SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL NETWORK OF AN AIRCRAFT COMPRISING FUEL CELLS

Abstract

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL NETWORK OF AN AIRCRAFT COMPRISING FUEL CELLS The invention relates to a method for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells (10, 11) and a plurality of electrical consumers (20, 21, 22), said method comprising: a step (E1) of monitoring a set of parameters of said plurality of cells; a step (E2) of detecting an impaired performance of one of the cells, called a faulty cell; a step (E3) of determining at least one electrical consumer, called an elected consumer, whose electrical energy supply can be switched for a predetermined period of time, from a nominal mode to a degraded mode; a step (E4) of supplying each elected consumer in degraded mode; a step (E5) of isolating said faulty cell from the rest of the electrical network; a regeneration step (E7) of the faulty battery;a step of reintegration (E8) of said regenerated faulty battery into said network and return to a nominal power supply of each elected consumer, at the end of said regeneration of said faulty battery. Figure for the abstract: figure 2;

Description

Title of the invention: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL NETWORK OF AN AIRCRAFT COMPRISING FUEL CELLS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of a transport vehicle such as an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells. Technological background

[0002] There is currently a strong enthusiasm for equipping transport vehicles, particularly aircraft, with fuel cells since these cells form clean, reliable and flexible energy sources.

[0003] A fuel cell (also referred to by the acronym PAC), such as a hydrogen fuel cell, makes it possible to produce electricity from two fuels (dihydrogen and dioxygen) which react to form water, electricity and heat.

[0004] In aeronautical applications, the electrolysis reaction is generally carried out on the ground so that the hydrogen is directly loaded into a dedicated tank and the oxygen is supplied by air taken from outside the aircraft.

[0005] The fuel cell as such is therefore a two-electrode electrical generator which makes it possible to produce electrical energy by oxidation on one electrode of a reducing fuel, such as hydrogen, coupled with reduction on the other electrode of an oxidant, such as oxygen from the air for example.

[0006] It is known that a fuel cell operating at high power for a long period of time drops in performance due to various physicochemical phenomena that occur between the cathode, the anode and the dielectric of the cell.

[0007] In order to anticipate this drop in performance, most of the electrical networks on board aircraft have fuel cells that are oversized compared to the needs of the electrical consumers powered by these cells so as to guarantee that the cells will be able to provide the necessary energy, even when their performance degrades over time.

[0008] Furthermore, it is common for a fuel cell to be dedicated to a clearly identified consumer such as, for example, an electric propulsion motor or a recharge battery or aircraft electrical loads. If the battery can no longer provide the energy required by the identified consumer, logic for redistributing electrical energy from other energy sources can also be implemented.

[0009] The inventors sought to improve the monitoring and control logic of electrical networks including fuel cells to gain flexibility while maintaining the performance of the fuel cells. Objectives of the invention

[0010] The invention aims to provide a system and method for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of a transport vehicle, such as an aircraft, comprising a plurality of fuel cells, which overcome the limitations of known systems and methods.

[0011] The invention aims in particular to provide a system and a method which make it possible to maintain sufficient efficiency of the fuel cells to limit heat dissipation and the quantity of hydrogen on board.

[0012] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a system and a method which make it possible to optimally distribute the electrical power generated by the fuel cells according to the needs of the electrical consumers.

[0013] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a system and a method which make it possible to anticipate a drop in performance of a fuel cell.

[0014] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a system and a method which make it possible to prolong the use of a deficient fuel cell.

[0015] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a system and a method which make it possible to isolate a fuel cell from the network if necessary.

[0016] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a system and a method which no longer require oversizing the fuel cells while ensuring continuity of supply to the electrical consumers. Statement of the invention

[0017] To this end, the invention relates to a method for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells and a plurality of electrical consumers.

[0018] The method according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises: - a step of monitoring a set of parameters of said plurality of fuel cells, - a step of detecting impaired performance of one of the fuel cells, called a faulty cell, based on an analysis of said monitored parameters, - a step of determining at least one electrical consumer, called the elected consumer, whose electrical energy supply can be switched for a predetermined period of time corresponding to the time required to regenerate said faulty battery, from a nominal mode to a degraded mode in which its electrical energy supply is reduced compared to the nominal mode, - a step of powering in degraded mode each elected consumer determined in the previous step, - a step of isolating said faulty battery from the rest of the electrical network, - a step of regenerating the faulty battery, - a step of reintegrating said regenerated faulty battery into said network and return to a nominal power supply of each elected consumer, at the end of said regeneration of said faulty battery.

