Adjustment method for adjusting two electrochemical cell systems

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustment method for adjusting at least one first electrochemical cell system and a second electrochemical cell system. In this case, for each electrochemical cell system, the adjustment method comprises: arranging an electrochemical cell system on a test bench; -a temperature regulating circuit connecting the electrochemical cell system with the test bench; -starting the electrochemical cell system; operating the electrochemical cell system at at least one predetermined operating point for a predetermined period of time on the test bench; -shutting down the electrochemical cell system; -removing the electrochemical cell system from the test bench; -cooling the electrochemical cell system; the method is characterized in that the arrangement of the second electrochemical cell system on the test bench and the cooling of the first electrochemical cell system are carried out in parallel in time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for adjusting a first electrochemical cell system and a second electrochemical cell system. Background Technology

[0002] The manufacturing process for electrochemical cell systems typically concludes with a conditioning process in which the electrochemical cell system is first put into operation. For electrochemical cell systems implemented as fuel cells, this conditioning process is known, for example, from DE 10 2022 200 187 A1. Particularly in PEM (Polymer-Elektrolyt-Membran) fuel cell systems, during this conditioning process, oxide layers and impurities from the manufacturing process are removed from the catalyst surface. Furthermore, it is known, for example, from DE 10 2013 101 829 A1, that the fuel cell system is heated to at least one pre-defined operating temperature during the conditioning process, thereby acquiring its final chemical and physical properties, particularly regarding the humidification of the PEM fuel cell membrane. Similar conditioning processes exist for other electrochemical cells, such as PEM electrolytic cells.

[0003] Adjustment methods for electrochemical battery systems are typically very time-consuming, lasting, for example, 30 minutes. The objective of this invention is to reduce the time the battery system spends on a test bench during the adjustment process, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the battery system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to a method for adjusting at least one first electrochemical cell system and a second electrochemical cell system. More particularly, this invention provides a time-efficient method for adjusting electrochemical cell systems.

[0005] Here, the adjustment method for the two electrochemical cell systems includes the following steps: - Set up the electrochemical battery system on the test bench; - Connect the temperature control circuit of the electrochemical cell system to the temperature control circuit of the test bench; - Start the electrochemical battery system; - On the test bench, the electrochemical cell system is operated at at least one predetermined operating point for a predetermined duration; - Turn off the electrochemical battery system; - Remove the electrochemical battery system from the test bench; - To cool the electrochemical battery system.

[0006] Here, "arranging the second electrochemical battery system on the test bench" and "cooling the first electrochemical battery system" are carried out in parallel time.

[0007] By at least partially parallelizing the cooling of the first battery system with the installation of the second battery system on the test bench, several minutes can be saved in the overall tuning method for each individual battery system.

[0008] Furthermore, energy consumption of the adjustment method is reduced because the temperature regulating medium can preferably be maintained above 60°C throughout. Particularly preferred is that the temperature of the temperature regulating medium in the test bench's temperature regulating loop is consistently between 60°C and 90°C during the adjustment method. Therefore, the battery system is separated from the test bench's temperature regulating medium for the majority of the cooling time; the cooling then occurs passively through natural convection due to the temperature difference with the environment.

[0009] Although the proposed adjustment method includes "heating the temperature-regulating medium circulating in the temperature regulation loop of the test bench to a predetermined temperature," it is not necessary to first heat the temperature-regulating medium from room temperature to approximately 80°C; rather, it is preferable to heat it only from approximately 65°C to approximately 80°C. Therefore, the battery system can be heated or adjusted particularly quickly using the already heated temperature-regulating medium.

[0010] By using external thermal energy, i.e., thermal energy provided by a heat source outside the battery system, such as the heating element of a test bench, the time required to heat the battery system can be minimized, and the amount of fuel consumed for adjustment can be minimized accordingly.

[0011] It can also be set that when connecting the temperature control circuit of the electrochemical cell system to the temperature control circuit of the test bench, a pre-defined overpressure is set in the connected circuit, and the overpressure is reduced to a pre-defined normal value after a pre-defined time.

[0012] Overpressure is used to expel air still trapped in the temperature regulation loop of the battery system. The mechanical load on the battery system is then minimized by subsequently reducing the pressure.

[0013] It can also be configured to: after the fuel cell system has been run on a test bench at a predetermined operating point for a predetermined duration, the temperature regulating medium is removed from the fuel cell system and introduced into a thermal buffer for use by the next fuel cell system.

[0014] By directing the temperature-regulating medium heated during the adjustment process into a thermal buffer or thermally insulated buffer, the thermal energy provided by the battery system during the adjustment process can be at least partially stored and used for the adjustment of other battery systems.

[0015] Advantageously, the method steps for cooling the electrochemical battery system are initiated at a temperature above 60°C and passively carried out until room temperature is reached. This means that active cooling of the battery system from about 85°C to about 65°C has been performed during the shutdown of the battery system.

[0016] In a favorable improvement to the adjustment method, the electrochemical battery system is shut down for approximately 3-5 minutes, during which the temperature regulation loop of the electrochemical battery system is decoupled from the temperature regulation loop of the test bench after 1-2 minutes. This means that active cooling lasts only 1-2 minutes, followed by passive cooling of the battery system.

[0017] Particularly preferred is that the electrochemical battery system is a fuel cell system or an electrolytic battery system, especially a PEM fuel cell system or a PEM electrolytic battery system. For PEM battery systems in particular, the membrane and catalyst layers must be tuned, and this tuning determines the battery's performance and lifespan.

