Abstract: The following control is performed. During startup of a fuel cell 1, a fuel gas is supplied to an anode 1b of the fuel cell 1 and an oxidant gas is supplied to a cathode 1c of the fuel cell 1, thereby starting power generation. Fuel gas externally emitted from the abode 1b is diluted with an oxidant gas externally emitted from the cathode 1c. From a start to end of discharge of a fuel gas from the anode 1b, a flow rate required for dilution of the oxidant gas, and a flow rate required for an external output, being calculated on the basis of the power requested for the fuel cell 1, are respectively calculated. The flow rate required for dilution and the flow rate required for an external output are compared, and a larger flow rate is set as a flow rate of the oxidant gas.

Abstract: A reaction gas supply apparatus for a fuel cell is able to adapt to various kinds of operating states, and can provide improved responsiveness with respect to a required output. The apparatus has: a compressor 2 that supplies pressurized air to a cathode electrode of a fuel cell 1; a hydrogen supply device 30 that supplies hydrogen to an anode electrode of the fuel cell 1; a control device 10 that regulates the pressure of the cathode electrode by controlling the compressor 2 according to an operating state of the fuel cell 1; and a regulator 5 that is applied with the air pressure of the cathode electrode as a reference pressure, and regulates the supply pressure to the anode electrode based on this air pressure. Moreover there is provided a pressure regulator 39 that is capable of regulating the reference pressure that is applied to the regulator 5, by discharging air from an air flow passage for the air pressure that is applied to the regulator 5.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell in which electrical power generation is performed through chemical reactions of reaction gases being supplied thereto; a discharge path through which the reaction gases are discharged; a discharge valve provided on the discharge path and operated for discharging the reaction gases through the discharge path; an opening condition monitoring device for continuously monitoring a demanded opening condition of the discharge valve; and an opening condition renewing device for renewing the demanded opening condition of the discharge valve depending on the demanded opening condition of the discharge valve detected by the opening condition monitoring device when opening of the discharge valve is demanded. Opening of the discharge valve is controlled depending on the latest demanded opening condition which has been renewed by the opening condition renewing device.

Abstract: An electric system has a fuel cell and an electric storage device which are connected in parallel to each other with respect to a propulsive motor, and a DC-to-DC converter connected closer to the electric storage device than a junction where the fuel cell and the electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other. An electric power control system includes a power supply controller having a failure detector for detecting a failure of the DC-to-DC converter. When the failure detector detects a failure of the DC-to-DC converter, the response of electric power output from the fuel cell is limited.

Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is provided that can suppress uneven torque. The fuel cell vehicle 1 includes a motor 4; a fuel cell 10; a battery 3; a battery drive unit 21 for driving the motor 4 using electricity from the battery 3 so as to serve as an battery drive mode, in which case the initialization of the fuel cell 10 to generate electricity is not complete; a fuel cell drive unit 22 for driving the motor 4 using electricity from the fuel cell 10 and battery 3 so as to serve as a fuel cell drive mode, in which case the initialization of the fuel cell 10 to generate electricity is complete; and a torque upper limit control unit 23 for controlling a torque upper limit value of the motor 4 under the battery drive mode and fuel cell drive mode.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell moving body that can extend travel distance by the battery when fuel cell failure has occurred. A fuel cell vehicle 1 includes a fuel cell 10, a battery 11 and a control device 30. The control device 30 includes a liquid droplet removal scavenge portion 34 and a dry scavenge portion 35. The control device 30 judges whether power generation continuation of the fuel cell 10 is possible during the running. When the continued power generation is judged to be possible, the power generation continues, and after running, the liquid droplet removal scavenge portion 34 and the dry scavenge portion 35 perform the scavenge. When continued power generation is judged to be impossible, power generation is stopped, the fuel cell vehicle is run by the battery 11 and the liquid droplet removal scavenge portion 34 performs scavenge.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell which generates electrical power from a chemical reaction of a reaction gas; a discharge path for discharging the reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell; a discharge valve which is provided in the discharge path and discharges the reaction gas from the discharge path; and valve control units for controlling opening of the discharge valve, wherein the valve control units are adapted such that, since the discharge valve has been opened by a valve open command issued by one of the valve control units, the valve control units prohibit the discharge valve from being opened by a valve open command issued by any of the other valve control units until a predetermined time period elapses.

Abstract: A contactor electrically connects and disconnects a fuel cell from a load. When a failure-detecting mode for detecting a closing failure of a contactor is initiated, an opening command is transmitted to the contactor, and a DC/DC converter connected to a motor changes the load voltage. Then, the load voltage and a fuel cell voltage are compared with each other. If the contactor is in a normal open state, as a result of the opening command, the fuel cell voltage is constant, whereas the load voltage of the DC/DC converter decreases, thereby producing a voltage difference. A closing failure of the contactor is determined when it is detected that the fuel cell voltage is substantially equal to the load voltage.

Abstract: When a control device detects a request for stopping power generation of a fuel cell, electrical energy discharged from the fuel cell is supplied to an energy storage and other electrical devices such as an air compressor. At this time, electrical energy is supplied preferentially to the other electrical devices. Accordingly, discharge/charge losses in the energy storage can be reduced, compared to a technique in which an energy storage is charged preferentially at the time of stopping power generation of a fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system installed in a fuel-cell movable body. The system includes a fuel cell for generating electric power using reaction gases; a plurality of sensors for measuring states of the fuel cell; an abnormal state detecting device for detecting an abnormal state of at least one of said plurality of sensors; a substitution possibility determining device for determining whether there are one or more substitution sensors from among said plurality of sensors, each substitution sensor outputting a signal value used for setting a substitutional value for a signal value output from the sensor whose abnormal state has been detected; and a predetermined operation control device for operating the fuel cell in a predetermined operation state when the abnormal state of the sensor is detected by the abnormal state detecting device and it is determined by the substitution possibility determining device that there is no substitution sensor.

Abstract: An electric system has a fuel cell and an electric storage device which are connected in parallel to each other with respect to a propulsive motor, and a DC-to-DC converter connected closer to the electric storage device than a junction where the fuel cell and the electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other. An electric power control system includes a power supply controller having a failure detector for detecting a failure of the DC-to-DC converter. When the failure detector detects a failure of the DC-to-DC converter, the response of electric power output from the fuel cell is limited.

Abstract: The following control is performed. During startup of a fuel cell 1, a fuel gas is supplied to an anode 1b of the fuel cell 1 and an oxidant gas is supplied to a cathode 1c of the fuel cell 1, thereby starting power generation. Fuel gas externally emitted from the abode 1b is diluted with an oxidant gas externally emitted from the cathode 1c. From a start to end of discharge of a fuel gas from the anode 1b, a flow rate required for dilution of the oxidant gas, and a flow rate required for an external output, being calculated on the basis of the power requested for the fuel cell 1, are respectively calculated. The flow rate required for dilution and the flow rate required for an external output are compared, and a larger flow rate is set as a flow rate of the oxidant gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell which generates electrical power from a chemical reaction of a reaction gas; a discharge path for discharging the reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell; a discharge valve which is provided in the discharge path and discharges the reaction gas from the discharge path; and valve control units for controlling opening of the discharge valve, wherein the valve control units are adapted such that, since the discharge valve has been opened by a valve open command issued by one of the valve control units, the valve control units prohibit the discharge valve from being opened by a valve open command issued by any of the other valve control units until a predetermined time period elapses.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell which generates electricity by supplying hydrogen to an anode electrode, and a reaction gas to a cathode electrode, an anode gas supply device which supplies hydrogen to the anode electrode, and a cathode gas supply device which drives a compressor using electric power generated by the fuel cell, and supplies pressurized reaction gas to the cathode electrode. The fuel cell system further includes a target pressure setting device which sets a target value for cathode pressure of the fuel cell, a correction device which corrects the target value in accordance with atmospheric pressure, and a control device which controls the cathode pressure of the fuel cell to the corrected target value. Efficient electric power generation can be performed in accordance with the ambient environment.

Abstract: A reaction gas supply apparatus for a fuel cell is able to adapt to various kinds of operating states, and can provide improved responsiveness with respect to a required output. The apparatus has: a compressor 2 that supplies pressurized air to a cathode electrode of a fuel cell 1; a hydrogen supply device 30 that supplies hydrogen to an anode electrode of the fuel cell 1; a control device 10 that regulates the pressure of the cathode electrode by controlling the compressor 2 according to an operating state of the fuel cell 1; and a regulator 5 that is applied with the air pressure of the cathode electrode as a reference pressure, and regulates the supply pressure to the anode electrode based on this air pressure. Moreover there is provided a pressure regulator 39 that is capable of regulating the reference pressure that is applied to the regulator 5, by discharging air from an air flow passage for the air pressure that is applied to the regulator 5.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell in which electrical power generation is performed through chemical reactions of reaction gases being supplied thereto; a discharge path through which the reaction gases are discharged; a discharge valve provided on the discharge path and operated for discharging the reaction gases through the discharge path; an opening condition monitoring device for continuously monitoring a demanded opening condition of the discharge valve; and an opening condition renewing device for renewing the demanded opening condition of the discharge valve depending on the demanded opening condition of the discharge valve detected by the opening condition monitoring device when opening of the discharge valve is demanded. Opening of the discharge valve is controlled depending on the latest demanded opening condition which has been renewed by the opening condition renewing device.