| 摘要 |
<p>A method detects fluid leaks within a fuel cell assembly. The method comprises (a) introducing a first supply fluid to a first fluid passage within the fuel cell assembly, wherein the first supply fluid comprises a tracer; (b) introducing a second supply fluid to a second fluid passage within the fuel cell assembly, wherein in the absence of a leak in the first fluid passage, the second fluid passage is fluidly isolated from the first fluid passage; and (c) monitoring a second fluid exhaust stream exiting from the second fluid passage and detecting when a concentration of the tracer is present within the second fluid exhaust stream. A corresponding fuel cell apparatus comprises a fuel cell assembly, a first reactant supply, and second reactant supply, a coolant supply, a tracer supply for adding a tracer to one of the reactants or the coolant fluid stream, and a tracer detector for detecting a concentration of the tracer within an exhaust fluid that is not the fluid to which the tracer is added. The detector emits an output signal when a threshold concentration is detected, or an output signal which is representative of the detected tracer concentration.</p> |
