Device and method for determining the operating parameters of individual fuel cells or short stacks of fuel cells

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for determining the operating parameters of individual cells or short stacks of fuel cells, preferably of medium-temperature or high-temperature fuel cells.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method for cooling hot process gases, which arise in the operation of fuel cells or the testing of fuel cell system components, such as reformers, mixing and conditioning systems or catalysers, in a fuel cell testing station, wherein the hot process gases are fed into at least one heat exchanger unit to lower the temperature in the process gas before entry of the process gas into an exhaust vent of the testing station, and wherein the waste heat of the heat exchanger unit is carried off with the ambient air flowing into the exhaust vent. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the heat exchanger unit is designed as an air/gas heat exchanger and is directly cooled by the ambient air flowing into the exhaust vent. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the heat exchanger unit is designed as a coolant/gas heat exchanger and a cooling unit through which the coolant flows is cooled by the ambient air flowing into the exhaust vent. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein a surplus of the ambient air is provided for diluting the process gases. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the waste gas in the exhaust vent is fed into a heat recovery unit. 
     
     
         45 . A device for cooling hot process gases, which arise in the operation of fuel cells or the testing of fuel cell system components, such as reformers, mixing and conditioning systems or catalysers, in a fuel cell testing station, wherein at least one heat exchanger is located in the hot process gas flow, which lowers the entry temperature of the process gas before it enters an exhaust vent, and wherein a device for cooling the heat exchanger by means of the ambient air flowing into the exhaust vent is provided. 
     
     
         46 . The device according to  claim 45 , wherein the heat exchanger is designed as an air/gas heat exchanger which is located in or at the inlet of an exhaust hood of the exhaust vent. 
     
     
         47 . The device according to  claim 45 , wherein the heat exchanger is designed as a coolant/gas heat exchanger which is connected to a cooling unit located in the exhaust vent via a coolant circulating in a coolant loop. 
     
     
         48 . The device according to  claim 46 , wherein an electrical load connected to the fuel cell or a fuel cell component, which has to be cooled, is connected to a cooling unit in the exhaust vent via a cooling loop. 
     
     
         49 . The device according to  claim 45 , wherein a catalyser and/or a condensate or water separator is positioned in the exhaust vent.