[0019] The method according to the invention is therefore remarkable in that it makes it possible to detect a possible failure of a fuel cell in the aircraft's electrical network and to ensure its regeneration by switching at least one of the electrical consumers supplied by the network to a degraded mode in which the chosen electrical consumer receives less electrical energy than in its nominal operating mode. This makes it possible to isolate the faulty battery from the network and to subject it to a regeneration procedure. Once the battery (or a group of batteries) has been regenerated, it can be reintegrated into the network and the chosen consumer can regain its nominal supply of electrical energy.

[0020] The invention therefore proposes to punctually reduce the electrical energy supply to one or more electrical consumers, so that all the sources of the electrical network, with the exception of the faulty battery which will be disconnected from the network, can maintain the electrical energy supply to all the consumers.

[0021] Thus and according to the invention, it is possible to regain the full power of a fuel cell by carrying out a regeneration of the cell by punctually limiting the supply of electrical energy to one or more electrical consumers.

[0022] Most electrical equipment consuming electrical energy on board an aircraft is duplicated. For example, an aircraft equipped with an electric air conditioning system comprises two packs distributed on each of the wings of the aircraft. It is then possible to cut the power supply to one of the two packs during the regeneration of the faulty battery, the cabin then being powered exclusively by the second pack. It is also possible to temporarily reduce the temperature and / or airflow of one or both packs, which results in a reduction in power supply. An electric air conditioning system includes a centrifugal compressor. It is possible to temporarily limit its power supply, which will temporarily reduce the power of cooled air.

[0023] Thus and according to the invention, the degraded mode can be a mode in which the elected electrical consumer is less supplied with electrical energy (for example an economical mode) or a mode in which the elected electrical consumer is no longer supplied (case of the air conditioning pack which is stopped, the conditioning then being ensured solely by the second pack of the aircraft).

[0024] The method according to the invention can determine, depending on the flight conditions, which electrical consumer is most likely to switch to a degraded mode and which degraded mode is most suitable taking into account the electrical energy requirements of the different electrical consumers of the system.

[0025] The battery regeneration step can be carried out in flight if conditions permit. Otherwise, this regeneration step can be carried out on the ground.

[0026] Thus and according to a variant of the invention, said step of isolating said faulty cell and said step of regenerating said faulty cell are implemented at the start of the aircraft following the flight during which the impaired performance of said fuel cell was detected.

[0027] According to this variant, the failure of the battery is detected during a flight, but the regeneration is initiated only when the aircraft is started for the next flight. This variant has the particular advantage of being able to benefit from a reduced temperature of the fuel cell, which facilitates the regeneration procedure. In addition, on the ground and at start-up, most of the electrical consumers can be switched to a degraded mode. In particular, the air conditioning systems are only rarely activated on the ground and if they are, the necessary cooling power is low and does not require significant power supplies from these consumers. It is therefore easy to isolate the fuel cell (or group of cells) that one wishes to regenerate.

[0028] Advantageously and according to the invention, said step of monitoring a set of parameters of said plurality of fuel cells comprises, for each fuel cell, the regular acquisition of data representative of the voltage and / or the current and / or the temperature and / or the hydrogen consumption of said cell and the comparison of said acquired data with reference data representative of a nominal operation of said cell.

[0029] This advantageous variant makes it possible to monitor battery parameters representative of its performance so as to be able to detect degraded performance.

[0030] Advantageously and according to the invention, said step of regenerating said faulty battery comprises: - a step of reducing the quantity of air supplying said faulty battery, - a step of lowering the temperature of said faulty battery, - a step of injecting hydrogen onto the anode of said faulty cell so as to trigger an oxidation reaction of the pollutants.

[0031] Once the faulty cell has been detected, the method implements a step of regenerating the faulty cell so as to recover the performance of the faulty fuel cell.

[0032] To do this, the fuel cell can be stopped (or placed in specific conditions of reduced electricity generation to supply a dedicated load compatible with reduced operation of the cell) and a reduction in the quantity of air sent to the cell is controlled to place the cell at low current. The temperature of the cathode of the cell is controlled so as to increase the humidity level at the cathode. This can be done by injecting water onto the cathode or by any suitable means. This can be done for example by controlling a valve arranged on a water circuit connecting a water reserve and the cathode of the cell. In addition, hydrogen is injected at the anode of the cell to trigger an oxidation reaction of the pollutants. This can be done for example by controlling a valve arranged on a hydrogen circuit connecting a hydrogen reserve and the anode of the cell.These different steps allow the battery cycle to be modified and pollutants to be eliminated, which allows the battery to recover its full power once the regeneration procedure is complete.

[0033] Advantageously, the method according to the invention further comprises, prior to the step of regenerating said faulty battery: - a step of accessing a counting data item for said faulty battery representing the number of regenerations already carried out for this battery, - a step of comparing this counting data to a predetermined threshold, - a step of switching said fuel cell to forced maintenance mode on the ground if the number of counts is greater than the predetermined threshold, the forced maintenance then replacing said step of regeneration of said faulty cell.

[0034] According to this advantageous variant, the method further comprises a step of incrementing said counting data if the counting number is lower than the predetermined threshold, at the end of said regeneration step.

[0035] The method according to this variant makes it possible to initiate the cell regeneration procedure only if the cell has not already undergone a predetermined number of regeneration procedures. Indeed, a faulty fuel cell cannot be regenerated indefinitely. Also, the method according to this variant provides for counting the number of regenerations of the cell and authorizing the regeneration of the cell only if the number of regenerations already carried out is less than a predetermined threshold. In the case where the faulty cell has already undergone the maximum possible number of regenerations, the cell must undergo a ground maintenance operation for repair or complete replacement of the cell.

[0036] The invention also relates to a system for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells and a plurality of electrical consumers, said system comprising: - for each fuel cell, a set of sensors configured to acquire state parameters of this cell, - a module for detecting impaired performance of one of the fuel cells, called a faulty cell, from the data provided by said sensors of each cell and comparison with reference data, - a module for determining, from the electrical needs of said plurality of electrical consumers, at least one electrical consumer, called the elected consumer, the operation of which can be switched, for a predetermined period of time corresponding to the time necessary to regenerate said faulty battery, from a nominal mode to a degraded mode in which its electrical energy supply is reduced compared to the nominal mode, - a central switch control unit connecting said plurality of fuel cells and said plurality of electrical consumers configured to: • isolate the faulty battery from the rest of the electrical network, • supply power in degraded mode to each elected consumer, • reintegrate said faulty battery into the electrical network and re-supply each electrical consumer in nominal mode, once said faulty battery has been regenerated, - a module for controlling the regeneration of said faulty battery.

[0037] The advantages and technical effects of the method according to the invention apply mutatis mutandis to a system according to the invention.

[0038] Throughout the text, module means a software element, a subset of a software program, which can be compiled separately, either for independent use or to be assembled with other modules of a program, or a hardware element, or a combination of a hardware element and a software subroutine. Such a hardware element may include an application-specific integrated circuit (better known by the acronym ASIC for the English term Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) or a programmable logic circuit (better known by the acronym FPGA for the English term Field-Programmable Gate Array) or a specialized microprocessor circuit (better known by the acronym DSP for the English term Digital Signal Processor) or any equivalent hardware or any combination of the aforementioned hardware. Generally speaking, a module is therefore an element (software and / or hardware) which makes it possible to ensure a function.

[0039] According to the invention, each fuel cell comprises a set of sensors configured to acquire state parameters of this cell, such as for example the current, the voltage, the temperature at critical points, the consumption of dihydrogen, etc.). These parameters are continuously monitored and a module for analyzing these parameters makes it possible to detect a possible failure of one of the fuel cells by comparing the power levels delivered by the cells with the needs of the electrical consumers supplied by these cells.

[0040] Advantageously and according to the invention, the voltage / current characteristic is monitored over time. It is also possible to monitor the heat dissipation of the cell so as to follow its efficiency over time. It is also possible to monitor the hydrogen consumption of the cell in relation to the voltage / current generation, and possibly by comparison with other cells in the network if applicable. It is also possible to monitor the internal resistance of the cell under reference conditions.

[0041] The system further comprises a centralized unit for controlling the distribution of electrical energy to electrical consumers according to the available energy sources.

[0042] According to a variant, this centralized control unit can control possible load shedding and reorientations. In the event of detection of a faulty battery (or several faulty batteries), the centralized unit can redistribute the loads, modify the priority levels to the most critical consumers, decouple a faulty battery by another more efficient battery and assign this faulty battery to a less critical or less important consumer, taking into account the flight conditions.

