METHOD FOR EARLY DETECTION OF MEMBRANE FAILURES OF FUEL CELL STACKS AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM COMPONENT DEFECTS

摘要

A system and method for determining a possible failure of membranes in the fuel cells for a fuel cell stack. The method includes monitoring the stack current density and the minimum cell voltage of the fuel cells in the stack. If both the minimum cell voltage and the stack current density are below predetermined values, then the method multiplies scaling factors of the minimum cell voltage and the stack current density to provide a membrane failure factor. If the membrane failure factor is greater than a threshold, then an indication is given of a possible membrane failure.