Fuel cell system

Abstract

A fuel cell system includes first and second exhaust pipes respectively connected to first and second fuel cell stacks, a common exhaust pipe into which the first and second exhaust pipes merge, and a backflow suppression mechanism. The backflow suppression mechanism is configured to suppress backflow of oxygen from the first exhaust pipe into the second exhaust pipe. A typical example of the backflow suppression mechanism includes a compressor, a bypass pipe, pressure regulating valves respectively provided in the bypass pipe, an oxygen supply pipe, and the second exhaust pipe, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the compressor and the pressure regulating valves such that an amount of oxygen sufficient for the second fuel cell stack to achieve target output is supplied to the second fuel cell stack, and that oxygen does not flow backward from the first exhaust pipe into the second exhaust pipe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.