Method and system for causing and determining defects in a PEM fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (100) and method for detecting and determining specific defects and / or malfunctions of a PEM fuel cell (10). In addition to measuring operating parameters, comparing measurement signals with reference signals, and determining whether specific defects and / or malfunctions are present, in particular, the control of the operating parameters during a test operation is performed according to a provided stress factor pattern, which stores critical settings and / or profiles of operating parameters for causing defects and / or malfunctions of the fuel cell (10) to be tested.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a corresponding system for causing and determining defects and / or malfunctions of a PEM fuel cell.

[0002] The method and system according to the present invention are suitable for inspecting malfunctions and damages of a low-temperature fuel cell (PEM fuel cell) equipped with a polymer electrolyte membrane. Thereby, the occurrence of defects can be recognized and inspected, which enables inferences for defect avoidance or fuel cell improvement.

[0003] In a system environment using a fuel cell as a power source, various measurement methods are known for performing measurements during operation or stop of a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack, or during its use. From the measurements, usually, a signal is generated, which is analyzed, thereby enabling indirect inference of the aging state or degradation of the fuel cell.

[0004] In a known measurement method for recognizing degradation of a catalyst element of a fuel cell system, a temperature that can give an indirect indication of degradation is measured. The measured temperature values are processed into a temperature data set for calculating the temperature gradient in the inlet region of the catalyst element. In a second step of this technique, the temperature gradient is compared with a reference parameter. In a final step, the degradation situation is evaluated based on the comparison result.

[0005] In another known measurement method, in order to detect defects and / or degradation of a fuel cell assembly, during steady operation by the fuel cell assembly, an analysis of the power spectral density (PSD) of the voltage signal output is performed, and specific defect and / or degradation signs are identified from a specific pattern achieved by the PSD of the measured voltage signal.

[0006] In yet another known measurement method, an analysis of the performance degradation of a fuel cell is performed. In that case, an AC impedance measurement is performed and compared with a reference value. Based on the result of this comparison, the performance degradation of the fuel cell can be indirectly recognized.

[0007] The above measurement method and its approach can be partially integrated into the system environment of an application to provide monitoring of the aging state over the service life. However, the information obtained therefrom is always related to the individual use of a specific model of fuel cell and the individual effects that the fuel cell or the corresponding fuel cell stack has received in its application and system environment over the service life. Combining the information obtained from individual monitoring is associated with a great deal of effort, or it may be impossible to access the information at the end consumer device at the end of the service life, and is associated with a significant time frame depending on the service life. In addition, the measurement technology or analysis needs to be individually adapted and cannot be easily applied to other models of PEM fuel cells or their applications.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a technology that enables comparison between any models of PEM fuel cells or empirical inspection of specific defects within an acceptable time frame for universally inspecting specific defects in the structure or resulting performance impairments. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables a universal and reproducible inspection of defects, impairments, or degradation of a PEM fuel cell. Another object of the present invention is to automatically perform these inspections within a time frame acceptable in the scope of product development. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0010] The above problem is solved by a system having the features of claim 1 and a method including the steps of claim 8. Other features and details of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. In that case, the features and details described in connection with the apparatus according to the invention are of course also valid in connection with the method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the individual aspects of the invention can always be cross-referred to each other with respect to the disclosure of each aspect of the invention.

[0011] The system according to the present invention is designed to cause and determine specific defects and / or malfunctions of a PEM fuel cell. To that end, the system according to the present invention has various system components. A measurement module that measures at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell and outputs a fingerprint pattern having a temporal signal profile of the measurement signal includes at least one sensor for detecting at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell. A comparison module is used to compare the signal profile of the measurement signal from the output fingerprint pattern with the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern, and various reference patterns having signal profiles of the reference signal characteristic of various specific defects and / or malfunctions are provided to the comparison module. A determination module is used to determine whether at least gradually a specific defect and / or malfunction, the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern used in the comparison being characteristic thereof, has occurred, and the determination module is set to make the determination at the common part (Schnittmenge) between the signal profiles of the measurement signal from the fingerprint pattern and the reference signal from the reference pattern.

