Fuel cell system
OwnerKazunori SHIBATA, Masaaki KONDOinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The fuel cell system of the present invention supplies oxidant gas to a fuel cell during periods where generation of electrical power by the fuel cell is stopped. As a result, an amount of oxidant gas that is just sufficient to continue a reaction with remaining fuel gas is continued even when generation of electrical power itself is stopped. It is therefore possible to protect electrolyte membranes from damage occurring as a result of oxygen deficiency. Further, in addition to intermittent operation, the fuel cell system of the present invention is also applicable to steps for the stopping of generation of electrical power by a fuel cell in accordance with other conditions or at the time of the complete stopping of operation of the fuel cell system.
Claims15
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell supplied with oxidant gas during periods where generation of electrical power is stopped;
- a driver configured to take in oxidant gas from outside;
- and
- a controller programmed, in the periods where generation of electrical power is stopped, to measure a supply amount of the oxidant gas to the fuel cell, to control the driver in such a manner that a measured supply amount of oxidant gas is greater than or equal to a minimum amount of oxygen supplied for preventing oxygen deficiency of the fuel cell, and to stop driving of the driver when the electrical power generated by the fuel cell is less than a predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.