Abstract: In a fuel cell system of the invention, a hydrogen leakage detection process closes a shutoff valve, which shuts off a supply of hydrogen from a hydrogen supply unit into a hydrogen supply flow path, and opens a pressure regulator, which reduces a pressure of hydrogen in the hydrogen supply flow path, so as to keep the hydrogen supply flow path in a state with no pressure regulation and make the fuel cell system in a leakage detectable state. In this leakage detectable state, the hydrogen leakage detection process measures at least one of a pressure and a flow rate as a state quantity of hydrogen in the hydrogen supply flow path that feeds the supply of hydrogen to fuel cells. The hydrogen leakage detection process analyzes a detected behavior of the state quantity in the leakage detectable process and specifies the occurrence of a hydrogen leakage in the downstream of the hydrogen supply unit.

Abstract: A structure for mounting a fuel cell on an object is provided. This structure is equipped with a fuel cell stack, a motor, and a drive shaft. The fuel cell stack has first and second end plates and at both ends. The motor is driven by the power generated by the fuel cell stack and is fixed to the fuel cell stack. The drive shaft is connected to the output shaft of the motor and extends to both sides of the motor. The fuel cell stack is equipped with a support portion for supporting the drive shaft at the first end plate. The drive shaft is supported by the support portion and the motor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell, a pressure control unit, and an exhaust. The pressure control unit is provided on the fuel gas flow path in which the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell flows, and it is able to control the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. The exhaust valve is provided on the fuel exhaust gas flow path in which the fuel exhaust gas exhausted from the fuel cell flows, and when the valve is opened, at least a portion of the fuel exhaust gas can be exhausted to outside the fuel exhaust gas flow path. The pressure control unit is controlled, so that before opening the exhaust valve, the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is decreased beyond what it was up to that point. Then, when the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is the decreased first pressure, the exhaust valve is opened.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell configured to have a cell stack obtained by stacking a plurality of cells; a heat exchanger located in a middle position in a stacking direction of the cell stack and configured to have a flow channel that allows passage of a fluid for heat exchange; and a heating system configured to use the fluid that passes through the flow channel for heating.

Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes under a floor of the vehicle: a fuel cell generating electric power through an electrochemical reaction between reaction gases; a fluid supply/discharge unit for the fuel cell; and a converter converting electric power from the fuel cell, the converter being contained in a center tunnel provided, at a center in a vehicle width direction, so as to be curved toward a cabin along a vehicle axis in a front-back direction, the fuel cell and the unit being arranged on a rear side of the vehicle relative to the converter and arranged in the vehicle width direction, wherein the converter is provided to be offset toward the fuel cell with respect to a centerline of the center tunnel along the vehicle axis and to be offset toward the unit with respect to a centerline of the fuel cell along the vehicle axis.

Abstract: A gas supply device for use in a fuel cell system, comprises: a first injector configured to have a first maximum valve-openable pressure; a second injector arranged in parallel with the first injector and configured to have a lower flow rate than the first injector and a greater second maximum valve-openable pressure than the first maximum valve-openable pressure; a first pressure sensor located upstream of the first and second injectors; and a controller configured to control open/close operation of the first and second injectors, wherein at a start of the fuel cell system, (i) when pressure in the upstream of the first and second injectors is greater than the first maximum valve-openable pressure but is less than or equal to the second maximum valve-openable pressure, the controller opens the second injector, and (ii) when the pressure in the upstream of the first and second injectors is less than or equal to the first maximum valve-openable pressure, the controller opens the first injector or the second i

Abstract: The fuel cell stack is placed in an attitude for which the stacking direction of the plurality of cells are tilted in relation to the front-back direction of the vehicle, and the second end plate is positioned at forward and upper position relative to the first end plate in the vehicle. The radiator is provided at a forward position relative to the second end plate, and along the second end plate. The first compressor is fixed at a total of three or more points to both the first and second end plates below the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an air supply flow path configured to supply the air to a fuel cell, a reed valve provided in the air supply flow path, an air exhaust flow path configured to allow the air discharged from the fuel cell to flow therethrough, a pressure regulating valve provided in the air exhaust flow path and configured to adjust back pressure of the air supplied to the fuel cell, a bypass flow path configured to connect an upstream section of the air supply flow path upstream of the reed valve with the air exhaust flow path, and a bypass valve provided in the bypass flow path and configured to open and close the bypass flow path. The fuel cell system reduces the opening of the pressure regulating valve with supplying the air to the fuel cell in the closed position of the bypass valve, so as to increase the pressure of the air upstream of the pressure regulating valve, and subsequently opens the bypass valve.

Abstract: A structure for mounting a fuel cell on an object is provided. This structure is equipped with a fuel cell stack, a motor, and a drive shaft. The fuel cell stack has first and second end plates and at both ends. The motor is driven by the power generated by the fuel cell stack and is fixed to the fuel cell stack. The drive shaft is connected to the output shaft of the motor and extends to both sides of the motor. The fuel cell stack is equipped with a support portion for supporting the drive shaft at the first end plate. The drive shaft is supported by the support portion and the motor.

Abstract: The pressure-adjusting valve provided in the cathode outlet of a fuel cell stack constituting a fuel cell system has a function of adjusting the oxidizing gas pressure in the fuel cell stack according to the adjustment of the valve opening degree. When the exhaust pipe is flooded with water, the pressure inside the exhaust pipe varies from the atmospheric pressure and the opening degree of the pressure-adjusting valve changes. The flooding estimation signal output processing unit of the control unit outputs a flooding estimation signal indicating that the exhaust pipe is flooded when an opening degree difference that is a difference between the opening degree of the pressure-adjusting valve and a preset opening degree corresponding to the operation directed pressure is equal to or greater than a preset threshold opening degree difference. The processing of inhibiting the flowing is performed based on this signal.

