Providing sealing air and purging in fuel cell systems via air reservoirs

Abstract

A method (100) for protecting a fuel cell system (5), particularly one that is powered off, comprising: detecting (S20) status data describing influencing factors related to moisture condensation in the fuel cell system; and providing (S40') sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5) using gas from a pressure vessel of the vehicle and / or flushing (S40) at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5) based on the status data.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for protecting a powered off fuel cell system, a system for monitoring, flushing and / or providing sealing air to a part of a fuel cell system, and a computer program or computer program product. [Background technology]

[0002] Typically, in a fuel cell system, condensation or condensed water is generated in various parts of the fuel cell system under certain conditions. The fuel cell system is typically designed to remove the condensation or condensed water that occurs during operation of the fuel cell system. Typically, the fuel cell system, particularly in a powered-off fuel cell-powered vehicle or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), is no longer able to remove the condensation or condensed water, especially when parts of the fuel cell system are shut down or deactivated. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of a fuel cell system, in particular when the fuel cells of the fuel cell system, a majority of the fuel cells of the fuel cell system, or a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) equipped with the fuel cell system are powered off, in particular when at least a part, in particular a majority of the fuel cell system, is shut down. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The solution to this problem is achieved according to the teaching of the independent claims. Various embodiments and developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] A first aspect of the solution presented herein relates to a method for protecting a fuel cell system, particularly for protecting a powered-off fuel cell system. In some embodiments of the invention, the method includes detecting status data. In some embodiments, the status data describes a condition, particularly an external condition, of at least a portion of the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, the method includes providing sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system and / or flushing at least a portion of the fuel cell system based on the status data.

[0006] In the following, various exemplary embodiments of the method are described, which can be optionally combined with each other and with other further described aspects of the solution, unless expressly excluded or technically impossible.

[0007] In some embodiments, the method further includes detecting fuel cell system data. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system data describes a condition, particularly an internal condition, of at least a portion of the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, providing sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system and / or flushing at least a portion of the fuel cell system is, particularly additionally, based on the fuel cell system data.

[0008] In some embodiments, the method includes providing sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system and / or flushing at least a portion of the fuel cell system based on the status data and / or the fuel cell system data.

[0009] In some embodiments, the provision and / or flushing of sealing air is performed using gas from a pressure vessel, particularly a compressed air reservoir or compressed air tank. In some embodiments, the provision and / or flushing of sealing air is additionally or alternatively performed using gas from a pressure vessel, particularly a compressed air reservoir or compressed air tank, particularly a pressure vessel that is normally used for tasks other than flushing and / or provisioning in a fuel cell system, particularly a vehicle with a fuel cell system and / or an FCEV. In some examples, the pressure vessel is used or configured at least additionally (to its normal and / or other uses) for the provision of sealing air and / or flushing with sealing air, particularly with gas. In some examples, a pressure vessel is not used that is used or configured solely for the provision and / or flushing with gas of sealing air. In some examples, the pressure vessel is additionally configured for the provision and / or flushing of sealing air as described herein.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method includes powering off the fuel cell system, particularly powering off ("shutting down") a (part of) the fuel cell system, so that the fuel cell system is in an idle or "powered off" state. In some embodiments, the method includes detecting whether the fuel cell system is powered off, particularly whether that part of the fuel cell system is in a non-operational state, in response to a state of the fuel cell system that is (normally) considered or corresponds to "powered off." In some embodiments, the detecting of the status data and / or the detecting of the fuel cell system data is performed after powering off the fuel cell system, particularly while the fuel cell system is in a powered off state. In particular, in some embodiments, the detecting of the status data may include detecting a "powered off" state of the fuel cell system. "Powered off" as used herein may in some embodiments be understood to mean that the fuel cell system no longer has (dry) air, particularly (dry) gas, available, particularly that all or at least some parts of the fuel cell system can no longer be protected from condensate formation by air and / or gas flow through at least part of the fuel cell system.