[0043] Furthermore and according to the invention, the centralized control unit can control the network to isolate the faulty battery and control its regeneration, by switching if necessary at least one electrical consumer into a degraded mode in which it consumes less electrical energy, which makes it possible to decouple the faulty battery from the electrical network.

[0044] A system according to the invention also makes it possible to optimally distribute the power generated by the network batteries to the most critical consumers. The system according to the invention also makes it possible to anticipate a drop in network performance by monitoring the status parameters of each battery. Independently of the procedure for regenerating the faulty battery, the system can also extend the use of a faulty battery by associating it with a less energy-hungry or less critical electrical consumer.

[0045] In other words, a system according to the invention makes it possible to ensure optimized distribution of energy to the various consumers and to limit power cuts following a failure of one or more fuel cells in the electrical network.

[0046] The invention extends to an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of electrical consumers, a plurality of switches connecting said plurality of fuel cells and said plurality of electrical consumers, characterized in that it further comprises a monitoring and control system according to the invention.

[0047] The advantages and technical effects of the system according to the invention apply mutatis mutandis to a network according to the invention.

[0048] The invention also relates to a method, a system and an electrical network characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below. List of figures

[0049] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given solely for non-limiting purposes and which refers to the appended figures in which: - [Fig.l] is a schematic view of an electrical network according to an embodiment comprising a monitoring system according to an embodiment according to the invention, - [Fig.2] is a schematic view of a monitoring method according to a mode of carrying out the invention.

[0050] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0051] In the figures, the scales and proportions are not strictly respected, for the purposes of illustration and clarity.

[0052] Identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all the figures.

[0053] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of electrical energy sources 10, 11, 12, a plurality of electrical consumers 20, 21, 22 connected to each other by electrical buses 100, and a plurality of switches 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 controlled by a control unit 50.

[0054] The plurality of electrical sources 10, 11, 12 comprises for example fuel cells 10, 11 designated hereinafter by the acronyms FC1 and FC2 for “Fuel Cell” and an auxiliary power generator 12, designated hereinafter by the acronym APU. Of course, other types of electrical sources can be provided within a network according to the invention.

[0055] The plurality of electrical consumers 20, 21, 22 comprises for example air conditioning packs 20, 21, hereinafter referred to by the acronyms ECS1 and ECS2 for “Environmental Control System”, and a wing de-icing system 22, hereinafter referred to by the acronym WIPS for “Wings Ice Protection Syst em”. Of course, other types of electrical consumers may be provided within a network according to the invention without calling into question the principle of the invention.

[0056] For each fuel cell, FC1 and FC2, a set of sensors 10a, 11a is connected to the fuel cell to acquire a plurality of parameters of the cell, such as the voltage, the current, the temperature and the hydrogen consumption of the cell. All types of sensors can be used to collect this type of information and a person skilled in the art will be able to determine which sensor to use to retrieve the corresponding information.

[0057] All of the measurements carried out by the sensors 10a, 11a are sent to a processing unit 40. This processing unit 40 is connected to a control unit 50 of the plurality of switches 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. The processing unit 40 and the control unit 50 can be formed by a single processing and control unit.

[0058] The processing unit 40 and / or the control unit 50 is for example a computer device which must be understood in the broad sense (computer, plurality of computers, virtual server on a local infrastructure, server networks, etc.). This computer device typically comprises one or more processors, one or more memories and software programmed to implement the modules embedded on the processing unit 40 and / or on the control unit 50.

[0059] The processing unit 40 comprises a module for detecting impaired performance of one of the fuel cells. To do this, the module compares the data from the sensors 10a, 11a, with reference data.

[0060] The processing unit 40 also comprises a module for determining, from the electrical needs of the electrical consumers, at least one electrical consumer, called the elected consumer, whose operation can be switched, for a predetermined period of time corresponding to the time necessary to regenerate the battery. faulty, from a nominal mode to a degraded mode in which its electrical power supply is reduced compared to the nominal mode.

[0061] For example, if it is determined that the FC1 battery is faulty, the system seeks to determine whether one of the electrical consumers can be switched to a degraded mode. For example, it may be determined that given the flight conditions, ECS1 may be stopped or powered less so that the cold production will be less than during nominal operation.

[0062] By way of example, and in the case where it is envisaged to no longer supply ECS1 for a predetermined period of time, the control unit 50, in communication with the processing unit 40, commands the opening of the switch 30 to disconnect the battery FC1 from the network. In addition, the control unit 50 controls the switch 33 to switch ECS1 into degraded mode (corresponding here to a non-supply of ECS1 for a predetermined period of time). Then, the procedure for regenerating the battery FC1 is initiated. This procedure consists for example of reducing the quantity of air supplying the battery FC1, injecting water onto the cathode of the battery FC1 and injecting hydrogen onto the anode of the battery FC1 so as to trigger an oxidation reaction of the pollutants. These steps are implemented by controlling valves arranged on air, water and hydrogen circuits of the cell, not shown in the figures.

[0063] Once the regeneration procedure has been carried out, the control unit 50 controls the switches 30 and 33 to restore the system to its initial state.

[0064] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a method implemented by a system according to the invention.

[0065] The method for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells and a plurality of electrical consumers comprises a first step E1 of monitoring a set of parameters of each fuel cell FC1, FC2. This step consists for example in monitoring the voltage and / or the current and / or the temperature and / or the consumption of dihydrogen of each cell FC1 and FC2.

[0066] The method comprises a subsequent step E2 of detecting an impaired performance of one of the fuel cells, called a faulty cell, from the analysis of the voltages, currents, temperatures and / or consumption of dihydrogen monitored in the previous step. For example, this step can detect that the cell FC1 is faulty due to a voltage measured at its terminals which has dropped and no longer allows sufficient power to be supplied to the electrical consumers of the network.

[0067] The method comprises a subsequent step E3 of determining at least one electrical consumer, called elected consumer, whose electrical energy supply can be switched over for a predetermined period of time corresponding to the time required to regenerate the faulty battery, from a nominal mode to a degraded mode in which its electrical power supply is reduced compared to the nominal mode. For example, it is determined that the ECS1 pack can be stopped for a few minutes to regenerate the FC1 battery.

[0068] The method then comprises a step E4 of supplying power in degraded mode to the ECS1 pack, i.e. in the present case, not supplying power to the ECS1 pack.

[0069] The method comprises a subsequent step E5 of isolating the faulty battery FC1 from the rest of the electrical network.

[0070] According to an advantageous embodiment, the method further comprises a step E6 of testing the ability to regenerate the faulty fuel cell FC1. This step E6 comprises the following sub-steps: - an access step E6a to a COMP counting data item of the faulty FC1 battery representing the number of regenerations that have already been carried out for this battery. This COMP counting data item is for example saved in a memory of the processing unit 40. - a comparison step E6b of this COMP counting data with a predetermined threshold, - a step E6c of switching said fuel cell to forced maintenance mode on the ground if the number of counts is greater than the predetermined threshold, the forced maintenance then replacing the step of regeneration of said faulty cell. Otherwise, the regeneration of the FC1 cell can be ensured.

[0071] If regeneration is possible, the method implements a regeneration step E7 of the faulty fuel cell FC1 which comprises the following sub-steps: - a step E7b to reduce the quantity of air supplying the faulty FC1 stack, - a step E7c of lowering the temperature of the faulty FC1 battery so as to increase its humidity level, - a step of injecting hydrogen E7d onto the anode of the faulty FC1 cell in order to trigger an oxidation reaction of the pollutants.

[0072] These different sub-steps are implemented by controlling valves of the air, water and dihydrogen circuits of the fuel cell. This control of the valves and the air compressor can, for example, be ensured by the control unit 50. Prior to the step E7b of reducing the quantity of air supplying the faulty cell, a step E7a of placing the fuel cell in a predetermined state in which the cell is connected to a low-consumption electrical load can be provided.

[0073] The method also comprises, at the end of the regeneration of the battery, and in the case where a counting data item is used, a step E6d of incrementing the counting data item COMP which will make it possible to determine whether a new regeneration of the battery is possible during the next detection of a failure of this battery FC1.

[0074] The method according to the invention finally comprises a step E8 of reintegrating the faulty FC1 stack regenerated by step E7 within the network. This step also consists of normally repowering the ECSL consumer.

[0075] Steps E5, E6, E7 and E8 can be implemented during a flight of the aircraft, if the flight conditions allow it, or at the start of the aircraft following the flight during which the impaired performance of the fuel cell was detected. As indicated previously, the regeneration of the cell at the next start of the aircraft makes it possible on the one hand to benefit from a low-temperature cell, which improves the performance of the regeneration of the cell, and on the other hand to have a wide choice of electrical consumers that can be switched to degraded mode or stopped, the needs on the ground being less important than in flight.

[0076] One of the advantages of a system and method according to the invention is that they use equipment already present within the electrical network of the aircraft comprising fuel cells. Only the control logic on board the processing unit and the control unit must be added to an existing network to give it the functionalities of the invention. The invention therefore makes it possible to give an electrical network of an aircraft comprising fuel cells a functionality for regenerating the batteries, without removing the batteries, by adding the control logic of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells (10, 11) and a plurality of electrical consumers (20, 21, 22), said method comprising: • a step of monitoring (El) a set of parameters of said plurality of fuel cells, • a step of detecting (E2) an impaired performance of one of the fuel cells, called a faulty cell, from an analysis of said monitored parameters, a step of determining (E3) at least one electrical consumer, called an elected consumer, whose electrical energy supply can be switched for a predetermined period of time corresponding to the time necessary to regenerate said faulty cell, from a nominal mode to a degraded mode in which its electrical energy supply is reduced compared to the nominal mode, • a step of supplying (E4) in degraded mode each elected consumer,• a step of isolating (E5) said faulty battery from the rest of the electrical network, • a step of regeneration (E7) of the faulty battery, • a step of reintegrating (E8) said regenerated faulty battery into said network and returning to a nominal power supply of each elected consumer, at the end of said regeneration of said faulty battery.,

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step of isolating (E5) said faulty cell and said step of regenerating (E6) said faulty cell are implemented at the start of the aircraft following the flight during which the impaired performance of said fuel cell was detected.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said step of monitoring (El) a set of parameters of said plurality of fuel cells comprises, for each fuel cell (10, 11), the regular acquisition of data representative of the voltage and / or current and / or temperature and / or the consumption of dihydrogen of said cell and the comparison of said acquired data with reference data representative of nominal operation of said cell.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said step of regeneration (E7) of said faulty cell comprises: • a step of reducing (E7b) the quantity of air supplying said faulty cell, • a step (E7c) of lowering the temperature of said faulty cell so as to increase its humidity level, • a step of injecting hydrogen (E7d) onto the anode of said faulty cell so as to trigger an oxidation reaction of the pollutants.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises, prior to the regeneration step (E7) of said faulty cell: • a step of accessing (E6a) a counting data item of said faulty cell representative of the number of regenerations having already been carried out for this cell, • a step of comparing (E6b) this counting data item with a predetermined threshold, • a step of switching (E6c) said fuel cell to forced maintenance mode on the ground if the number of counts is greater than the predetermined threshold, the forced maintenance then replacing said step of regeneration of said faulty cell, and in that it further comprises a step of incrementing (E6d) said counting data item if the number of counts is less than the predetermined threshold, at the end of said regeneration step.

6. System for monitoring and controlling an electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells (10, 11) and a plurality of electrical consumers (20, 21, 22), said system comprising: • for each fuel cell (10, 11), a set of sensors (10a, 11a) configured to acquire state parameters of this cell,

7. • a module for detecting impaired performance of one of the fuel cells, called a faulty cell, from the data provided by said sensors of each cell and comparison with reference data, • a module for determining, from the electrical needs of said plurality of electrical consumers (20, 21, 22), at least one electrical consumer, called the elected consumer, the operation of which can be switched, for a predetermined period of time corresponding to the time necessary to regenerate said faulty battery, from a nominal mode to a degraded mode in which its electrical energy supply is reduced compared to the nominal mode, • a central control unit (50) of switches connecting said plurality of fuel cells and said plurality of electrical consumers configured to: • isolate the faulty battery from the rest of the electrical network, • supply power in degraded mode to each elected consumer, • reintegrate said faulty battery into the electrical network and re-supply each electrical consumer in nominal mode, once said faulty battery has been regenerated, • a module for controlling the regeneration of said faulty battery. Electrical network of an aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel cells (10, 11), a plurality of electrical consumers (20, 21, 22), a plurality of switches (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) connecting said plurality of fuel cells (10, 11) and said plurality of electrical consumers (20, 21, 22), characterized in that it further comprises a monitoring and control system according to claim 6.

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