Abstract: An information processing device includes an acquisition unit which acquires use history information indicating a use history of a vehicle, a prediction unit which predicts an output decrease amount of a fuel cell in a vehicle based on the use history information acquired by the acquisition unit and output decrease characteristic information indicating an output decrease characteristic of the fuel cell according to the use history, and a control unit which executes predetermined control based on the output decrease amount predicted by the prediction unit. When the control unit determines that a rated output of the fuel cell is equal to or smaller than a threshold value based on the output decrease amount, the control unit executes adhering substance removal control in which nitrogen-enriched gas having a higher nitrogen concentration and a lower oxygen concentration than air is supplied to the fuel cell as cathode gas.

Abstract: A working machine includes a prime mover, a hydraulic pump to be driven by power of the prime mover and to output operation fluid, a hydraulic actuator to be operated by the operation fluid, and a control device. The control device has a revolving-speed controller to increase and decrease a revolving speed of the prime mover, a first setting portion to set a limit value of the revolving speed of the prime mover, and a revolving-speed limiter to limit the revolving speed of the prime mover set by the revolving-speed controller to the limit value set by the first setting portion.

Abstract: A voltage is applied between an anode and a cathode in a fuel cell. The voltage is increased to a predetermined upper limit, and then decreased to a predetermined lower limit. The voltage increase and decrease are repeated a predetermined number of times. The voltage is applied to the fuel cell while supplying a hydrogen-containing gas to an anode and supplying an inert gas to a cathode.

Abstract: A working machine includes a prime mover, a hydraulic pump to be driven by power of the prime mover and to output operation fluid, a hydraulic actuator to be operated by the operation fluid, and a control device. The control device has a revolving-speed controller to increase and decrease a revolving speed of the prime mover, a first setting portion to set a limit value of the revolving speed of the prime mover, and a revolving-speed limiter to limit the revolving speed of the prime mover set by the revolving-speed controller to the limit value set by the first setting portion.

Abstract: A voltage is applied between an anode and a cathode in a fuel cell. The voltage is increased to a predetermined upper limit, and then decreased to a predetermined lower limit. The voltage increase and decrease are repeated a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of cell groups and a controller wherein each cell group comprises a plurality of fuel cells and a group sensor which measures one or more electrical characteristics of the respective cell group. The controller comprises one or more processors and memory and is communicatively coupled to each group sensor. The one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to compare a measured electrical characteristic of each cell group to one or more thresholds stored in memory, and indicate the need for diagnostics of the fuel cell stack when the comparison indicates a non-systemic event.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of cell groups and a controller wherein each cell group comprises a plurality of fuel cells and a group sensor which measures one or more electrical characteristics of the respective cell group. The controller comprises one or more processors and memory and is communicatively coupled to each group sensor. The one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to compare a measured electrical characteristic of each cell group to one or more thresholds stored in memory, and indicate the need for diagnostics of the fuel cell stack when the comparison indicates a non-systemic event.

Abstract: An ionized gas detector includes at least a pair of ion detecting electrodes that detect ions of the ionized measuring-subject gas, an electrode-voltage applying unit that applies a given voltage to the ion detecting electrodes, the electrode-voltage applying unit being configured to be capable of reversing its voltage polarity, a charge amplifier circuit having a charge capacitor that accumulates electric charges generated by voltage application by the electrode-voltage applying unit, an ion current calculating unit that calculates the value of an ion current of ions of the measuring-subject gas, based on a time-dependent change of the volume of electric charges accumulated in the charge capacitor of the charge amplifier circuit, and a concentration determining unit that determines the concentration of the measuring-subject gas, based on an ion current value calculated by the ion current calculating unit.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell includes the steps of detecting hydrogen peroxide concentration during power generation by a hydrogen peroxide concentration sensor provided directly on a membrane electrode assembly and determining an operating condition of the fuel cell based on the detected hydrogen peroxide concentration.

Abstract: A humidification control method includes the steps of detecting a direct current resistance component by measuring impedance during power generation of a fuel cell stack, calculating a reaction resistance component based on the detected direct current resistance component and a stack voltage, detecting a humidified state of the fuel cell stack based on the detected direct current resistance component and the calculated reaction resistance component, and adjusting a quantity of humidification of a reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell stack based on the detected humidified state of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: Provided are a sequential impedance measurement device and a method for sequentially measuring impedance. While applying a signal having a power output fluctuation similar to that of normal operation, it is possible to carry out a quick measurement with relatively high precision and in a broad frequency range. Also, the device and the method can simultaneously determine phenomena which occur in different frequency ranges.

Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell, a voltage difference between voltages of a first unit cell and a second unit cell is detected. Whether the voltage difference is out of a predetermined range is determined. If the voltage difference is determined to be out of the predetermined range, humidity of a first reactant gas before being supplied to a first reactant gas passage is adjusted or humidity of a second reactant gas before being supplied to a second reactant gas passage is adjusted. The first reactant gas passage is provided in a first separator. The first reactant gas is to be supplied to one of first electrodes through the first reactant gas passage. The second reactant gas is to be supplied to another of the first electrodes through the second reactant gas passage.

Abstract: When a fuel-cell electric vehicle is running at idle, and a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the vehicle comes into the idle state, forthcoming stopping of an operation of the vehicle is predicted, and the operation mode of a fuel cell is shifted to a residual water reduction mode in which residual water remaining inside the fuel cell is reduced. In the residual water reduction mode, for example, the amount of humidification for air to be supplied to the fuel cell is reduced, so that the air with reduced humidity passes through the fuel cell, to thereby increase the amount of residual water removed by the air. Accordingly, the residual water inside the fuel cell can be reduced before the actual stopping of the operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell which generates electric power using supplied reactive gases; a load control device for controlling a load applied to the fuel cell; a voltage measuring device for measuring a voltage generated by the fuel cell; a fuel cell driving control device for controlling at least a supply of the reactive gases to the fuel cell; and a voltage variation rate obtaining device for obtaining a rate of variation in the voltage generated by the fuel cell when the load is varied. The fuel cell driving control device is controlled based on the rate of variation in the generated voltage obtained by the voltage variation rate obtaining device. The voltage variation rate being obtained when the generated voltage increases. The load being varied by applying momentarily a load to the fuel cell when the voltage variation rate is obtained.

Abstract: An ionized gas detector includes at least a pair of ion detecting electrodes that detect ions of the ionized measuring-subject gas, an electrode-voltage applying unit that applies a given voltage to the ion detecting electrodes, the electrode-voltage applying unit being configured to be capable of reversing its voltage polarity, a charge amplifier circuit having a charge capacitor that accumulates electric charges generated by voltage application by the electrode-voltage applying unit, an ion current calculating unit that calculates the value of an ion current of ions of the measuring-subject gas, based on a time-dependent change of the volume of electric charges accumulated in the charge capacitor of the charge amplifier circuit, and a concentration determining unit that determines the concentration of the measuring-subject gas, based on an ion current value calculated by the ion current calculating unit.

Abstract: A humidification control method includes the steps of detecting a direct current resistance component by measuring impedance during power generation of a fuel cell stack, calculating a reaction resistance component based on the detected direct current resistance component and a stack voltage, detecting a humidified state of the fuel cell stack based on the detected direct current resistance component and the calculated reaction resistance component, and adjusting a quantity of humidification of a reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell stack based on the detected humidified state of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell, a voltage difference between voltages of a first unit cell and a second unit cell is detected. Whether the voltage difference is out of a predetermined range is determined. If the voltage difference is determined to be out of the predetermined range, humidity of a first reactant gas before being supplied to a first reactant gas passage is adjusted or humidity of a second reactant gas before being supplied to a second reactant gas passage is adjusted. The first reactant gas passage is provided in a first separator. The first reactant gas is to be supplied to one of first electrodes through the first reactant gas passage. The second reactant gas is to be supplied to another of the first electrodes through the second reactant gas passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a fuel gas supply apparatus, a pressure reduction apparatus, and a dilution apparatus. The oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus supplies an oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack. The oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus is capable of supplying the air to the fuel gas flow field at the time of stopping operation of the fuel cell system. The fuel gas supply apparatus supplies a fuel gas to the fuel cell stack. The pressure reduction apparatus suctions gases in the oxygen-containing gas flow field and the fuel gas flow field. The dilution apparatus dilutes the fuel gas suctioned by the pressure reduction apparatus using the air.

Abstract: A method of actuating a fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel cell system is supplied with reaction gases for generating electricity. The method includes the steps of: a first step for actuating the fuel cell in a low-temperature actuation mode to thereby warm up the fuel cell, if a low-temperature actuation condition is satisfied at a start-up of the fuel cell; and a second step for drying a membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell, if a power generation capacity of the fuel cell is lower than a predetermined power generation capacity.

Abstract: A stop method for a fuel cell system including a fuel cell unit in which hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and air is supplied to a cathode so as to generate electrical power via an electrochemical reaction. The stop method includes the steps of stopping supply of hydrogen to the anode, electrically connecting the anode and the cathode via an electrical load, and supplying air to the anode.