[0011] In some embodiments, "gas" is understood here to mean in particular a fluid, more particularly a pure gas or a mixed gas. In some embodiments, "gas" is understood here to mean an inert fluid, in particular an inert gas or a mixed inert gas. In some embodiments, "gas" is understood here to mean a fluid with a relative humidity of less than 2%, a dry gas or dry air, in particular a fluid with a trace moisture content of less than 200 ppm or less than 60 ppm.

[0012] Advantageously, in some embodiments, this may prevent ingress of (condensed) water, and therewith failure of high voltage systems of the fuel cell system, HV insulation failure, and / or system corrosion, in particular by "flushing away" condensate or condensate buildup, in particular humid air and / or gases with a high water content. Even more advantageously, in some embodiments, this may be done without starting up parts or (the whole) of the fuel cell system.

[0013] In some embodiments, the status data includes or describes at least one value from the group consisting of: the service life of the fuel cell system, the operating state of the fuel cell system, in particular whether the fuel cell system is powered off, wind direction, in particular relative to the main axis of the fuel cell system, the standby position of the fuel cell system, in particular the GPS location, and the external temperature and external temperature trend, in particular adjacent to the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, other values, in particular published values, in particular values from (public) data banks on weather and / or weather forecasts, in particular values at the detected "standby" position of the fuel cell system, may be included in or described in the status data. In other words, in some embodiments, at least part of the status data is detected from external data sources, in particular online published data sources are used, in particular weather agency data, such as temperature data, data on wind speed and / or wind direction, and in particular forecasts of the mentioned data, at or relative to the location of the fuel cell system.

[0014] Advantageously, in some embodiments, this may enable or enable the determination of a current and / or future state of the fuel cell system, in particular at its (current) location, in particular a value corresponding to a state. In other words, advantageously, in some embodiments, this may enable the determination of a forecast for the state of the fuel cell system. In some embodiments, this forecast may be used to determine (in particular based on the state data and / or fuel cell system data) whether condensate or condensed water production, in particular freezing of the produced condensate, is expected for at least part of the fuel cell system, or whether the likelihood of freezing of the produced condensate is higher than a predetermined likelihood.

[0015] In some embodiments, detecting the condition data and / or detecting the fuel cell system data includes predicting trends in the values of these data.

[0016] Advantageously, this can provide or is supplemented by not only the current state of the fuel cell system but also a forecast of the current state of the fuel cell system.

[0017] In some embodiments, detecting the status data includes combining a plurality of status data and in particular deriving or calculating a prediction regarding at least one of the values (described by the status data) and / or using the detected values, using mathematical models, artificial intelligence or conversion tables (English: Lookup Table), for detecting the status of the fuel cell system or for predicting the status of the fuel cell system, in particular for detecting whether the fuel cell system is exposed to conditions that lead or may lead to freezing of condensate.

[0018] Advantageously, in some embodiments, this allows for determining whether the fuel cell system has been powered off, and in particular whether the fuel cell system has been shut down, In other words, in some embodiments, the status data can be used to detect whether the fuel cell system, and in particular some parts thereof, is or will be exposed to environmental conditions that cause or may cause condensate or condensed water to freeze.

[0019] In some embodiments, the fuel cell system data includes or describes at least one value from the group of: water content, particularly relative humidity, of at least a portion of the fuel cell system; condensate production and / or condensate amount in at least a portion of the fuel cell system; temperature of at least a portion of the fuel cell system; and temperature profile of at least a portion of the fuel cell system.

[0020] Advantageously, in certain embodiments, this may allow or enable different cooling behaviors of various components of the fuel cell system to be taken into account and / or may enable or enable improved flushing of components of the fuel cell system depending on these cooling behaviors.

[0021] In some embodiments, flushing is performed using a gas, in particular compressed air and / or hydrogen and / or an inert gas, in particular nitrogen or argon. In some embodiments, providing "sealing air" is performed using a gas, in particular compressed air and / or hydrogen and / or a gas, in particular an inert gas, in particular nitrogen or argon. Further advantageously, in some embodiments, this can prevent parts of the fuel cell system where condensate may form from freezing, in particular at low external temperatures (at or below the freezing point). The term "sealing air" as used herein is preferably to be understood as a fluid, a fluid mixture, in particular a gas or gas mixture. "Sealing air" is preferably understood without restriction of generality, and in particular "sealing air" is not limited to the everyday meaning of "air."

[0022] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the fuel cell system is on the cathode side of the fuel cell system or is a cathode branch of the fuel cell system, or on the anode side of the fuel cell system or is an anode branch of the fuel cell system, and in some embodiments, providing flushing or sealing air is done using compressed air, an inert gas, particularly nitrogen, on the cathode side or cathode branch, and using hydrogen and / or an inert gas, preferably hydrogen, on the anode side or anode branch.

[0023] Advantageously, this may in some embodiments enable or enable certain parts of the fuel cell system to be respectively flushed with a gas that matches these characteristics, or to be provided with sealing air corresponding to these parts.

[0024] In some embodiments, flushing at least part of the fuel cell system or providing sealing air to at least part of the fuel cell system is carried out using a controllable, in particular adjustable, valve control, which comprises at least one valve.

[0025] Advantageously, in some embodiments, this allows various parts of the fuel cell system to be or be flushed separately, or sealing air to be or be provided separately, particularly in parallel and / or sequentially, to various parts of the fuel cell system.

[0026] In some embodiments, the method is performed at a predetermined time after the fuel cell system is powered off and / or at predetermined intervals (in time). Alternatively or complementary, the method is performed randomly (in time) or continuously.

[0027] In some embodiments, the method includes repeating the steps described herein, and in particular in some embodiments, the detection of status data and / or fuel cell system data and the provision or flushing of sealing air are repeated based on the status data and / or fuel cell system data, particularly while the fuel cell system is powered off.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method is performed without starting the fuel cell system (as a whole), and in particular without starting or operating the electric supercharger of the fuel cell system. Advantageously, this in some embodiments reduces or avoids the (intense) noise that would be generated by starting the entire system and that could alarm or annoy people in the vicinity. Indeed, in some embodiments, it avoids having to "start up" the fuel cell system to allow flushing of at least a portion of the fuel cell system and / or to provide sealing air for this portion in the event of a risk of freezing. In some embodiments, the method is performed when the fuel cell system is shut down, in particular during partial operation and / or in an operating state in which condensate formation in at least some portions of the system can no longer be prevented.

[0029] In some embodiments, the fuel cell system is a mobile fuel cell system, in particular a fuel cell system that at least partially drives a vehicle or at least partially supplies the vehicle with electrical energy and / or heat. In some examples, the term "vehicle" is understood to mean, in particular, a fuel cell system designed to be mobile, in particular used to propel the vehicle at least partially, or at least involved in generating energy for the vehicle's propulsion, and / or used to supply the vehicle with current or energy, in particular as an "Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)" or the like. In some embodiments, a "vehicle" is understood to mean, in particular, a mobile means of transportation and / or a mobile means of transport, in particular a commercial vehicle, a light truck (LKW), a passenger car, a watercraft, or a flying device, in particular an airplane, in particular an eVTOL or eSTOL, or a gyrocopter, in particular equipped with a fuel cell system. In some embodiments, the method includes powering off the vehicle, in particular powering off ("shutting down") systems of the vehicle so that the vehicle is in an idle or "powered off" state. In some embodiments, the method includes detecting whether the vehicle has been powered off, particularly depending on the state of the vehicle that is (normally) considered "powered off," and particularly detecting whether those portions of the vehicle and / or those portions of the fuel cell system are in an inoperative state. In some embodiments, the detecting of the status data and / or the detecting of the fuel cell system data is performed after the vehicle has been powered off, and particularly while the vehicle is in a powered off state. In particular, in some embodiments, the detecting of the status data may include detecting a "powered off" state of the vehicle.

[0030] A second aspect of the solution presented herein relates to a system for monitoring and flushing at least a portion of a fuel cell system, in particular a fuel cell system of a vehicle, and / or for providing sealing air to at least a portion of a fuel cell system, in particular a fuel cell system of a vehicle, which in some embodiments is adapted to perform the method described herein.

[0031] Advantageously, this may enable, in some embodiments, the fuel cell system to be able to start or remain in a startable state, particularly under conditions that would normally lead to freezing of condensate or increased condensate production, particularly where the fuel cell system and / or vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system is not equipped with the systems described herein, particularly under conditions where the condensate would (normally) lead to failure of the fuel cell system unless or until the condensate is removed.

[0032] The features and advantages discussed in relation to the first aspect of the invention apply correspondingly to the further aspects of the invention.

[0033] The method according to the first aspect is preferably adapted to be implemented using a system according to the invention according to the second aspect, in particular one embodiment thereof described herein. The system according to the invention is preferably adapted to carry out the method according to the first aspect, in particular one embodiment thereof described herein.

[0034] In some embodiments, the system, particularly the fuel cell system and / or vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system, includes a pressure vessel or compressed air reservoir or tank, particularly an additional or extended pressure vessel. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel is configured, particularly an additionally configured, particularly adjustable, to flush at least a portion of the fuel cell system with gas or to provide sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system. As used herein, "additional" may refer in some embodiments to a vehicle pressure vessel that is typically used for braking, etc., but is not configured for flushing and / or providing sealing air. In some embodiments, the system includes at least one adjustable valve (using a valve control) designed to regulate gas flow from the pressure vessel. In some examples, the system, particularly the fuel cell system and / or vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system, particularly with respect to vehicles not equipped with the systems described herein, and even more particularly with respect to vehicles not equipped with systems configured to perform the methods described herein, includes a compressed air reservoir, particularly an extended compressed air reservoir.

[0035] Advantageously, this may enable flushing of several parts of the system or the provision of sealing air to several parts of the system to be carried out independently, in particular without the need to operate several parts of the fuel cell system, in particular the entire fuel cell system, which in some embodiments may advantageously remain shut down, in particular this system being advantageously able to (nevertheless) provide flushing or sealing air.

[0036] In some embodiments, the system comprises a number of valves, in particular a number of valves adjustable by a valve control, in some embodiments at least one valve of each of the number of valves is connected to a valve of the motor housing and / or the turbine side of the Electric Turbo Charger (ETC), to a valve of the anode knock-out (AKO), in particular a drain valve, in particular connected to flush the mentioned parts or to provide sealing air to the mentioned parts, in particular connected so that the connection between the pressure vessel and the respective part of the fuel cell system is or is acted upon, in particular adjusted or adjusted by the valve. In some embodiments, at least one valve of the plurality of valves is connected to a purge valve of the anode separator, more particularly to the subsequent anode separator manifold and / or anode separator heating tube up to the exhaust pipe, to a cathode separator (CKO), more particularly to a drain valve of the cathode separator, more particularly to an air processing unit (APU) of the fuel cell system, more particularly to the subsequent cathode separator heating tube up to the exhaust pipe, in particular for flushing the mentioned parts or for providing sealing air to the mentioned parts, in particular connected so that the respective parts of the pressure vessel and the fuel cell system are acted upon or are acted upon, in particular regulated or are regulated by the valve.In some embodiments, at least one valve of each of the multiple valves is connected to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack, the anode side of the fuel cell stack, and / or to a hydrogen recirculation blower (English: Hydrogen Recirculation Blower; HRB), in particular to a hydrogen recirculation blower of an anode feed unit (English: AFU) of the fuel cell system, in particular to flush the mentioned parts or to provide sealing air to the mentioned parts, in particular to be connected so that the pressure vessel and the respective parts of the fuel cell system are acted upon or are acted upon, in particular to be regulated or are regulated by the valve.