[0012] According to the present invention, the system includes a fuel gas test supply unit that supplies fuel gas to the anode section of a fuel cell during a test operation, an oxidizing gas test supply unit that supplies oxidizing gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell during the test operation, and a test bench module having an electrical test load that derives electric power from the fuel cell during the test operation. Further, the control module that controls the operating parameters of the test operation of the fuel cell on the test bench module is provided with a stress factor pattern, in particular, in which critical settings and / or critical profiles of the operating parameters for causing defects and / or failures of the fuel cell during the test operation are stored.

[0013] Similarly, according to the present invention, a corresponding method for causing and determining a specific defect and / or failure of a PEM fuel cell includes the following steps. Measuring at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell by using at least one sensor and outputting a fingerprint pattern having a temporal signal profile of the measurement signal. Comparing the signal profile of the measurement signal from the output fingerprint pattern with the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern by providing various reference patterns having signal profiles of reference signals characteristic of various specific defects and / or failures. A step of determining whether at least gradually a specific defect and / or failure characterized by the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern used in the comparison has occurred, the determination being based on the common portion between the signal profiles of the measurement signal from the fingerprint pattern and the reference signal from the reference pattern.

[0014] According to the present invention, there is contemplated a step of performing a test operation on a test bench having a fuel gas test supply unit that supplies fuel gas to the anode section of a fuel cell during the test operation, an oxidizing gas test supply unit that supplies oxidizing gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell during the test operation, and an electrical test load that draws electric power from the fuel cell during the test operation. In that case, in particular, a step of controlling the operating parameters of the test operation of the fuel cell on the test bench is executed in accordance with at least one stress factor pattern in which critical settings and / or temporal profiles of operating parameters for causing defects and / or malfunctions of the fuel cell during the test operation are stored.

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention provides for the first time a combination of measurement and analysis techniques and a universal test environment, in which generic patterns are used to control a controlled, preferably accelerated, and reproducible aging or degradation test operation of a fuel cell in the universal test environment.

[0016] The present invention can be regarded as an advantage in providing a universal system and method for the controlled and unified testing or examination of various models of PEM fuel cells, which also enables an efficiently shortened long-term test based on a stringent stress factor pattern.

[0017] Therefore, this system or method is very flexible and suitable for PEM fuel cells of various types, structures, and sizes, and is particularly valuable for product development or experimental research.

[0018] As another advantage of the present invention, it becomes possible to automatically recognize aging phenomena such as minor or critical (kritisch) impairments in the performance, structure, or integrity of a PEM fuel cell in order to avoid a complete malfunction due to a known specific defect or damage.

[0019] Similarly, an advantage of the present invention is that the system or method is provided with the selection of a general reference pattern having a basic reference curve of a reference signal for selecting a known defect pattern (Fehlerbilder) from the side of the manufacturer or provider, and the customer is enabled to diagnose a known defect image by the system or method.

[0020] The present disclosure defines the term operating parameter as various adjustment quantities such as, for example, gas amount, power demand or consumption amount, temperature of reactants, and resultant amounts such as output voltage or no-load voltage of a fuel cell, or temperature of a product, which are actively set or adjusted, or passively occur, or can be measured in a test operation, such as chemical concentration of individual substances in a product.

[0021] The present disclosure defines the term measurement signal as a signal that directly represents the value of the measured quantity detected by a sensor or can be derived indirectly from the detected measured quantity.

[0022] The present disclosure defines the term fingerprint pattern as the curve transition of the signal level of the measurement signal detected over a certain period.

[0023] The present disclosure defines the term reference signal as a signal having the same type and meaning as the measurement signal used for comparison.

[0024] The present disclosure defines the term reference pattern as the curve transition of the signal level of the reference signal stored over a certain period, and this curve transition particularly includes inflection points, constants, upper and lower limit values, or their temporal relationships, or deviations from values and profiles that are common in a new or undamaged fuel cell.

[0025] The present disclosure defines the term common part as characteristic features common to the curve transition of a signal, such as the number of inflection points, amplitude, and temporal behavior such as amplitude width and frequency.

[0026] The present disclosure defines the term "specific defect" as a typical type of damage to the structure of a fuel cell, such as thinning or damage in the form of holes or cracks in the membrane, or thinning or damage in the form of inactivation of regions in the thickness or surface of the catalyst layer.

[0027] The present disclosure defines the term "malfunction" as various degradations in the performance of a fuel cell related to parameters such as output voltage or output current related to the input parameters of the supply of reactants, or degradations in the electrochemical or physical processes taking place in the fuel cell. Malfunctions can occur particularly gradually or may be detectable, and these can be the direct or indirect result of specific defects or breakages in the structure of the fuel cell, or other aging phenomena.

[0028] The present disclosure defines the term "stress factor pattern" as a static or dynamic characteristic map of stored operating parameters including regulated quantities such as gas quantity, power demand or power consumption, temperature of reactants, etc., or a static or dynamic characteristic map of target values of resulting quantities such as, for example, the output voltage or the no-load voltage of the fuel cell.

[0029] The present disclosure defines the term "critical setting or critical profile of operating parameters" as absolute values, their average duration or their dynamic variations, such as, in particular, periodic high output voltages or no-load voltages, which are selected, according to expert knowledge, to cause a reproducible test operation of the fuel cell under test that achieves extreme loading and a rapid onset of aging phenomena.

[0030] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, at least one stress factor pattern can have a periodic profile of operating parameters for achieving a periodic profile of the output voltage of the fuel cell having defined voltage peaks. Thus, it is possible to achieve the loading of the fuel cell over a test operation period at a high voltage plateau of the output voltage or the no-load voltage of the fuel cell with a defined number of voltage peaks or a defined total duration, which can set and reproduce the breakage of the fuel cell structure.

[0031] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal can be normalized to a common zero point and / or scale when comparing or determining defects, and a common part can be determined based on the amplitude width and / or amplitude frequency overlap of the normalized signal profiles. In this way, the system or method can inspect known defect images based on a pre-stored general reference pattern having a preset parameter quantity and time behavior on any model of a fuel cell having different parameter quantities and time behaviors.

[0032] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, as a result of the determination that a specific defect or fault exists, a diagnostic output signal is output, and this diagnostic output signal can output a diagnostic output signal including the diagnostic probability of a percentage of a specific defect and / or fault based on the common part between the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal.

[0033] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, based on the adaptation of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern to the signal profile of the measurement signal of the fingerprint pattern determined to have at least gradually occurred specific defects and / or faults characterized by the signal profile of the reference signal, the provided reference pattern can be edited. Thus, in a universal system or method, the general reference pattern can be customized for each customer in relation to the specifically inspected model in order to improve the defect recognition of the specific model.

[0034] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the system or method can further use a signal generator for applying an excitation signal based on an alternating voltage to the fuel cell, and at least one sensor detects a signal response based on the alternating voltage generated as a result of the interaction between the excitation signal and the fuel cell. This technique can extend the measurement method to alternating impedance measurement by active signal excitation and passive signal response for inspecting the state of the fuel cell.

[0035] Alternatively, according to one aspect of the present invention, the measurement technique used in the system or method may include a virtual sensor emulated using a degradation model of the analysis software on the measurement module, based on the indirect measurement of a voltage sensor for detecting the output voltage of the fuel cell, a hydrogen sensor for detecting the hydrogen concentration on the cathode side of the fuel, a conductivity sensor for detecting the conductivity of the produced water discharged from the fuel cell, and / or other physical sensors.

[0036] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the method according to the present invention can be implemented in a computer program that executes steps in relation to the necessary hardware included in the system according to the present invention.

[0037] Other advantages, features, and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in which embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0038]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 3C

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0039] In FIG. 1, a block diagram schematically shows an embodiment of the structure of a system 100 for determining and causing specific defects and / or malfunctions in a PEM fuel cell 10. The system 100 includes, among other things, various modules described below as system components.

[0040] The fuel cell 10 or fuel cell stack to be tested can be any model or type of PEM fuel cell from which knowledge can be obtained in the fields of scientific inspection, defect analysis, product development, etc.

[0041] The test bench module 50 is a test environment that enables the operation of the fuel cell 10 to be tested under laboratory conditions. This includes, among other things, a fuel gas test supply unit 51 having, for example (not shown), a hydrogen gas tank, a control valve, and a connection connected to the anode section of the fuel cell 10. Similarly, the oxidizing gas test supply unit 52 includes, for example, a compressor (not shown) for supplying atmospheric oxygen, a control valve and / or a rotational speed control device of the compressor, and a connection connected to the cathode section of the fuel cell 10. Further, a test load 53 having a controllable power consumption of the fuel cell 10 or a power requirement for the fuel cell is connected, and the test load is provided by a heat sink or an electric consumer device. The controllable actuators of the fuel gas test supply unit 51 and the oxidizing gas test supply unit 52 and the circuit, particularly the power electronics of the test load 53, are connected together to a control module 55, and the operating parameters for the test operation of the fuel cell 10 are controlled by the control module in an open-loop control (gesteuert) and a closed-loop control (geregelt) by signals.

[0042] Various general stress factor patterns that can be selected by the user are stored in the control module 55 in order to reproducibly execute various load and aging scenario of the fuel cell 10 to be tested. In that case, the operating parameters in the test operation are open-loop and closed-loop controlled in accordance with the selected stress factor pattern, as will be described later in connection with FIG. 2.

[0043] The system 100 further includes a measurement module 20 representing different types of measurement techniques. Accordingly, the measurement module 20 includes at least one sensor 21 for detecting the operating quantity of the fuel cell 10. Preferably, different types of sensors 21 are provided, such as a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor for gas pressure, a concentration sensor for the concentration of hydrogen (H2) or hydrogen fluoride (HF), or a conductivity sensor for the conductivity of a liquid for inspecting the performance and the supplied or discharged fluid.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the system 100 further includes a signal generator 22 that applies an excitation signal, such as an alternating current signal with frequency modulation, to the electrodes of the fuel cell 10 in the range of the measurement technique of impedance spectroscopy, in connection with a voltage sensor 21 that detects the resulting signal response in the interaction with the state of the structure of the fuel cell 10.

[0045] The measurement module 20 converts the detected measured quantity of the sensor 21 into a digital measurement signal, and this signal can be further processed for analysis. For this purpose, a comparison module 30 and a determination module 40 are used, which can be implemented as software tools or as subprograms of a computer program for this method.

[0046] The comparison module 30 stores a general reference pattern including a characteristic curve profile of relevant operating parameters that are directly or indirectly typical of the behavior of the fuel cell 10 in the event of a specific defect or damage. The comparison module 30, or alternatively, the determination module 40 normalizes the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal for the same measured quantity of the operating parameter to a common zero point and / or a common scale, thereby enabling better and universal comparison of the commonality of the absolute or qualitative curve transitions even for fuel cells 10 of different types and dimensions. The determination module 40 determines whether a specific defect has occurred according to the degree of coincidence of the characteristic features of the curve transition selected as related to the indirect inference of the defect pattern, that is, based on the size of the common part of such commonality (number of inflection points, absolute value, average value, etc.). In that case, the determination module 40 also determines the diagnostic probability of the occurrence of the defect based on the degree of the common part. Alternatively or additionally, the determination module 40 determines the extent to which a specific defect or the resulting impairment of the structure or performance of the fuel cell 10 has progressed based on the value of the common part.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows various stress factor patterns for the test operation of the fuel cell 10 to be tested vertically. Strictly speaking, this figure shows a diagram in which various transitions of the electric field between the electrodes in the fuel cell 10 measurable by the existing voltage are caused by an exemplary type of periodic control of the operating parameter based on various stress factor patterns during the test operation.

[0048] For example, triangular wave modulation, square wave modulation, triangular wave modulation with a maintained potential level, or triangular wave modulation with a reduced potential peak occur, which, based on empirical research, result in different reproducible aging rates or failure rates in the fuel cell in the durability test.

[0049] Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C show exemplary fingerprint patterns that differ from the normal behavior or signal profile of a new or undamaged battery, taking into account the specified profile of operating parameters in a test operation. In that case, Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C are, by way of example, related to various measurement signals corresponding to the measured quantities detected for the relevant operating parameters of different types of sensors 21, and for these operating parameters, characteristically different behaviors are known that are associated with specific defect patterns of specific defects such as thinning or damage of the membrane or reduction of the active catalyst material.

[0050] Figure 4 shows an exemplary series of causes leading to specific defects in membrane damage to understand the process of damage to the fuel cell structure.

[0051] In that case, during the test operation by the stress factor pattern, for example, by suppressing the power consumption of the test load 53 under the supply of the reaction gas through the fuel gas test supply section 51 and the oxidizing gas test supply section 52 in the fuel cell 10, a specific level and holding time of the open circuit voltage (OCV) or the high voltage (HV) occur periodically. The high voltage of the fuel cell 10 promotes harmful electrochemical processes such as the formation of hydrogen peroxide or free radical species that gradually attack the material of the polymer electrolyte membrane. In further progress, the membrane becomes thinner, thereby endangering its integrity. Then, small holes are formed and finally cracks occur, thereby preventing gas exchange between the anode and the cathode. The gas exchange causes local exothermic reactions or hot spots, which continue to damage other structures such as the membrane and the catalyst material.

