Method of actuating fuel cell system and fuel cell system
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsShigeru Inai, Hiromichi Yoshida, Ryo Jinba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of actuating a fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel cell system is supplied with reaction gases for generating electricity. The method includes the steps of: a first step for actuating the fuel cell in a low-temperature actuation mode to thereby warm up the fuel cell, if a low-temperature actuation condition is satisfied at a start-up of the fuel cell; and a second step for drying a membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell, if a power generation capacity of the fuel cell is lower than a predetermined power generation capacity.
Claims14
A method of actuating a fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell, to which reaction gases are supplied for generating electricity, the method comprising the steps of:
- a first step for actuating the fuel cell in a low-temperature actuation mode to thereby warm up the fuel cell, if a low-temperature actuation condition is satisfied at a start-up of the fuel cell;
- and
- a second step for drying a membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell, if a power generation capacity of the fuel cell is lower than a predetermined power generation capacity.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell to which reaction gases are supplied for generating electricity;
- an electric motor connected to and driven by the fuel cell;
- an anode system for supplying and discharging hydrogen as a reaction gas to and from an anode of the fuel cell;
- a cathode system for supplying and discharging air containing oxygen as a reaction gas to and from a cathode of the fuel cell;
- means for actuating the fuel cell in a low-temperature actuation mode to thereby warm up the fuel cell, if a low-temperature actuation condition is satisfied at a start-up of the fuel cell;
- and
- means for drying a membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell after the fuel cell is actuated in the low-temperature actuation mode and before an operation of the fuel cell is stopped, if a power generation capacity of the fuel cell is lower than a predetermined power generation capacity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.