor; and a porous sheet disposed to delimit at least a part of a space within the outer shell and allowing permeation of hydrogen through the porous sheet in a thickness direction thereof. The hydrogen flow section is disposed in a region below the porous sheet, and the hydrogen sensor is disposed in a region above the porous sheet.