METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING A CLOGGE IN A PARTICLE FILTER OF A COOLING CIRCUIT OF A FUEL CELL

Abstract

The present development relates to a device and a method for detecting a blockage of a particulate filter (50) of a cooling circuit (40) of a fuel cell (20), wherein a coolant line (55) for an air cooler (64) for the fuel cell (20) branches off from the cooling circuit (40) at the particulate filter (50), the method comprising the following steps: - determining a temperature and / or a pressure of the air supplied to the fuel cell (20) via the air cooler (64), - determining a cooling capacity of the air cooler (64) based on the determined air temperature and / or on the basis of the determined air pressure, - comparing the determined cooling capacity with a predetermined cooling capacity, and - detecting a blockage of the particulate filter (50) or an increasing flow resistance through the particulate filter (50) if the determined cooling capacity exceeds the predetermined cooling capacity by a predetermined amount.

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