Fuel cell system and stop method thereof
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorFutoshi KOGA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system and a stop method thereof are provided that can supply inert gas to the anode with a simple configuration during system stop. The method includes the steps of: cutting off new supply of fuel gas to the anode and discharge of discharge gas from the anode to outside after a stop command for the system (S1 and S2); continuing electric power generation by way of the stack in a state in which the supply and discharge of gas is cut off according to the step of cutting off (S3 to S12); storing, in a N2 storage portion, gas discharged to an air discharge line in the step of continuing (Steps S8 to S10); and introducing inert gas stored inside of the N2 storage portion to inside of a hydrogen supply line, after the step of continuing (S13 to S17).
Claims18
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell that generates electric power by supplying fuel gas to an anode and oxidizing gas to a cathode;
- a fuel gas supply channel in which fuel gas supplied to the anode flows;
- an oxidizing gas supply channel in which oxidizing gas supplied to the cathode flows;
- a fuel gas discharge channel in which discharge gas from the anode flows;
- an oxidizing gas discharge channel in which discharge gas from the cathode flows;
- a discharge gas storage portion that connects the oxidizing gas discharge channel and the fuel gas supply channel;
- a supply shutoff valve that is provided to the fuel gas supply channel and cuts off new supply of fuel gas to the anode;
- a discharge shutoff valve that is provided to the fuel gas discharge channel and cuts off discharge of discharge gas from the anode to outside of the system;
- a post-stop shutoff means for cutting off both supply and discharge of gas by way of the supply shutoff valve and the discharge shutoff valve, after a stop command for the fuel cell system;
- an electric power generation continuing means for continuing electric power generation by the fuel cell in a state in which the supply and discharge of gas are cut off by way of the post-stop shutoff means;
- and
- a discharge gas introduction means for introducing gas discharged to the oxidizing gas discharge channel while continuing electric power generation by way of the electric power generation continuing means, into the fuel gas supply channel via the discharge gas storage portion, after electric power generation by way of the electric power generation continuing means has ended.
A method for stopping a fuel cell system that includes:
- a fuel cell that generates electric power by supplying fuel gas to an anode and supplying oxidizing gas to a cathode;
- a fuel gas supply channel in which fuel gas supplied to the anode flows;
- an oxidizing gas discharge channel in which discharge gas from the cathode flows;
- and
- a discharge gas storage portion that connects the oxidizing gas discharge channel and the fuel gas supply channel, the method comprising the steps of:
- cutting off new supply of fuel gas to the anode and discharge of discharge gas from the anode to outside of the system after a stop command for the fuel cell system;
- continuing electric power generation by way of the fuel cell in a state in which the supply and discharge of gas is cut off according to the step of cutting off;
- storing, in the discharge gas storage portion, gas discharged to the oxidizing gas discharge channel in the step of continuing;
- and
- introducing gas stored inside of the discharge gas storage portion to inside of the fuel gas supply channel, after the step of continuing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.