FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM

• Main Authors: ASO, Shinji, SHIOKAWA, Satoshi
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.08.2020
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

When electric power requested from a load exceeds a predetermined reference value, an operating state of the fuel cell system is controlled so as to enable a normal operation mode where the fuel cell generates electric power corresponding to the requested electric power. When the requested electric power is the reference value or less, the operating state is controlled to enable an intermittent operation mode. A refresh process for sweeping current from the fuel cell and lowering the voltage of the fuel cell to a reduction voltage is executed during a shift from the intermittent operation mode to the normal operation mode. The current swept from the fuel cell at the start of the refresh process is reduced more as an oxygen amount in the fuel cell at the end of the intermittent operation mode is smaller.