[0052] Depending on the measurement technology used in the measurement module 20, various stages of damage such as thinning of the membrane or specific defects can be recognized in advance by an appropriate sensor system. For example, the onset of membrane failure is indicated by the release of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in the production water or hydrogen (H2) at a later stage, which can be detected by appropriate concentration measurements or conductivity measurements in the production water. The defect state during the test operation is automatically determined by comparing the corresponding measurement signal with a reference pattern including characteristic values and / or transitions for the HF concentration or H2 concentration, or the conductivity of the production water indirectly related thereto, as a fingerprint pattern. At a further later stage, the same measurement method is also shown based on voltage loss.

[0053] The description of the above embodiments is only illustrative of the present invention within the scope of examples. (Other possible items) (Item 1) A system (100) for causing and determining specific defects and / or failures of a PEM fuel cell (10), A measurement module (20) that measures at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell (10) and includes at least one sensor (21) for detecting at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell (10), and outputs a fingerprint pattern having a temporal signal profile of a measurement signal; A comparison module (30) that compares the signal profile of the measurement signal from the output fingerprint pattern with the signal profile of a reference signal from a reference pattern, wherein various reference patterns having signal profiles of reference signals characteristic of various specific defects and / or failures are provided; A determination module (40) that determines whether at least gradually the specific defect and / or the failure characterized by the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern used in the comparison has occurred, and is configured to make a determination based on a common part between the signal profile of the measurement signal from the fingerprint pattern and the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern; In a system comprising the system (100) a fuel gas test supply unit (51) for supplying fuel gas to the anode section of the fuel cell (10) during a test operation, an oxidizing gas test supply unit (52) for supplying oxidizing gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell (10) during the test operation, and an electrical test load (53) for deriving power from the fuel cell (10) during the test operation, a test bench module (50); a control module (55) for controlling the operation parameters of the test operation of the fuel cell (10) on the test bench module (50), wherein at least one stress factor pattern storing the setting and / or critical profile of the operation parameters for causing defects and / or failures of the fuel cell (10) during the test operation is provided, the control module (55); A system further comprising. (Item 2) The system (100) according to item 1, wherein the at least one stress factor pattern provided to the control module (55) has a periodic profile of operation parameters for achieving a periodic profile of the output voltage of the fuel cell (10) having a defined voltage peak. (Item 3) The system (100) according to item 1 or 2, wherein the comparison module (30) and / or the determination module (40) are set to normalize the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal to a common zero point and / or scale, and to determine a common part based on the overlap of the amplitude widths and / or amplitude frequencies of the normalized signal profiles. (Item 4) The system (100) according to any one of items 1 to 3, further comprising a diagnostic output module for outputting a diagnostic output signal including a diagnostic probability percentage of the specific defect and / or failure based on the common part between the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal. (Item 5) An editing module that edits a provided reference pattern based on a specific adaptation to a fuel cell (10) of a reference signal of the reference pattern to a signal profile of a measurement signal of a fingerprint pattern for which it is determined that at least gradually there has occurred the specific defect and / or the fault that is characteristic of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern, the system (100) according to any one of items 1 to 4, further comprising. (Item 6) The measurement module (20) further has a signal generator (22) for applying an excitation signal based on an alternating voltage to the fuel cell (10), and the at least one sensor (21) detects a signal response based on an alternating voltage resulting from an interaction between the excitation signal and the fuel cell (10), the system (100) according to any one of items 1 to 5. (Item 7) The at least one sensor (21) of the measurement module (20) is a voltage sensor that detects the output voltage of the fuel cell (10), a hydrogen sensor that detects the hydrogen concentration on the cathode side, a conductivity sensor that detects the conductivity of the produced water, and / or a virtual sensor emulated on the measurement module (20) using a degradation model of the analysis software is the system (100) according to any one of items 1 to 6. (Item 8) A method for determining and causing specific defects and / or faults in a PEM fuel cell (10), comprising: measuring at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell (10) by detecting at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell (10) using at least one sensor (21) and outputting a fingerprint pattern having a temporal signal profile of a measurement signal; By providing various reference patterns having signal profiles of reference signals characteristic of various specific defects and / or malfunctions, comparing the signal profile of the measurement signal from the output fingerprint pattern with the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern; Determining whether at least gradually occurred a specific defect and / or the malfunction characteristic of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern used in the comparison, based on a common portion between the signal profiles of the measurement signal from the fingerprint pattern and the reference signal from the reference pattern; a method including the step of determining. Performing a test operation on a test bench having a fuel gas test supply unit (51) for supplying fuel gas to the anode section of the fuel cell (10) during the test operation, an oxidizing gas test supply unit (52) for supplying oxidizing gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell (10) during the test operation, and an electrical test load (53) for deriving power from the fuel cell (10) during the test operation; Controlling the operating parameters of the test operation of the fuel cell (10) on the test bench (50) to match at least one stress factor pattern in which the setting and / or time profile of the operating parameters for causing defects and / or malfunctions of the fuel cell (10) during the test operation are stored; A method, characterized by. (Item 9) The method (100) according to item 8, wherein at least one stress factor pattern has a periodic profile of operating parameters for achieving a periodic profile of the output voltage of the fuel cell (10) having a defined voltage peak. (Item 10) The step of comparing and / or determining includes the following intermediate steps, namely, An intermediate step of normalizing the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal to a common zero point and / or scale; An intermediate step of determining a common portion based on the amplitude width and / or the overlap of the amplitude frequencies of the normalized signal profile; The method according to item 8 or 9, further comprising. (Item 11) Outputting a diagnostic output signal including a diagnostic probability percentage of the specific defect and / or the percentage of the obstacle based on a common portion between the normalized signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal, the method according to any one of items 8 to 10. (Item 12) Based on a specific adaptation of the fuel cell (10) of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern to the signal profile of the measurement signal of the fingerprint pattern determined that at least gradually occurred the specific defect and / or the obstacle, the method according to any one of items 8 to 11, further comprising the step of editing the provided reference pattern. (Item 13) The step of measuring further includes the following intermediate steps, namely, An intermediate step of applying an excitation signal based on an alternating voltage to the fuel cell (10) using a signal generator (22); An intermediate step of detecting a signal response based on an alternating voltage generated as a result of the interaction between the excitation signal and the fuel cell (10) using the at least one sensor (21), the method according to any one of items 8 to 12. (Item 14) The step of measuring includes at least one of the following intermediate steps, namely, An intermediate step of detecting the output voltage of the fuel cell (10) using a voltage sensor; An intermediate step of detecting the hydrogen concentration on the cathode side using a hydrogen sensor; An intermediate step of detecting the conductivity of the produced water using a conductivity sensor, and / or An intermediate step of emulating a virtual sensor using a degradation model of the analysis software on the measurement module (20) The method according to any one of items 8 to 13, further comprising. (Item 15) A computer program including instructions for causing a computer to execute the steps of the method according to any one of Items 8 to 14 when the computer program is executed by the computer.

