Abstract: An end cell heater assembly includes: a case which has a first surface joined to an end plate of a fuel cell stack; a planar heating element installed in an accommodating groove formed in a second surface of the case; a terminal plate which is stacked and interposed between the planar heating element and an end cell of the fuel cell stack, joined and electrically connected to the end cell, and transferring heat generated by the planar heating element to the end cell; and a terminal which is integrally formed with the terminal plate so as to output electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack and transferred through the terminal plate, to the outside.

Abstract: A method of controlling the driving of a fuel cell system includes: determining whether the fuel cell system enters idle stop in which air supply to the fuel cell stack stops; dropping a DC-link terminal voltage controlled by a DC-DC converter up to a first set voltage by controlling an operation of the DC-DC converter connected to a DC-link terminal outputting generation power of the fuel cell stack at the time of entering the idle stop; and dropping a voltage of the fuel cell stack to reduce an oxide of platinum which is a catalyst of a fuel cell by allowing the anode exhaust gas to flow backward into a cathode of the fuel cell stack by performing the hydrogen purge in an idle stop state of opening the hydrogen purge valve after the voltage of the DC-link terminal drops.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relative humidity and condensed water estimator for a fuel cell and a method for controlling condensed water drain using the same. Here, the relative humidity and condensed water estimator is utilized in control of the fuel cell system involving control of anode condensed water drain by outputting at least two of signals comprising air-side relative humidity, hydrogen-side relative humidity, air-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, hydrogen-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, instantaneous and cumulative condensed water of the humidifier, membrane water contents, catalyst layer oxygen partial pressure, catalyst layer hydrogen partial pressure, stack or cell voltage, air-side catalyst layer relative humidity, hydrogen-side catalyst layer relative humidity, oxygen supercharging ratio, hydrogen supercharging ratio, residual water in a stack, and residual water in a humidifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relative humidity and condensed water estimator for a fuel cell and a method for controlling condensed water drain using the same. Here, the relative humidity and condensed water estimator is utilized in control of the fuel cell system involving control of anode condensed water drain by outputting at least two of signals comprising air-side relative humidity, hydrogen-side relative humidity, air-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, hydrogen-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, instantaneous and cumulative condensed water of the humidifier, membrane water contents, catalyst layer oxygen partial pressure, catalyst layer hydrogen partial pressure, stack or cell voltage, air-side catalyst layer relative humidity, hydrogen-side catalyst layer relative humidity, oxygen supercharging ratio, hydrogen supercharging ratio, residual water in a stack, and residual water in a humidifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relative humidity and condensed water estimator for a fuel cell and a method for controlling condensed water drain using the same. Here, the relative humidity and condensed water estimator is utilized in control of the fuel cell system involving control of anode condensed water drain by outputting at least two of signals comprising air-side relative humidity, hydrogen-side relative humidity, air-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, hydrogen-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, instantaneous and cumulative condensed water of the humidifier, membrane water contents, catalyst layer oxygen partial pressure, catalyst layer hydrogen partial pressure, stack or cell voltage, air-side catalyst layer relative humidity, hydrogen-side catalyst layer relative humidity, oxygen supercharging ratio, hydrogen supercharging ratio, residual water in a stack, and residual water in a humidifier.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling air flow is arranged to reduce power consumption of an air blower or an air compressor by controlling air flow, enhance stack performance by preventing stack dry-out that is more likely to occur in a low-flow range, and improve durability of the stack by decreasing frequency of exposure to high voltages.

Abstract: A fuel cell purging control method for controlling hydrogen purge of a fuel cell including a stack having an anode and a cathode, an air supply device having an air supply line supplying air to the cathode of the stack, a back pressure adjusting valve adjusting back pressure of the air supply device, and a hydrogen supply device supplying hydrogen to the anode of the stack, includes steps of: determining hydrogen purge of the fuel cell while the fuel cell is being normally operated, reducing back pressure of the air supply line of the fuel cell when the hydrogen purge is determined, and purging hydrogen in the anode of the fuel cell for a preset period of time after the step of reducing the back pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relative humidity and condensed water estimator for a fuel cell and a method for controlling condensed water drain using the same. Here, the relative humidity and condensed water estimator is utilized in control of the fuel cell system involving control of anode condensed water drain by outputting at least two of signals comprising air-side relative humidity, hydrogen-side relative humidity, air-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, hydrogen-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, instantaneous and cumulative condensed water of the humidifier, membrane water contents, catalyst layer oxygen partial pressure, catalyst layer hydrogen partial pressure, stack or cell voltage, air-side catalyst layer relative humidity, hydrogen-side catalyst layer relative humidity, oxygen supercharging ratio, hydrogen supercharging ratio, residual water in a stack, and residual water in a humidifier.

Abstract: A method of estimating available output of a fuel cell includes monitoring a current state of a fuel cell stack, determining a current performance of the fuel cell stack on the basis of the monitored current state, and estimating available output of the fuel cell stack under a specific voltage condition on the basis of the determined current performance of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A startup control method for a fuel cell is provided. The method includes calculating available power of a high-voltage battery when a startup of the fuel cell is requested. An air compressor is then driven based on a calculated magnitude of the available power of the high-voltage battery and a low-voltage battery is charged with the power of the high-voltage battery after the driving of the air compressor is completed.

