Patent · US Active

Fuel cell system and method of starting fuel cell system

US7666532B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 29, 2005
Grant dateFeb 23, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 12, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A reaction gas is supplied to a cathode side of a fuel cell at a flow rate higher than that for a usual operation of the fuel cell to thaw the fuel cell system at startup in a freezing state of the system when the system has experienced a temperature lower than an operation temperature of an anode off-gas. A thawing state of the system is detected on the basis of at least two of temperatures of the anode off-gas, a cathode off gas, and a radiator liquid of the fuel cell to control supplying the reaction gas to the cathode side at a usual operation flow rate. An actual increase rate of the temperature of the anode off-gas is obtained and an increase rate of the temperature of the anode off-gas is calculated from the self-heating value to be compared to determine the thawing state.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.