US 2007/0166583 A1Published application

Fuel cell system and operating method thereof

AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorYasuyuki MURAMATSU

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Abstract

A fuel cell system and an operating method thereof are capable of reliably reducing fuel crossover and electrolyte film deterioration. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having an electrolyte film, an aqueous solution circulation unit arranged to circulate a supply of aqueous methanol solution to the fuel cell, a fuel supply arranged to supply the aqueous solution circulation unit with methanol fuel that has a concentration not lower than that of the aqueous methanol solution, and a main switch. After the main switch is turned OFF, a CPU controls fuel supply operation of the fuel supply so that the amount of fuel supply to the aqueous solution circulation unit is decreased. Thereafter, power generation operation of the fuel cell is controlled so that the power generation is stopped, with the concentration of aqueous methanol solution lower than before the main switch was turned OFF.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell including an electrolyte film arranged to generate electric energy by electrochemical reactions;
an aqueous solution circulation unit arranged to circulate a supply of aqueous fuel solution to the fuel cell;
a fuel supply arranged to supply the aqueous solution circulation unit with fuel which has a concentration not lower than that of the aqueous fuel solution;
an instruction unit arranged to issue an instruction to stop power generation in the fuel cell;
a first controller arranged to control a fuel supply operation of the fuel supply so as to decrease an amount of fuel supply to the aqueous solution circulation unit while continuing circulation of the aqueous fuel solution and the power generation after an issuance of the instruction from the instruction unit to stop power generation;
and
a second controller arranged to control power generation operation of the fuel cell to stop power generation at a concentration of the aqueous fuel solution lower than before the issuance of the instruction to stop power generation, after a decrease in the amount of fuel supply to the aqueous solution circulation unit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/616,341Filed 27 Dec 2006
Priority: JP 2005-37956428 Dec 2005
Published: 19 Jul 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

H01M 16/006
Of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers: of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
H01M 8/0258
Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the…
H01M 8/0263
Characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant: having meandering or serpentine paths
H01M 8/0267
Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors: having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels