FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH ENERGY-EFFICIENT REACTANT RECYCLING

摘要

The invention relates to a fuel cell system (10) with at least one fuel cell (110) for electrochemical conversion of two reactants, wherein the fuel cell (110) has two electrode areas (111, 112), having a first supply line (20) for supplying a first reactant to a first electrode area (111), an outlet line (25), for emission of residual gas (90) from the first electrode area (111), wherein the residual gas (90) has an electrochemically unconsumed portion of the first reactant, a recirculation element (30), for feeding the residual gas (90) from the outlet line (25) into the first supply line (20), and an outlet valve (50) in order to emit the residual gas (90) into an area surrounding the fuel cell system (10). The invention provides for the fuel cell system (10) to have a monitoring unit (60) in order to control the outlet valve (50), wherein the monitoring unit (60) opens the outlet valve (50) when the energy required to feed the residual gas (90) by means of the recirculation element (30) exceeds an energy potential of the first reactant which is present in the residual gas (90).