Explanation of Signs

[0054] 10 Fuel cell 20 Measurement module 21 Sensor 22 Signal generator 30 Comparison module 40 Judgment module 50 Test bench module 51 Fuel gas test supply unit 52 Oxidizing gas test supply unit 53 Test load 55 Control module 100 System

Claims

1. A system for detecting and determining specific defects and / or malfunctions of a PEM fuel cell, including at least one sensor for detecting at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell, measuring at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell, and outputting a fingerprint pattern having a temporal signal profile of a measurement signal; a measurement module; A comparison module that compares the signal profile of the measurement signal from the output fingerprint pattern with the signal profile of a reference signal from a reference pattern, wherein various reference patterns having signal profiles of reference signals characteristic of various specific defects and / or malfunctions are provided; a comparison module; A determination module for determining whether at least gradually the specific defect and / or the malfunction characterized by the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern used in the comparison has occurred, the determination module being set to make the determination based on a common part between the signal profile of the measurement signal from the fingerprint pattern and the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern; a determination module; In a system comprising: The system is A test bench module having a fuel gas test supply unit for supplying fuel gas to the anode section of the fuel cell during a test operation, an oxidizing gas test supply unit for supplying oxidizing gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell during the test operation, and an electrical test load for deriving power from the fuel cell during the test operation; A control module for controlling the operating parameters of the test operation of the fuel cell on the test bench module, A control module provided with at least one stress factor pattern storing settings and / or critical profiles of operating parameters for causing defects and / or malfunctions of the fuel cell during the test operation; A system further comprising.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one stress factor pattern provided to the control module has a periodic profile of operating parameters for achieving a periodic profile of the output voltage of the fuel cell having a defined voltage peak.

