Abstract: An system for emptying at least one reservoir containing a pressurized fluid, including, for each reservoir, a vent for discharging the fluid out of the reservoir and a discharge valve for connecting the reservoir to the vent, the emptying system additionally including, for each discharge valve, a return member for returning the discharge valve to its closed configuration, and a fluid control system for controlling the movement of each discharge valve to its open configuration by action of an operating fluid on the discharge valve, the control system including an operating station arranged outside a danger zone around each reservoir, and, for each discharge valve, a fluid pipe fluidically connecting the operating station to the discharge valve, the operating station including at least one reversible free connection for connecting to each fluid pipe of a device for supplying the control system with operating fluid.

Abstract: A method for detecting leakage of a reducing fluid throughout an electrolyte membrane of an electrochemical cell is provided. The method includes the following consecutive steps: supplying the cell with anode and cathode streams; brisk and controlled variation of at least one of the following parameters: the pressure of the anode stream in the anode channel, the pressure of the cathode stream in the cathode channel, the flow rate of the anode stream into the anode channel, the flow rate of the cathode stream into the cathode channel, and the strength of the current exchanged between the two sides of the membrane; measurement of a first reducing fluid concentration in a first stream, including the cathode stream leaving the cathode channel; and deducing the presence or absence of leakage on the basis of the variation in the first measured concentration of reducing fluid over time. A corresponding fuel cell system is also provided.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a stack (3) of electrochemical cells (5), a power converter (9) electrically connected to the stack (3), a voltage comparator (7) for comparing the voltage at the terminals of at least one group of at least one electrochemical cell (5) of the stack (3) to a threshold voltage, and a control module (11) for controlling the converter (9). The control module (11) includes a generator (74) for generating a control instruction for controlling the converter (9) and a transmission member (76) for transmitting the control instruction to the converter (9). The voltage comparator (7) is suitable for transmitting a signal to the transmission member (76).

Abstract: A method is for producing seals on faces of electrochemical reactor components intended to be stacked in order to form an electrochemical reactor Each component is in the form of a plate and having a first face and an opposing second face. The first face is designed to receive a first seal and the second face is designed to receive a second seal. The method includes shaping the first seals on the first faces of the components, the first seals being at least partially polymerized; depositing the second seals on the second face of the components; and shaping the second seals by compressing a stack formed from the components alternating with molding plates.

Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell (12) includes the following steps: measuring the fluid pressure in a first compartment from the anode and cathode compartments of the fuel cell (12); calculating a first target pressure for the fluid pressure in the second compartment of the fuel cell (12), the first target pressure depending on the fluid pressure measured in the first compartment; stabilizing the fluid pressure in the second compartment to the first target pressure; measuring the fluid pressure in the second compartment; calculating a second target pressure for the fluid pressure in the first compartment, the second target pressure depending on the fluid pressure measured in the second compartment; and stabilizing the fluid pressure in the first compartment at the second target pressure.

Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell (12) includes the following steps: measuring the fluid pressure in a first compartment from the anode and cathode compartments of the fuel cell (12); calculating a first target pressure for the fluid pressure in the second compartment of the fuel cell (12), the first target pressure depending on the fluid pressure measured in the first compartment; stabilizing the fluid pressure in the second compartment to the first target pressure; measuring the fluid pressure in the second compartment; calculating a second target pressure for the fluid pressure in the first compartment, the second target pressure depending on the fluid pressure measured in the second compartment; and stabilizing the fluid pressure in the first compartment at the second target pressure.

Abstract: A power-generating system is provided including a fluid-tight chamber and an electricity-generating assembly arranged in the chamber, the electricity-generating assembly comprising a fuel cell for generating power by means of an oxidation-reduction reaction between an oxidizer and a fuel, and a supply system for supplying oxidizer and fuel to the fuel cell, the power-generating system also including a heat-control system including a cold source and a hot source, and a heat-transport fluid circuit that is configured to control the temperature of the electricity-generating assembly by exchanging heat with the cold source and the hot source.

Abstract: A plate for a fuel cell consisting of a stack of plates and membrane electrode assemblies is provided. The plate includes at least one striated sealing surface for bearing in a sealed manner against a membrane electrode assembly or against another fuel cell plate. The plate is a bipolar plate, a monopolar plate, or an elementary plate of such a bipolar or monopolar plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator plate is provided. The fuel cell separator plate includes at least one groove formed in a face of the separator plate so as to feed reactant gas to a membrane electrode assembly applied against the face of the separator plate, the groove comprising an inlet section and an outlet section. The fuel cell separator plate also includes injection means configured so as to inject gas into at least one intermediate section of the groove, situated between the inlet section and the outlet section.

Abstract: A battery is provided. The battery includes a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series with each other and adapted for each generating an electric current from an oxidation-reduction reaction between an oxidizing fluid and a reducing fluid. The battery also includes, for each electrochemical cell, a control device for controlling the voltage across the terminals of the cell. The battery also includes a voltage regulator device electrically connected to the cell so that the control device measures the voltage across the terminals of the cell, increased by an offset voltage across the terminals of the regulator device.

Abstract: A system of fuel-cell stacks is provided. The system includes fuel-cell stacks, a circuit for supplying each fuel-cell stack with an oxidizing fluid, a circuit for supplying each fuel-cell stack with a reducing fluid, and a pressure-regulating device fitted to the supply circuits so as to regulate the fluid pressure in each fuel-cell stack. The pressure-regulating device includes a first line for controlling the fluid pressure and a second line for passing the fluid, these two lines being placed in parallel between an upstream channel delivering fluid from a supply circuit and downstream channels connected to each fuel-cell stack.

Abstract: A power-generating system is provided including a fluid-tight chamber and an electricity-generating assembly arranged in the chamber, the electricity-generating assembly comprising a fuel cell for generating power by means of an oxidation-reduction reaction between an oxidizer and a fuel, and a supply system for supplying oxidizer and fuel to the fuel cell, the power-generating system also including a heat-control system including a cold source and a hot source, and a heat-transport fluid circuit that is configured to control the temperature of the electricity-generating assembly by exchanging heat with the cold source and the hot source.

Abstract: A plate for a fuel cell consisting of a stack of plates and membrane electrode assemblies is provided. The plate includes at least one striated sealing surface for bearing in a sealed manner against a membrane electrode assembly or against another fuel cell plate. The plate is a bipolar plate, a monopolar plate, or an elementary plate of such a bipolar or monopolar plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator plate is provided. The fuel cell separator plate includes at least one groove formed in a face of the separator plate so as to feed reactant gas to a membrane electrode assembly applied against the face of the separator plate, the groove comprising an inlet section and an outlet section. The fuel cell separator plate also includes injection means configured so as to inject gas into at least one intermediate section of the groove, situated between the inlet section and the outlet section.

Abstract: A device for producing and storing dioxygen and/or dihydrogen is provided. The device includes a source of dioxygen and dihydrogen, and a high pressure tank to store the dioxygen, respectively dihydrogen, at high pressure, in fluid communication with the source. The device further includes a bypass line connecting an outlet of dioxygen, respectively of dihydrogen, of the source with an outlet of dioxygen, respectively of dihydrogen, of the production and storage device, bypassing the high pressure tank, the bypass line being fed through a pressure regulator to reduce the pressure in the bypass line; and a device for measuring the concentration of dihydrogen, respectively of dioxygen, in the dioxygen respectively in the dihydrogen produced by the source, the measuring device being arranged on the bypass line.