Abstract: A first detection line is set in a lower temperature range than a limit line representing an upper limit temperature of a motor allowed by an inverter and represents a reference motor temperature at a required output for fuel cells as a temperature criterion where a controller changes over the means for achieving the sufficient hydrogen stoichiometric ratio from recycling hydrogen with a circulation pump to increasing the hydrogen concentration. When the motor temperature reaches or exceeds the first detection line at the required output for the fuel cells, the controller prevents an increase in rotation speed of the motor and regulates the openings of a shutoff valve and a regulator to increase the concentration of hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen tank to the fuel cells and thereby increase the hydrogen supply pressure. This arrangement effectively prevents an increase of the motor temperature, while achieving the sufficient hydrogen stoichiometric ratio.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell body; a first portion continuously supplied with heat following start up of the fuel cell body; a second portion continuously supplied with heat following start up of the fuel cell body; and a hydrogen exhaust valve. The first portion and the second portion are directly fixed to each other with the hydrogen exhaust valve disposed therebetween. The first portion is, for example, a gas-liquid separation unit supplied with heat from exhaust gas from the fuel cell body, and the second portion is, for example, a hydrogen processing unit supplied with heat from exhaust gas from the fuel cell body.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel cell, including oxidizing gas supplying means for supplying oxidizing gas to a cathode via an oxidizing gas supply line; cathode-side gas pressure detecting means for detecting a gas pressure within the oxidizing gas supply line or the cathode; hydrogen supplying means for supplying hydrogen to an anode via a hydrogen supply line; target hydrogen partial pressure determining means for determining a hydrogen pressure among a gas pressure within the hydrogen supply line or the anode; hydrogen supply pressure calculating means for calculating a hydrogen supply pressure of hydrogen to be supplied to the fuel cell, based upon the target hydrogen partial pressure and the gas pressure detected by the cathode-side gas pressure detecting means; and hydrogen supply control means for supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen supplying means to the fuel cell at the hydrogen supply pressure, and the method thereof.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a cooling water pump provided in cooling water piping that sends cooling water to a fuel cell and sending the cooling water under pressure, fuel gas supply piping connected to the fuel cell and supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, fuel gas circulation piping connected to both the fuel cell and the fuel gas supply piping and circulating fuel gas, discharged from the fuel cell, in the fuel gas supply piping, and a fuel gas pump provided in the fuel gas circulation piping and sending under pressure the fuel gas, discharged from the fuel cell, to the fuel gas supply piping. After operation of the fuel cell is stopped, the fuel gas, discharged from the fuel cell, is sent under pressure by the fuel gas pump, and cooling water is send under pressure by the cooling water pump to cool the fuel cell to thereby reduce the temperature of the fuel cell to a level lower than the temperature of the fuel gas pump.

Abstract: A compact fuel cell system capable of preventing water from remaining in a pipe is provided. The fuel cell system 1 includes a fuel cell 2, a fuel gas flow control device 3 for controlling the amount of fuel gas flowing from a fuel gas supply system, a gas-liquid separator 4 for separating water contained in an anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell 2, and a circulation device 5 which mixes an anode off gas discharged from the gas-liquid separator 4 and a fuel gas newly supplied by a fuel gas supply system, and supplies the mixed gas to the fuel cell 2. The gas-liquid separator 4 and the circulation device 5 are attached to an end plate 6 of the fuel cell 2 and the circulation device 5 is positioned higher than the gas-liquid separator 3.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a hydrogen gas pipe system for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel cell, and an injector for adjusting a pressure of the upstream side of the hydrogen gas pipe system to supply the hydrogen gas to the downstream side, wherein the injector includes an internal channel for communicating the upstream side of the injector with the downstream side of the injector, and a valve body movably arranged in the internal channel for switching a channel opening area in multiple stages corresponding to a movement position of the valve body, and wherein water at least around the valve body of the injector is reduced when the system stops.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a converter for boosting the output voltage of a fuel cell stack and supplies the boosted voltage to a first inverter for a drive motor and a second inverter for an air compressor motor, voltage acquisition means, and converter control means. The voltage acquisition means acquires a required voltage of the air compressor motor according to a target air compressor motor torque based on acceleration demand of the air compressor motor. The converter control means sets the voltage boost ratio of the converter and controls the converter by comparing the required voltage of the air compressor motor and a required voltage of the drive motor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel cell, a reactant gas pipe for supplying a reactant gas to the fuel cell, and an injector for driving a valve body at a predetermined drive cycle by an electromagnetic driving force to separate the valve body from a valve seat, regulating conditions of the gas on the upstream side in the reactant gas pipe and supplying the gas to the downstream side. A gas element component responding to the physical quantity of the reactant gas circulating through the reactant gas pipe is integrally provided in the injector so as to come close to the injector.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes two supply passages (30, 32) for supplying the hydrogen to the anode (14). Valves (22, 23) which control flow amounts of the hydrogen passing through the two supply passages (30, 32) are provided. An exhaust passage (34) which outputs exhaust gas from the anode (14) is provided on the supply passage, and a valve (24) is also provided. When the valve (24) on the exhaust passage (34) is closed, the flow amount ratios of the hydrogen passing through the two supply passages (30, 32) are varied in time. Therefore, impurities such as nitrogen can be diffused. Thereby, a hydrogen purge amount can be reduced.

Abstract: A fuel-cell-powered vehicle includes a fuel cell, an air compressor that is mounted in an engine compartment of the vehicle and supplies air to the fuel cell, side members that are located on each lateral side of the engine compartment and fixed to a vehicle body, and a cross member that is laid so as to extend between the side members and supports the air compressor.