Fuel cell system with control device for determining when to start up fuel cell

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a fuel cell configured to generate electric power by an electrochemical reaction with supplied hydrogen gas;
• a tank in which hydrogen gas is stored;
• a first path through which hydrogen gas is supplied into the tank;
• a first pressure sensor configured to detect pressure of hydrogen gas in the first path;
• a second path through which hydrogen gas is supplied from the tank to the fuel cell;
• a second pressure sensor configured to detect pressure of hydrogen gas in the second path;
• a valve configured to open and close the second path in response to a received control signal;
• and
• a control device configured to receive a detection signal from each of the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and to transmit a control signal to control the valve, wherein
• the control device includes a supply state determining unit configured to perform supply state determining control for determining a supply state of hydrogen gas to the tank, a sensor state determining unit configured to perform sensor state determining control for determining a state of each of the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and a power generation control unit configured to control power generation of the fuel cell,
• the sensor state determining unit is configured to perform the sensor state determining control before a first startup of the fuel cell after supply complete timing being timing when supply of hydrogen gas into the tank is completed, based on first pressure detected by the first pressure sensor at the supply complete timing, and second pressure detected by the second pressure sensor after the valve is opened, and
• the power generation control unit is configured to start up the fuel cell only when the sensor state determining unit determines that a difference between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor is no more than a predetermined difference.