# US 2014/0154603 A1 · Fuel cell apparatus and fuel cell system

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- Number: US 2014/0154603 A1
- Document ID: US20140154603A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/173,279
- Filed: 2014-02-05
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2007-07-04
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: TAKUYA HASHIMOTO; HIDEKI KUBO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154603A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/04746: Pressure; Flow
- H01M 8/04119: with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
- H01M 8/04298: Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
- H01M 8/0441: {of cathode exhausts}
- H01M 8/04432: {Pressure differences, e.g. between anode and cathode}
- H01M 8/04529: {of the electrolyte}
- H01M 8/04559: {of fuel cell stacks}
- H01M 8/04589: {of fuel cell stacks}
- H01M 8/04604: {Power, energy, capacity or load}
- H01M 8/04753: {of fuel cell reactants}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present invention reduces deterioration in the output of a fuel cell caused by a high moisture concentration at an oxidant electrode. A control apparatus for a fuel cell comprising an electrolyte membrane, an oxidant electrode provided on one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a fuel electrode provided on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, in which electric power is generated from an oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant electrode and a fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode, wherein when the current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell fall below a predetermined reference level, and the electrolyte membrane has not dried beyond a predetermined reference level, the control apparatus executes a control operation that increases the gas pressure at the oxidant electrode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell, which comprises an electrolyte membrane, an oxidant electrode provided on one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a fuel electrode provided on another side of the electrolyte membrane, in which electric power is generated from an oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant electrode and a fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode, wherein
executing a control operation that increases a gas pressure at the oxidant electrode when current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell fall below a predetermined reference level, and the electrolyte membrane has not dried beyond a predetermined reference level, and
the control operation comprises executing a first control sequence that increases a gas pressure at the oxidant electrode following completion of a high-load operation during transition from the high-load operation to a low-load operation, and
in a case where the first control sequence is unable to satisfactorily reduce deterioration in the current-voltage characteristics,
the control operation comprises executing a second control sequence that increases a gas pressure at the oxidant electrode prior to starting a high-load operation during transition from the low-load operation to the high-load operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein
the control operation comprises narrowing a degree of opening of a pressure regulator valve that regulates a pressure of a cathode off-gas discharged from the oxidant electrode, thereby increasing a gas pressure at the oxidant electrode.

### Claim at position 3

3-5. (canceled)