Abstract: A method for depolluting and regenerating a catalytic fuel-cell electrode, the reaction of the fuel of the cell and capture of at least one polluting species occurring on the catalytic electrode, comprises: a decrease, at a constant first reference current density, in fuel flow, relative to a nominal fuel flow, for a first length of time, leading to a value for the stoichiometric coefficient of fuel lower than 1, to increase oxidation potential on the catalytic electrode and reach oxidation potential of the polluting species, to eliminate it; a cut-off of current for a cut-off time; an increase in flow above nominal flow, leading to a value of stoichiometric coefficient higher than or equal to 1; and an increase in current density until a second current density chosen by operator and possibly identical to or different from the initial reference current density, is reached.

Abstract: A method for optimizing fuel feed of a fuel cell stack catalytic electrode, the fuel cell stack containing a cell comprising a proton exchange membrane located between said catalytic electrode and another electrode, operating in superstoichiometric mode, said fuel comprising a carbonyl-containing polluting agent compound reacting on said catalytic electrode, comprises: defining a reference voltage for said cell when fed with a fuel exempt from polluting agent; defining a threshold voltage corresponding to a preset operating voltage of said cell as a percentage of reference voltage; defining a calibration curve for given operating conditions, relating threshold voltage to flow rate of polluting agent and allowing a first parameter of flow rate of polluting agent to be defined; detecting polluting agent to define a second parameter corresponding to content of polluting agent present in said fuel; and determining a maximum stoichiometry coefficient for said fuel stream, depending on said two parameters.

Abstract: A method for depolluting and regenerating a catalytic fuel-cell electrode, the reaction of the fuel of the cell and capture of at least one polluting species occurring on the catalytic electrode, comprises: a decrease, at a constant first reference current density, in fuel flow, relative to a nominal fuel flow, for a first length of time, leading to a value for the stoichiometric coefficient of fuel lower than 1, to increase oxidation potential on the catalytic electrode and reach oxidation potential of the polluting species, to eliminate it; a cut-off of current for a cut-off time; an increase in flow above nominal flow, leading to a value of stoichiometric coefficient higher than or equal to 1; and an increase in current density until a second current density chosen by operator and possibly identical to or different from the initial reference current density, is reached.

Abstract: A method for measuring the reproducibility of N unitary ion exchange membrane/electrode assemblies, where N is an integer strictly greater than 1, each assembly containing an ion exchange membrane located between an anode fed with a first stream and a cathode fed with a second stream and possessing cell voltage characteristics, comprises the following steps: delivering to each unitary assembly a stream containing at least one polluting species for a given time; measuring at least one electrochemical parameter of each assembly; and comparing said measurements so as to evaluate the reproducibility of said assemblies.

Abstract: A method for optimizing fuel feed of a fuel cell stack catalytic electrode, the fuel cell stack containing a cell comprising a proton exchange membrane located between said catalytic electrode and another electrode, operating in superstoichiometric mode, said fuel comprising a carbonyl-containing polluting agent compound reacting on said catalytic electrode, comprises: defining a reference voltage for said cell when fed with a fuel exempt from polluting agent; defining a threshold voltage corresponding to a preset operating voltage of said cell as a percentage of reference voltage; defining a calibration curve for given operating conditions, relating threshold voltage to flow rate of polluting agent and allowing a first parameter of flow rate of polluting agent to be defined; detecting polluting agent to define a second parameter corresponding to content of polluting agent present in said fuel; and determining a maximum stoichiometry coefficient for said fuel stream, depending on said two parameters.