[0037] Advantageously, in some embodiments, it may be realized that some parts of the fuel cell system, in particular the mentioned parts of the fuel cell system, are flushed and / or provided with sealing air when they fall below or exceed a predetermined value for that part of the fuel cell system individually, depending on the fuel cell system data, in particular its (respective) cooling behavior, in particular its temperature profile and / or its current temperature, the amount of condensate or condensed water present in that part, the humidity prevailing in that part, and / or the status data (as described herein). Advantageously, in some embodiments, this may facilitate in particular the start-up of the fuel cell system, prevent or be preventable fuel cell system malfunctions, in particular HV malfunctions, and / or further protect the fuel cell system, so that start-up of the fuel cell system is possible or is possible (at all). The concept of "below" may in some embodiments refer to falling below a predetermined value, in particular for temperature, a prediction for temperature, etc. The concept of "above" may in some embodiments refer to exceeding a predetermined value, in particular for condensate content, (relative) humidity, water content, cooling rate, etc.

[0038] The system and / or means in the sense of the present invention may be formed in hardware and / or software technology and may in particular comprise at least one, preferably digital, processing unit, in particular a microprocessor unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), etc., in data or signal connection with a storage system and / or a bus system, and / or one or more programs or program modules. The processing unit may be configured to process instructions embodied as a program stored in the storage system, to record input signals on the data bus, and / or to send output signals to the data bus. The storage system may comprise one or more, in particular various, storage media, in particular optical, magnetic, solid-state, and / or non-volatile media. The program may be of such a nature that it embodies or is capable of implementing the methods described herein, thereby enabling the processing unit to carry out the steps of such methods and, in particular, to operate or monitor, in particular, to protect, the fuel cell system.

[0039] In some embodiments, the system includes means for detecting status data, means for detecting fuel cell system data, and means for providing sealing air and / or means for flushing at least a portion of the fuel cell system.

[0040] In some embodiments, the method is performed solely using the systems described herein, particularly the pressure vessel and the means for detecting status data, the means for detecting fuel cell system data, and the means for providing sealing air or the means for flushing, without using any systems, devices, modules, etc. that are operational or are activated, particularly when the fuel cell system and / or vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system is not powered off, particularly when it is started. The means for providing sealing air and / or the means for flushing, in some embodiments, refer to at least one processing unit, particularly a valve controller configured to open and / or close at least one valve when the detected value of the status data and / or fuel cell system data exceeds or falls below a predetermined value. The at least one processing unit, particularly the valve controller, in some embodiments is integrated into the at least one valve or is external to the valve, particularly configured to regulate the at least one valve.

[0041] A computer program product may in one embodiment comprise, and may in particular be, a storage medium, particularly computer-readable and / or non-volatile, for storing a program or instructions or a storage medium on which a program or instructions are stored. In one embodiment, execution of this program or these instructions by a system or controller, particularly a computer or an arrangement of computers, causes this system or controller, particularly one or more computers, to perform, or the program or instructions are configured to perform, one or more of the methods or steps thereof described herein.

[0042] The computer program can be stored, in particular, on a non-volatile data storage medium. Preferably, this medium is a data storage medium in the form of an optical data storage medium or a flash memory module. This can be advantageous when the computer program, as such, is to be treated independently of the processor platform on which it or several programs are executed. In other embodiments, the computer program may be present as a data file on a data processing unit, in particular on a server, and may be downloadable via a dedicated data connection, such as the Internet or a proprietary or local network. In addition, the computer program may comprise a number of cooperating individual program modules. These modules may be configured to be executed on, or in any case be available for, various devices (computers or processor units) that are geographically separated from one another and connected to one another via a data network, in the sense of "distributed computing."

[0043] The system may accordingly comprise a program storage device on which the computer program is stored. Alternatively, the system may be configured to access, via a communications connection, a computer program available externally, for example on one or more servers or other data processing units, in particular for transmitting data used in the course of the method or computer program or data representing the output of the computer program to or from said servers or data processing units.

[0044] In an embodiment, one or more, in particular all, steps of the method are fully or partly automated, in particular performed by a control or control means, in which case it is within the scope of the invention for the method steps described above to be performed in a different order and / or for method steps to be combined and / or for certain method steps to be integrated into other method steps.

