Fuel-cells generator system and method of generating electricity from fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel-cells generator system of the present invention carries out an appropriate control to ensure a high output even when a catalyst carried on an electrode is poisoned. An electronic control unit of the fuel-cells generator system measures an output voltage E of fuel cells, a concentration D of carbon monoxide included in a gaseous fuel, a temperature T of the fuel cells, and a pressure P of the gaseous fuel at steps S100 through S130. When the output voltage E has been lowered by the amount of change that is not less than a predetermined voltage E0 at step S140 and when the concentration D of carbon monoxide measured by a carbon monoxide sensor represents the poisoned state of a catalyst carried on the anodes of the fuel cells at step S150, the temperature T of the fuel cells is gradually increased at step S180. The pressure P of the gaseous fuel is also gradually increased at step S190, in order to enable a partial vapor pressure in the gaseous fuel to be kept at a constant value even under the condition of the increased temperature of the fuel cells. This structure keeps the partial vapor pressure in the gaseous fuel at a constant level, thus preventing the partial pressure of hydrogen in the gaseous fuel from being lowered and ensuring a continuous supply of hydrogen to the anodes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.