A method for humidifying a reactant in a fuel cell system is provided having a fuel cell stack, which is fluidically connected to a humidifier, wherein the humidifier comprises a membrane, on whose surface channels are formed. At least one of the channels is associated with a storage element for temporary storing of liquid water, the method involving the following steps: extracting the liquid water from the fuel cell stack and feeding the liquid water to the humidifier, admitting at least part of the liquid water into the storage element and temporarily storing the part therein, at least partially emptying the storage element by evaporating of the liquid water and humidifying of the reactant being supplied to the fuel cell stack by means of the evaporated liquid water, wherein the liquid water is extracted from the fuel cell stack both at the anode side and at the cathode side. A fuel cell system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Methods and systems are described for optimizing water discharge in fuel cell vehicles. The system includes a fuel cell stack, a blower for purging water from the fuel cell stack and a controller. The controller detects that an ambient temperature satisfies a threshold temperature. The controller determines the fuel cell vehicle is approaching a stopping location. The controller calculates a water discharge time prediction necessary to purge excess water from the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell vehicle is operating in response to detecting that the ambient temperature satisfies the threshold temperature and the fuel cell vehicle is approaching the stopping location. The water discharge time prediction is calculated based on the blower operating while the fuel cell stack is in at least one of an idle state and a stopped state as the fuel cell vehicle approaches the stopping location.

A fuel cell system (200), wherein the fuel cell system (200) has: a) a fuel cell stack (10), b) an anode gas path (20) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying anode gas from an anode gas store (22) to the fuel cell stack (10), c) a cathode gas path (30) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying cathode gas from a cathode gas store (32) to the fuel cell stack (10), d) a cooling fluid path (40) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying cooling fluid from a cooling fluid store (42) to the fuel cell stack (10), e) a vibration generator (60) which is in data-transmitting communication with a control unit (50) and which serves for setting the fuel cell stack (10) into a vibrating state, and f) the control unit (50) for actuating the vibration generator (60) in order to set the fuel cell stack (10) into the vibrating state by means of the vibration generator (60).

A fuel cell system (200), wherein the fuel cell system (200) has: a) a fuel cell stack (10), b) an anode gas path (20) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying anode gas from an anode gas store (22) to the fuel cell stack (10), c) a cathode gas path (30) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying cathode gas from a cathode gas store (32) to the fuel cell stack (10), d) a cooling fluid path (40) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying cooling fluid from a cooling fluid store (42) to the fuel cell stack (10), e) a vibration generator (60) which is in data-transmitting communication with a control unit (50) and which serves for setting the fuel cell stack (10) into a vibrating state, and f) the control unit (50) for actuating the vibration generator (60) in order to set the fuel cell stack (10) into the vibrating state by means of the vibration generator (60).

An electric energy supply system having at least one cell element, which contains at least one galvanic cell, and having a measuring circuit, which is configured to ascertain at least one parameter of the at least one cell element by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The disclosure provides that the energy supply system comprises an electrochemical gas sensor and the gas sensor is connected to the measuring circuit via a toggle switch, wherein the measuring circuit is configured to apply an electric variable as the excitation variable in the gas sensor and to detect another electric variable as the measured variable at the gas sensor and to ascertain a gas concentration in the surroundings of the gas sensor.

An electric energy supply system having at least one cell element, which contains at least one galvanic cell, and having a measuring circuit, which is configured to ascertain at least one parameter of the at least one cell element by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The disclosure provides that the energy supply system comprises an electrochemical gas sensor and the gas sensor is connected to the measuring circuit via a toggle switch, wherein the measuring circuit is configured to apply an electric variable as the excitation variable in the gas sensor and to detect another electric variable as the measured variable at the gas sensor and to ascertain a gas concentration in the surroundings of the gas sensor.

A fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell; a storage portion to store produced water that is produced as a result of power generation by the fuel cell; a drainage valve for switching between a storage state and a drainage state of discharging the produced water from the storage portion to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle; a road information acquisition portion configured to acquire road information on roads on which the fuel cell vehicle travels; and a controller configured to drainage valve control operation. The controller sets a road region meeting a first condition defined in advance regarding road information and that permits the drainage state as a first road region where the drainage state is permitted, and the controller performs drainage if a drainage implementation condition defined in advance, including traveling of the fuel cell vehicle in the first road region, is fulfilled.

This invention provides a system and a method for safe production of electrolyte at required concentration on site on demand where occasionally only water is needed to be filled up. The system includes two main units: a saturated electrolyte unit and a diluted electrolyte unit.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an anode gas supply system, an anode gas circulatory system, a cathode gas supply-discharge system, a gas-liquid discharge passage, a gas-liquid discharge valve configured to open and close the gas-liquid discharge passage, a flow-rate acquisition portion, and a controlling portion. After the controlling portion instructs the gas-liquid discharge valve to be opened, the controlling portion executes a normal-abnormality determination such that, when a discharge-gas flow rate of anode gas is a predetermined normal reference value or more, the controlling portion determines that the gas-liquid discharge valve is opened normally, and when the discharge-gas flow rate is lower than the normal reference value, the controlling portion determines that the gas-liquid discharge valve is not opened normally.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an anode gas supply system, an anode gas circulatory system, a cathode gas supply-discharge system, a gas-liquid discharge passage, a gas-liquid discharge valve configured to open and close the gas-liquid discharge passage, a flow-rate acquisition portion, and a controlling portion. After the controlling portion instructs the gas-liquid discharge valve to be opened, the controlling portion executes a normal-abnormality determination such that, when a discharge-gas flow rate of anode gas is a predetermined normal reference value or more, the controlling portion determines that the gas-liquid discharge valve is opened normally, and when the discharge-gas flow rate is lower than the normal reference value, the controlling portion determines that the gas-liquid discharge valve is not opened normally.