[0018] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the features mentioned in the application documents may be substantially significant to the invention individually or in any combination. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The attached diagram shows: Figure 1 : A schematic diagram of one possible configuration of the proposed adjustment method; Figure 2 : A schematic diagram of one possible configuration of the proposed test bench. Detailed Implementation

[0020] exist Figure 1 The image schematically illustrates an adjustment method 100 for adjusting multiple electrochemical battery systems 203 on a test stand 200, wherein the test stand 200 itself can only accommodate a single battery system 203.

[0021] For each electrochemical battery system 203, the adjustment method 100 includes: an arrangement step 103, in which the battery system 203 is mounted on a test bench 200; a connection step 105, in which the temperature control circuit of the battery system 203 is connected or fluidically coupled to the temperature control circuit of the test bench 200; an operation step 107, in which the battery system 203 is operated on the test bench 200 at at least a predetermined operating point for a predetermined duration; a disassembly step 109, in which the battery system 203 is removed from the test bench 200, particularly in which the temperature control circuit of the battery system 203 is separated from the temperature control circuit of the test bench 200; and a cooling step 111, in which the battery system 203 is preferably passively cooled from above 60°C to room temperature.

[0022] Furthermore, the electrochemical battery system 203 is started before operation step 107 and shut down after this operation step. The start-up and shutdown of the electrochemical battery system are typically indicated by the switching on or off of the operating medium and the increase or decrease of the voltage. At this time, the shutdown and cooling 111 of the electrochemical battery system 203 are optimized such that the disassembly step 109 can be performed between these two steps; therefore, the cooling 111 of the battery system 203—at least largely—is no longer performed on the test bench 200. Thus, while the first battery system 203a, which has just been adjusted, is still being cooled 111, the second battery system 203b, which still needs adjustment, can be simultaneously arranged on the test bench 200. Therefore, the temperature of the temperature regulating medium in the temperature regulating loop is preferably always maintained between 60°C and 90°C, thus enabling the adjustment of multiple electrochemical battery systems 203; thereby, the temperature regulating loop can operate with very high efficiency.

[0023] exist Figure 2 The image schematically illustrates a test bench 200. The test bench 200 includes: a holder 201 for holding a corresponding electrochemical battery system 203; a temperature regulation loop 205 in which a temperature regulation medium circulates; an interface 207 for fluidly coupling the temperature regulation loop 205 of the test bench 200 to the temperature regulation loop 209 of the electrochemical battery system 203; and a computing unit 211 with an interface for communicating with the battery system 203. The computing unit 211 is configured to operate the battery system 203 at a predetermined operating point for a predetermined duration, and to control the start-up and shutdown of the battery system 203.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the adjustment method, the shutdown of the first electrochemical battery system 203a includes an active cooling phase of approximately 1-2 minutes, during which the battery system 203a is cooled from approximately 80°C to approximately 65°C. Afterward, the two temperature control loops 205 and 209 are isolated from each other; thus, the temperature control loop 205 of the test bench 200 operates in bypass mode, and the temperature control medium can be accordingly heated again from approximately 60°C to approximately 90°C for adjustment of the next battery system 203b. During this period, before removing the first battery system 203a from the test bench 200, the anode and cathode of the first battery system 203a are continuously purged with inert gas or air without voltage for a period of, for example, 2-3 minutes. Therefore, the total shutdown time of the battery system 203a lasts approximately 3-5 minutes.

Claims

1. An adjustment method (100) for adjusting at least one first electrochemical cell system (203a) and a second electrochemical cell system (203b). in, For these two electrochemical cell systems (203a, 203b), the adjustment method (100) includes the following steps: - An electrochemical cell system (203) is arranged on a test bench (200); - Connect (105) the temperature control circuit (209) of the electrochemical cell system (203) to the temperature control circuit (205) of the test bench (200); - Start the electrochemical cell system (203); - On the test bench (200), the electrochemical cell system (203) is operated (107) at at least one predetermined operating point for a predetermined duration. - Turn off the electrochemical battery system (203); - Remove the electrochemical cell system (203) from the test stand (200) (109); - Cool the electrochemical battery system (203) (111); The feature is that "arranging (103) the second electrochemical battery system (203b) on the test bench (200)" and "cooling (111) the first electrochemical battery system (203a)" are performed in parallel in time.

2. The adjustment method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature of the temperature regulating medium in the temperature regulating circuit (205) of the test bench (200) is always between 60°C and 90°C during the adjustment method (100).

3. The adjustment method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The cooling of the electrochemical cell system (203) begins at a temperature above 60°C and continues passively until room temperature is reached.

4. The adjustment method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The shutdown of the electrochemical battery system (203) lasts for about 3-5 minutes, wherein, after 1-2 minutes, the temperature regulation circuit (209) of the electrochemical battery system (203) is separated from the temperature regulation circuit (205) of the test bench (200).

5. The adjustment method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: When connecting the temperature regulation circuit (209) of the electrochemical cell system (203) to the temperature regulation circuit (205) of the test bench (200), a predetermined overpressure is set in the connected circuit, and the overpressure is reduced to a predetermined normal value after a predetermined time.

6. The adjustment method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The electrochemical battery system (203) is a fuel cell system or an electrolytic battery system, especially a PEM fuel cell system or a PEM electrolytic battery system.

Images