[0045] As used herein, the terms "comprise," "contain," "include," "comprise," "have," "comprising," or other variations of these terms are intended to be non-exclusive inclusive. Thus, for example, a method or apparatus that includes or comprises a number of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements and can encompass other elements not expressly listed or inherent in such method or apparatus.

[0046] Furthermore, "or" refers to an inclusive or, not an exclusive "or," unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, condition A or B is satisfied by one of the following conditions: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), and both A and B are true (or exist).

[0047] The term "a" as used herein is defined to mean "one or more." The terms "another" or "further," as well as other variations of these terms, are understood to mean "at least one other."

[0048] The concepts "configured" or "set" to perform a particular function (and respective variations of these concepts), as sometimes used herein, are understood to mean that the relevant device or its components are already designed or adjusted to perform that function, or are at least adjustable, i.e., configurable, to perform that function after being adjusted accordingly. In that case, the configuration can be performed by, for example, adjusting process parameters or switches for enabling or disabling functionality or adjustments, etc. In particular, the device can comprise a number of predefined configuration or operation modules, and the configuration can then be performed by selecting one of these configuration or operation modules.

[0049] Further advantages, features and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0050] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate identical, similar, or corresponding elements. The elements depicted in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Rather, the various elements depicted in the drawings are reproduced so that their functions and general purpose can be understood by those skilled in the art. Connections and couplings between functional units depicted in the drawings can also be implemented as indirect connections or couplings, unless explicitly specified otherwise. The functional units can also be implemented in particular as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0052] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system 1 including a fuel cell system 5. The system 1 includes valves V1-Vn, each connected to a portion of the fuel cell system 5. Furthermore, the system 1 includes a pressure vessel 10, which is connected to the portion of the fuel cell system 5 via the valves V1-Vn. The valves V1-Vn are configured to provide a quantity of compressed air from the pressure vessel 10, in particular to regulate or regulate the flow of compressed air to the portion of the fuel cell system 5, and / or to provide or provide a quantity of compressed air from the pressure vessel 10, in particular as sealing air in the portion of the fuel cell system 5 connected via the respective valves V1-Vn. Valve V1 in FIG. 1 is adapted to flush or provide sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system 5, here illustratively at least a portion of the electric supercharger ETC. Valve V2 in FIG. 1 is adapted to flush or provide sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system 5, here illustratively at least a portion of the anode separator AKO. Valve V3 in FIG. 1 is adapted to flush or provide sealing air to at least a portion of fuel cell system 5, which in this example is at least a portion of the air handling unit APU. Valve V4 in FIG. 1 is adapted to flush or provide sealing air to at least a portion of fuel cell system 5, which in this example is at least a portion of a fuel cell stack assembly module (SAM). Valve V5 in FIG. 1 is adapted to flush or provide sealing air to at least a portion of fuel cell system 5, which in this example is at least a portion of a fuel cell stack assembly (SAM). In some embodiments, system 1 includes a number of valves, as exemplarily depicted by reference symbol Vn in FIG. 1. Valve Vn in FIG. 1 is adapted to flush or provide sealing air to at least a portion of fuel cell system 5, which in this example is at least a portion of an anode supply unit AFU.Additionally, FIG. 1 depicts a fuel cell interface FCI, which may be used (in some embodiments) specifically to detect fuel cell system data, and which is specifically configured for and connected to be in data communication therewith.

[0053] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a method 100 for protecting a vehicle's fuel cell system 5. The method 100 includes powering off the fuel cell system S10 or detecting whether the fuel cell system is powered off, detecting status data S20, and detecting fuel cell system data S30. In some embodiments, the method can include detecting temperature S20′ and / or relative humidity S30′, which are illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 2. Based on the (detected) status data and the (detected) fuel cell system data, as long as the detected status data and / or detected fuel cell system data are below or above a (predetermined) value, at least a portion of the fuel cell system is flushed S40, and in some embodiments, sealing air S40′ is provided to at least a portion of the fuel cell system. Depending on the portion of the fuel cell system, flushing and / or sealing air can be provided, which is illustratively illustrated in FIG. 2 by dashed line S40′. Furthermore, the method can be repeated at any frequency, particularly while the fuel cell system is powered off, which is illustrated here by dashed arrows.

