Patent ID: 8402808
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: G01D,G01N,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for testing a hydrogen concentration sensor positioned in an exhaust gas line of a fuel cell system, said method comprising: providing a flow of exhaust gas from a fuel cell stack to the exhaust gas line; injecting a hydrogen gas from a hydrogen source to an anode side of the fuel cell stack using a plurality of injectors; using at least one of the injectors to inject a known quantity of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen source directly to the exhaust line in a pulsed manner; and detecting the pulse of hydrogen gas injected into the exhaust gas line by the hydrogen sensor and comparing the detected hydrogen gas by the hydrogen sensor to the known quantity of hydrogen gas to determine whether the hydrogen sensor is operating properly, wherein a pulse duration and time that the hydrogen gas is injected into the exhaust line is determined based on fuel cell system parameters based on algorithms such that the amount of hydrogen gas in the exhaust is approximately at or below a quantity specified to trigger a vehicle hydrogen alarm.