Method for controlling a fuel cell
US4904548A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 1988 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In order to control a fuel cell having a fuel cell stack to which reformed fuel and oxidizing agent are supplied, an output current from the fuel cell is detected while the voltage of the fuel cell is maintained at a constant voltage and the amount of the fuel and/or the oxidizing agent is controlled in accordance with the detected output current to stably generate electric power. At least one of a plurality of unit cells constituting the fuel cell stack is used as a monitoring cell having a current-voltage characteristic curve which is lower than that of the other unit cells, and an output current from the monitoring cell is detected while the voltage of this cell is maintained at a constant voltage, and the supplied amount of the fuel and/or the oxidizing agent is controlled in accordance with the detected current value to stably generate electric power output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.