Abstract: A method of detecting degradation of a membrane electrode assembly in a fuel cell system is provided. In the method, it is possible to detect degradation (cross leakage) of a fuel cell. In the state where variation of a load is suppressed, variation of the gas pressure where a predetermined amount of the fuel gas is supplied from a fuel tank to a fuel cell is measured by a pressure sensor provided in a fuel gas circulation channel extending from the fuel gas outlet to the fuel gas inlet.

Abstract: When leakage of fuel gas is detected by detection signals or disruption of the detection signals is detected, a FCECU limits a supply amount of the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply device, and shuts off the supply of the fuel gas by the fuel gas supply device when determining, after limiting the supply amount of the fuel gas, that the leakage of the fuel gas or the disruption of the detection signals has occurred.

Abstract: A method of detecting degradation of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell is provided. In the method, it is possible to detect degradation (cross leakage) of the fuel cell. In the measurement step, the pressure drop value of the pressure of the fuel gas which decreases in the power generation state after discharging of the predetermined amount of the fuel gas, in each predetermined period of time is measured a plurality of times. Thereafter, in the determination step, it is determined that the membrane electrode assembly has been degraded in the case where the minimum pressure drop value, among a plurality of pressure measurement values, exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an air pump configured to supply air to a fuel cell, and a discharge flow rate determination unit which determines a discharge flow rate of the air pump when warming up the fuel cell, in accordance with a speed of a vehicle in which the fuel cell and the air pump are installed, or a required drive output of the vehicle. The discharge flow rate determination unit increases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and decreases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is less than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: When leakage of fuel gas is detected by detection signals or disruption of the detection signals is detected, a FCECU limits a supply amount of the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply device, and shuts off the supply of the fuel gas by the fuel gas supply device when determining, after limiting the supply amount of the fuel gas, that the leakage of the fuel gas or the disruption of the detection signals has occurred.

Abstract: A drive upper limit electrical energy for an air compressor is set variably in correspondence with vehicle velocity Vv. In this manner, for example, surplus power generation electrical energy of a fuel cell stack is consumed (discarded) by the air compressor in a range where NV (noise and vibration) of the air compressor does not give passengers any sense of discomfort.

Abstract: A method of detecting degradation of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell is provided. In the method, it is possible to detect degradation (cross leakage) of the fuel cell. In the measurement step, the pressure drop value of the pressure of the fuel gas which decreases in the power generation state after discharging of the predetermined amount of the fuel gas, in each predetermined period of time is measured a plurality of times. Thereafter, in the determination step, it is determined that the membrane electrode assembly has been degraded in the case where the minimum pressure drop value, among a plurality of pressure measurement values, exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A method of detecting degradation of a membrane electrode assembly in a fuel cell system is provided. In the method, it is possible to detect degradation (cross leakage) of a fuel cell. In the state where variation of a load is suppressed, variation of the gas pressure where a predetermined amount of the fuel gas is supplied from a fuel tank to a fuel cell is measured by a pressure sensor provided in a fuel gas circulation channel extending from the fuel gas outlet to the fuel gas inlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a FC, a TRC, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a battery, and an ECU. The ECU is capable of performing power consumption control which allows the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus to consume electrical energy during regeneration of the TRC. The ECU is configured to determine a charge margin with respect to a charge limitation value of the battery, in a manner that the charge margin set after the power consumption control starts becomes smaller than the charge margin set before the power consumption control is performed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an accumulator configured to store a fuel gas, a gas remaining quantity acquisition unit configured to obtain a remaining quantity of the fuel gas stored in the accumulator, and a power generation control unit. When the remaining quantity of the fuel gas stored in the accumulator is decreased to a threshold value, the power generation control unit performs switching from humid power generation control to dry power generation control.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a battery, a fuel cell, an air pump, and a processor. The battery stores electric power. The fuel cell supplies electric power to the battery. The air pump is driven with the electric power supplied from the battery to supply air to the fuel cell. The processor, when starting the fuel cell system, is configured to compare an amount of the electric power stored in the battery with a threshold electric power. If the amount of the electric power is higher than or equal to the threshold electric power, the air pump is driven. If the amount of the electric power is lower than the threshold electric power, the air pump is prohibited to drive.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an air pump which supplies air to the fuel cell, a passenger presence or absence determination unit which determines the presence or absence of a passenger in a vehicle in which the fuel cell and the air pump are installed, a discharge flow rate determination unit which determines a discharge flow rate of the air pump when the fuel cell is warmed up, in accordance with the presence or absence of the passenger in the vehicle, and a control unit which controls the air pump on the basis of the discharge flow rate determined by the discharge flow rate determination unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an air pump configured to supply air to a fuel cell, and a discharge flow rate determination unit which determines a discharge flow rate of the air pump when warming up the fuel cell, in accordance with a speed of a vehicle in which the fuel cell and the air pump are installed, or a required drive output of the vehicle. The discharge flow rate determination unit increases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and decreases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is less than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An FC control unit selectively supplies electrical power of an FC unit to one or both of a battery and a battery heater, based on at least one of whether an SOC of the battery is higher or lower than a preset threshold value, and whether a battery temperature is higher or lower than a preset temperature threshold.

Abstract: A method of shutting down a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell includes generating power via an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. A shutdown command is output to the fuel cell to stop generating power. The fuel cell is controlled to continue generating power during an oxygen consumption process to consume oxygen in the oxidant gas remaining in a cathode system of the fuel cell even when the shutdown command is output to the fuel cell. At least one of voltage, current, and power output from the fuel cell is detected during the oxygen consumption process. Whether an abnormality occurs during the oxygen consumption process is determined based on at least one of the voltage, the current, and the power. The fuel cell is controlled to stop generating power during the oxygen consumption process when it is determined that abnormality occurs.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a FC, a TRC, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a battery, and an ECU. The ECU is capable of performing power consumption control which allows the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus to consume electrical energy during regeneration of the TRC. The ECU is configured to determine a charge margin with respect to a charge limitation value of the battery, in a manner that the charge margin set after the power consumption control starts becomes smaller than the charge margin set before the power consumption control is performed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an accumulator configured to store a fuel gas, a gas remaining quantity acquisition unit configured to obtain a remaining quantity of the fuel gas stored in the accumulator, and a power generation control unit. When the remaining quantity of the fuel gas stored in the accumulator is decreased to a threshold value, the power generation control unit performs switching from humid power generation control to dry power generation control.

Abstract: A drive upper limit electrical energy for an air compressor is set variably in correspondence with vehicle velocity Vv. In this manner, for example, surplus power generation electrical energy of a fuel cell stack is consumed (discarded) by the air compressor in a range where NV (noise and vibration) of the air compressor does not give passengers any sense of discomfort.

Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes supplying a fuel gas from a fuel-gas storage container to a fuel cell via a drive valve provided in a fuel-gas path. A first pressure is detected in the fuel-gas path between a first decompression mechanism and a second decompression mechanism. A second pressure is detected in the fuel-gas path between the second decompression mechanism and the drive valve. An on-off valve is opened. The on-off valve is provided in a bypass path. The first pressure and the second pressure are compared after the on-off valve has been opened. The fuel cell system is controlled to decrease electric power generated by the fuel cell or to stop generating electric power in the fuel cell when the first pressure is not substantially equal to the second pressure.

Abstract: A fuel battery system includes a fuel battery, an electric storage, a voltage adjuster, a pump, an abnormity detector, and circuitry. The fuel battery generates electricity using fuel gas and oxidant gas. The voltage adjuster is connected to at least one of the fuel battery and the electric storage. The voltage adjuster is configured to adjust voltage output from the fuel battery or the electric storage to output the adjusted voltage to a load. The pump supplies the oxidant gas to the fuel battery using electric power output from at least one of the fuel battery and the electric storage. The voltage adjuster is connected between the fuel battery and the pump. The abnormity detector detects abnormity in the voltage adjuster. The circuitry is configured to restrict the electric power supplied to the pump in a case where the abnormity detector detects the abnormity in the voltage adjuster.