FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND ITS CONTROL METHOD

• Main Author: OKUYOSHI MASAHIRO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.05.2009
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell system capable of reducing fuel consumption during low temperature starting. SOLUTION: The fuel cell system 1 includes: a fuel cell 2; a fuel gas system 4 having a supply passage 22 for passing fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source 21 to the fuel cell 2, and a discharge passage 23 for passing gas and moisture discharged from the fuel cell 2; an exhaust and drain valve 29 for allowing or interrupting discharge of the gas and moisture in the discharge passage to the outside. This system estimates the temperature of the exhaust and drain valve 29, and includes a control part 6 for setting the gas pressure of the fuel gas system 4 lower than the pressure during steady operation when the estimated temperature of the exhaust and drain valve 29 is below the freezing point. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT