Method for limiting the electrical field energy or potential differences along gas lines which carry voltage

摘要

On an earthed pipe 1 which consists of insulating material, which carries explosive gas mixtures away from a fuel-cell or accumulator battery 2, the risk of gas explosions can be avoided by segmenting the pipe by means of metallically conductive connecting pieces 3 and parallel connection of the pipe segments by means of current-limiting or voltage-limiting components, such as electrical resistors R1, R2, R3...R10. This risk exists when, for example as a result of electrode fracture, the pipe is entirely or partially filled with electrolyte and is in consequence electrochemically coupled to the battery, which can result in a potential drop of up to several hundred volts over the entire pipe length, with electrolyte decomposition and spark formation at the points where the electrolyte film tears apart. As a result of the wiring connection, possible section voltages are in this case limited to at most 30 volts, which is not sufficient to bring about a field intensity required for ignition of the gases. IMAGE