[0054] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been described above, it should be noted that many variations thereof exist. In doing so, it should also be noted that the exemplary embodiment described represents only a non-limiting example, and that the embodiment is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the apparatus and methods described herein. Rather, the foregoing description provides guidance to one skilled in the art for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, and it will be apparent that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in the exemplary embodiment without departing from the subject matter defined in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1 System 5. Fuel Cell System 10 Pressure vessel / compressed air reservoir V1~Vn valves APU Air Treatment Unit AFU anode supply unit AKO Anode Separator CKO cathode separator ETC electric supercharger FCI Fuel Cell Interface SAM fuel cell assembly 100 ways S10 Shutdown S20 State Data Discovery S20' Temperature detection S30 Fuel Cell System Data Detection S30' Relative humidity detection S40 Flushing S40' Sealing Air Supply

Claims

1. A method (100) for protecting a fuel cell system (5), in particular one that has been powered off, comprising: Detecting status data describing influencing factors related to moisture condensation in the fuel cell system (S20); and providing sealing air (S40') to at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5) and / or flushing at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5) (S40) using gas from a pressure vessel of the vehicle based on the status data, the pressure vessel of the vehicle being additionally configured for this purpose; The method (100) comprising:

2. The method includes detecting (S30) fuel cell system data of at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5), the fuel cell system data describing a state of at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5); 2. The method (100) of claim 1, wherein, based on the fuel cell system data, sealing air is provided to at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5) using gas from a pressure vessel of the vehicle and / or flushing the at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5) using gas from a pressure vessel of the vehicle.

3. the status data includes at least one value from the group consisting of: service life, wind direction, location, external temperature, and external temperature trend of the fuel cell system; and / or 3. The method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fuel cell system data comprises at least one value from the group of: water content of at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5); condensate production and / or condensate amount in the at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5); temperature of the at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5); and temperature progression of the at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5).

4. 4. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flushing and / or the provision of sealing air is performed using a gas, in particular using hydrogen, and / or using compressed air, in particular using an inert gas, in particular using nitrogen or argon.

5. said at least part of said fuel cell system (5) is a cathode branch and the flushing and / or provisioning is carried out with a gas, in particular with an inert gas and / or with compressed air, or 5. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one part of the fuel cell system (5) is an anode branch of the fuel cell system (5), and flushing and / or providing is performed with an inert gas and / or hydrogen.

6. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein flushing (S40) or providing sealing air to (S40') at least part of the fuel cell system (5) is carried out using a controllable, in particular adjustable, valve control unit comprising at least one valve (V1; Vn), in particular by controlling, in particular adjusting, in particular opening and closing the at least one valve.

7. The method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least a portion of the state data is detected from an external data source.

8. The method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method is performed at a predetermined time after the vehicle is powered off or at predetermined time intervals.

9. The method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising repeating said detecting on the one hand and said flushing and / or said providing on the other hand.

10. The method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the method is performed when the fuel cell system (5) is powered off or during partial operation of the fuel cell system (5).

11. A system (1) for monitoring, flushing (S40) and / or providing sealing air to (S40') at least a part of a fuel cell system (5), the system (1) being configured to perform a method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. 12. The system (1) according to claim 11, comprising a pressure vessel (10), which is particularly additionally configured to flush (S40) at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5) with gas or to provide (S40') sealing air to at least a portion of the fuel cell system (5), particularly by means of a valve control unit.

13. the system (1), in particular the valve control device, comprises a plurality of valves (V1; Vn), the valves (V1; Vn) are arranged to fluidly connect the pressure vessel (10) and the at least part of the fuel cell system (5); 13. The system (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the system (1), in particular the valve control device, is further configured to influence the gas amount, in particular to adjust the gas amount.

14. A computer program or computer program product comprising instructions, in particular stored on a computer-readable and / or non-volatile storage medium, which, when executed by one or more computers or a system (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, cause the computers or the system (1) to carry out the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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