METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE INITIAL COMMISSIONING OF A FUEL CELL STACK

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the commissioning of a fuel cell stack (1), in which the fuel cell stack (1) is commissioned and is supplied with different media during the commissioning and/or operation thereof, the operating state of the fuel cell stack (1) is changed and at least one state variable of the fuel cell stack (1) is acquired. According to the invention, the acquired state variable is calculated in a chemical-physical model of the fuel cell stack (1) or of a fuel cell of the fuel cell stack (1), and at least one model parameter of the model is correspondingly updated. At least one new actuating variable for controlling the media supply and/or the load of the fuel cel stack (1) is subsequently derived from the at least one updated model parameter. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A method for the initial commissioning of a fuel cell stack (1), the method comprising putting the fuel cell stack (1) into operation; supplying the fuel cell stack with various media, changing the operating state of the fuel cell stack (1), and determining at least one state variable of the fuel cell stack (1), wherein the determined state variable is calculated in a chemical-physical model of the fuel cell stack (1) or of a fuel cell of the fuel cell stack (1) and at least one model parameter of the model is correspondingly updated, and at least one new actuating variable is then derived from the at least one updated model parameter for controlling fa) the media supply, (b) the load on the fuel cell stack (1), or both (a) and (b).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of actuating variables for controlling the media supply are derived from the at least one updated model parameter and each medium is controlled separately with the aid of the actuating variables.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the load on the fuel cell stack (1) is controlled separately.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one updated model parameter is transmitted to a database, a cloud, and/or a neural network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when updating the at least one model parameter, at least one empirical value is taken into account that is taken from a database, a cloud and/or a neural network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at the completion of initial commissioning, the fuel cell stack (1) is characterized and/or classified on the basis of at least one characteristic value.

6. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one characteristic value of the fuel cell stack (1), is stored in a memory module.

8. A device comprising: a controller (2) having a computer and a data memory in which a chemical-physical model of a fuel cell stack (1) or of a fuel cell of the fuel cell stack (1) is stored, wherein the controller (2) is connected for data transmission to a sensor system of the fuel cell stack (1) and to at least one actuator (3, 4, 5, 6) by means of which the media supply and/or the load of the fuel cell stack (1) can be influenced and wherein the controller (2) is configured to put the fuel cell stack (1) into operation; control supplying the fuel cell stack with various media, change the operating state of the fuel cell stack (1), and determine at least one state variable of the fuel cell stack (1), wherein the determined state variable is calculated in a chemical-physical model of the fuel cell stack (1) or of a fuel cell of the fuel cell stack (1) and at least one model parameter of the model is correspondingly updated, and at least one new actuating variable is then derived from the at least one updated model parameter for controlling (a) the media supply, (b) the load on the fuel cell stack (1), or both (a) and (b).

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the controller (2) is connected or connectable for data transmission to a database (7), a cloud and/or a neural network.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the controller (2) is connected to a display device (8) and/or to a central computer (9).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an initial commissioning of a fuel cell stack according to the method according to the invention, and

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an initial commissioning of a fuel cell stack according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell stack 1 during the initial commissioning, during which the fuel cell stack 1 is supplied with different media via three supply paths 11. Via the upper supply path 11, the fuel cell stack 1 is supplied with a fuel, in the present case hydrogen (H.sub.2). The middle supply path 11 is used for the supply of oxygen (O.sub.2) in the form of air. A coolant is supplied to the fuel cell stack 1 via the supply path 11 situated therebelow. In all three supply paths 11, one actuator 3, 4, 5 is arranged in each case, by means of which the mass flow of the particular medium can be influenced. In the fuel cell stack 1, the media hydrogen and oxygen are converted into electrical energy or power. This leaves the fuel cell stack 1 via a power line 12. A further actuator 6 is arranged in the power line 12.

[0029] A controller 2 is provided for controlling the media supply and/or the load on the fuel cell stack 1. This is connected via data lines 10 to the actuators 3, 4, 5, 6. A further data line 10 connects the regulator 2 to the fuel cell stack 1 or to a sensor system (not shown) of the fuel cell stack 1. The controller 2 thus receives data relating to certain state variables of the fuel cell stack 1. The controller 2 calculates these data using a chemical-physical model of the fuel cell stack 1, which is stored in a data memory (not shown) of the controller 2. For this purpose, the controller 2 has a computer (not shown) in addition to the data memory. From the correspondingly updated model, the computer calculates at least one new actuating variable for at least one actuator 3, 4, 5, 6.

[0030] With the aid of the model-based controller 2, a control loop is accordingly established which significantly shortens the initial commissioning process, since the process is dynamic and takes into account the individual properties of the fuel cell stack 1. Furthermore, the controller 2 can provide the data obtained to a database 7, cloud and/or a neural network, so that empirical values can be collected and evaluated. These help to continuously optimize the production of fuel cell stacks.

[0031] The sequence of the method can be monitored, for example, from a central control center. In the present case, the control center has a display device 8 and a computer 9.

[0032] To illustrate the advantages of the method according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, a method according to the prior art is described below with reference to FIG. 2. Identical parts have been given the same reference signs.

[0033] In contrast to the method according to the invention, the initial commissioning of a fuel cell stack 1 according to the sequence shown in FIG. 2 proceeds according to a fixed schedule. This means that the actuators 3, 4, 5 for controlling the media supply and/or the actuator 6 for controlling the load on the fuel cell stack 1 are actuated following a program which is controlled by a control center (display device 8 and computer 9). This program is repeated until the desired characteristic values are reached. However, this process can take up to 30 hours or more. This is because it is not possible to deal with the fuel cell stack individually.