US 11,791,483 B2
Method for starting a fuel cell device under frost starting conditions and a fuel cell device and motor vehicle
Leonard Liphardt, Mainhardt (DE); Sebastian Disson, Waghäusel (DE); Keigo Suematsu, Neckarsulm (DE); and Francisco Javier Valbuena Encinas, Stuttgart (DE)
Assigned to Audi AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Appl. No. 17/607,347
Filed by AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
PCT Filed Jan. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/052215
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 28, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/221480, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 206 119.2 (DE), filed on Apr. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0223886 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04225 (2016.01); H01M 8/04302 (2016.01); H01M 8/04223 (2016.01); H01M 8/04537 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04225 (2016.02) [H01M 8/04253 (2013.01); H01M 8/04302 (2016.02); H01M 8/04552 (2013.01); H01M 8/04753 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for starting a fuel cell device having a plurality of fuel cells under frost starting conditions, comprising:
establishing a presence of frost starting conditions for the fuel cell device;
anode-side supplying of a hydrogen-containing reactant and cathode-side supplying of an oxygen-containing reactant in a sub-stoichiometric ratio with an oxygen deficit;
maintaining the anode-side supplying of the hydrogen-containing reactant and cathode-side supplying of the oxygen-containing reactant in a sub-stoichiometric ratio for a given interval of time;
after elapsing of the given interval of time, causing complete discharging of the fuel cells in a discharge phase; and
thereafter, converting the fuel cell device to a normal mode with supplying of the reactants according to requirements for a given operating state and power demand.