3. The comparison module and / or the determination module are set to normalize the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal to a common zero point and / or scale, and to determine a common portion based on the overlap of the amplitude width and / or amplitude frequency of the normalized signal profiles. The system according to claim 1.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic output module that outputs a diagnostic output signal including a diagnostic probability percentage of the specific defect and / or percentage of the failure based on the common portion between the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an editing module that edits a provided reference pattern based on a specific adaptation of the reference signal of the reference pattern to the signal profile of the measurement signal of a fingerprint pattern determined to have at least gradually occurred the specific defect and / or the failure that is characteristic of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern.

6. The measurement module further has a signal generator for applying an excitation signal based on an alternating voltage to the fuel cell, and the at least one sensor detects a signal response based on an alternating voltage resulting from an interaction between the excitation signal and the fuel cell. The system according to claim 1.

7. The at least one sensor of the measurement module is a voltage sensor that detects the output voltage of the fuel cell, a hydrogen sensor that detects the hydrogen concentration on the cathode side, a conductivity sensor that detects the conductivity of the produced water, and / or a virtual sensor emulated on the measurement module using a degradation model of the analysis software The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method for causing and determining a specific defect and / or failure of a PEM fuel cell, comprising: measuring at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell by detecting at least one operating parameter of the fuel cell using at least one sensor and outputting a fingerprint pattern having a temporal signal profile of a measurement signal; By providing various reference patterns having signal profiles of reference signals that are characteristic of various specific defects and / or malfunctions, comparing the signal profile of the measurement signal from the output fingerprint pattern with the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern; Determining whether at least gradually occurred a specific defect and / or the malfunction that is characteristic of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern used in the comparison, the determination being based on a common portion between the signal profile of the measurement signal from the fingerprint pattern and the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern, in a method including: Performing a test operation on a test bench having a fuel gas test supply unit that supplies fuel gas to the anode section of the fuel cell during the test operation, an oxidizing gas test supply unit that supplies oxidizing gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell during the test operation, and an electrical test load that derives electric power from the fuel cell during the test operation; Controlling the operating parameters of the test operation of the fuel cell on the test bench to match at least one stress factor pattern in which the setting and / or time profile of the operating parameters for causing defects and / or malfunctions of the fuel cell during the test operation are stored; A method, characterized by the above.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one stress factor pattern has a periodic profile of operating parameters for achieving a periodic profile of the output voltage of the fuel cell having a defined voltage peak.

10. The step of comparing and / or determining includes the following intermediate steps, namely: An intermediate step of normalizing the signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal to a common zero point and / or scale; An intermediate step of determining a common portion based on the amplitude width and / or amplitude frequency overlap of the normalized signal profiles; The method according to claim 8, further including the above.

11. The method according to claim 10, further including the step of outputting a diagnostic output signal including a diagnostic probability percentage of the specific defect and / or malfunction percentage based on a common portion between the normalized signal profiles of the measurement signal and the reference signal.

12. Based on a specific adaptation to the fuel cell of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern to the signal profile of the measurement signal of the fingerprint pattern for which it is determined that at least gradually occurred the specific defect and / or the fault which is characteristic of the signal profile of the reference signal from the reference pattern, further including the step of editing the provided reference pattern, the method according to claim 8.

13. The step of measuring includes the following intermediate steps, namely, an intermediate step of applying, using a signal generator, an excitation signal based on an alternating voltage to the fuel cell; and an intermediate step of detecting, using the at least one sensor, a signal response based on an alternating voltage resulting from an interaction between the excitation signal and the fuel cell, the method according to claim 8.

14. The step of measuring includes at least one of the following intermediate steps, namely, an intermediate step of detecting the output voltage of the fuel cell using a voltage sensor; an intermediate step of detecting the hydrogen concentration on the cathode side using a hydrogen sensor; an intermediate step of detecting the conductivity of the produced water using a conductivity sensor; and / or an intermediate step of emulating a virtual sensor using a degradation model of analysis software on a measurement module the method according to claim 8.

15. A computer program including instructions for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 14 when the computer program is executed by the computer.

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