Abstract: A method of shutting down operation of a fuel cell vehicle includes: blocking, by a controller, an air supply to a fuel cell stack when an operation shutting down command of the fuel cell vehicle is applied; increasing, by the controller, a voltage at an rear end of a stack main relay connected to the fuel cell stack; and opening, by the controller, the stack main relay when the voltage at the rear end of the stack main relay is higher than a stack voltage by a predetermined voltage or more.

Abstract: A device and method for improving stack performance of a fuel cell system are provided. The device includes a fuel cell controller that operates a stack of a normal-pressure fuel cell system. When the fuel cell controller determines that an operating state of the stack is normal and a current intake air pressure is decreased as a result of monitoring the current intake air pressure, a current output, and an exterior air temperature of the stack, the fuel cell controller increases the amount of air to be supplied into the stack by adjusting a range of a theoretical air ratio which is a theoretical ratio of an air amount to a coolant temperature in the stack.

Abstract: An operation control device for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a stack current determination unit monitoring a stack current of the fuel cell stack and determining whether an operation state of a fuel cell stack is in an upper-limit voltage limiting section; a battery state determination unit monitoring a state of charge (SOC) of a high voltage battery and determining whether the SOC of the high voltage battery is in a set reference SOC range; and an air flow rate control unit determining a compensation for an air flow rate of an air supply system according to the SOC of the high voltage battery, and outputting a control signal to an air compressor and an air pressure control valve according to the compensated air flow rate, when the operation state of the fuel cell stack is in the upper-limit voltage limiting section.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling hydrogen purge are provided. The method includes estimating an air supply rate supplied to a fuel cell stack and then executing hydrogen purge based on the estimated air supply rate.

Abstract: A fuel cell failure diagnostic apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a water-level sensor that senses a water-level of water generated at an anode side of a fuel cell stack and stored in a water trap and a drain valve for the drain control of the generated water. A drain valve position sensor senses a position of the drain valve. A controller detects a failure situation by performing failure diagnosis based on the sensing information generated from the water-level sensor and the drain valve position sensor, and performs a corresponding control depending upon the failure situation.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a start of a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The method includes providing hydrogen and air to a fuel cell and operating a converter to maintain a voltage of a high voltage bus constant. The converter is disposed between a high-voltage battery and the high voltage bus to which an output stage of the fuel cell is connected, and the voltage of the high voltage bus becomes a preset lowest control voltage. A charge current of the high-voltage battery is set as a charge limit current and an air supply amount is adjusted and the converter is operated to provide a current corresponding to an amplitude of the charge limit current to the high-voltage battery. The charge limit current is changed based on comparing a sensed charge current, obtained by sensing a current input to the high-voltage battery, with the charge limit current.

Abstract: A starting control method and system of a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The method includes detecting a cold-running-mode condition including a fuel-cell coolant temperature during stoppage of the vehicle and determining whether the coolant temperature is less than a first set value that is preset in a memory. A vehicle restarting process in the memory is then set using information regarding a vehicle state during the stoppage of the vehicle when the coolant temperature is less than the first set value.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are provided. The control method includes acquiring a first pressure that corresponds to a pressure in an anode immediately before starting and determining a hydrogen supply target differential pressure value that corresponds to a pressure value boosted in the anode by hydrogen supplied to the anode when starting the system, based on an intensity of the acquired first pressure acquired. An opening degree of a hydrogen supply valve connected to the anode is then adjusted to supply sufficient hydrogen to boost the pressure in the anode that corresponds to the hydrogen supply target differential pressure value.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a start of a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The method includes supplying hydrogen and air to a fuel cell and operating a converter so that a voltage on a high-voltage bus is constant, wherein the converter is disposed between a high-voltage battery and the high-voltage bus which is connected to an output terminal of the fuel cell. The voltage on the high-voltage bus is maintained at a preset lowest control voltage and the voltage on the high-voltage bus is adjusted based on a result comparing a preset lower-limit operational voltage of an inverter with an inverter detection voltage. The inverter is disposed between the high-voltage bus and a drive motor, and the inverter detection voltage is detected on a terminal of the inverter which is connected to the high-voltage bus.

Abstract: A hydrogen supply method for a fuel cell system, for supplying hydrogen according to a state of the fuel cell system when the fuel cell system is started, includes steps of (a) measuring a stop time period which elapses until the fuel cell system is started after the fuel cell system is stopped, (b) determining whether a reaction time period consumed to complete a reaction of residual hydrogen and residual oxygen residing in a fuel cell stack since the fuel system is stopped is not more than the stop time period, and (c) when it is determined in the step (b) that the stop time period is less than the reaction time period, closing a purge valve that is able to discharge gases accommodated in an anode from the anode and supplying at the same time hydrogen to the anode such that an internal pressure of the anode becomes a predetermined first target pressure.