Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supply path, an injector, an ejector, a circulation path, an outlet port pressure detection unit, and a control device. The control device stops driving the injector when an ejector outlet port pressure is equal to or more than a required upper limit value with the injector driven, and drives the injector when the ejector outlet port pressure is equal to or less than a required lower limit value with the injector stopped. The control device reduces the required upper limit value stepwise and reduces the required lower limit value stepwise in a range defined by a first target upper limit value and a second target upper limit value when a required load is varied from a first required load to a second required load and a load reduction amount is more than a first predetermined load.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an anode gas supply system, an anode gas circulatory system, a cathode gas supply-discharge system, a gas-liquid discharge passage, a gas-liquid discharge valve configured to open and close the gas-liquid discharge passage, a flow-rate acquisition portion, and a controlling portion. After the controlling portion instructs the gas-liquid discharge valve to be opened, the controlling portion executes a normal-abnormality determination such that, when a discharge-gas flow rate of anode gas is a predetermined normal reference value or more, the controlling portion determines that the gas-liquid discharge valve is opened normally, and when the discharge-gas flow rate is lower than the normal reference value, the controlling portion determines that the gas-liquid discharge valve is not opened normally.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes fuel cell units each including a fuel cell stack, an anode gas discharge system configured to discharge anode gas from the fuel cell stack, and a cathode gas supply and discharge system configured to supply cathode gas to the fuel cell stack and discharge cathode gas from the fuel cell stack, a mixed gas discharge system configured to mix gas discharged from the anode gas discharge system and the cathode gas supply and discharge system of each fuel cell unit and discharge the mixed gas, and a controller configured to control the fuel cell units. The controller is configured to control at least one of the anode gas discharge system and the cathode gas supply and discharge system of each fuel cell unit to shift a time at which gas to be discharged from each fuel cell unit merges in the mixed gas discharge system.

Abstract: A cooling mechanism of a battery pack includes a first refrigerant flow path provided on an opposite side of a partition wall from a first battery module, a second refrigerant flow path provided on the opposite side of the partition wall from a second battery module, and a connection flow path connecting respective one ends of the first refrigerant flow path in a forward-rearward direction to each other and the second refrigerant flow path to each other and extending in a leftward-rightward direction. The partition wall includes a plurality of pyramid-shaped convex portions arranged in a staggered manner along the forward-rearward direction and the leftward-rightward direction inside the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path, two diagonal lines of the convex portion are respectively arranged to coincide with the forward-rearward direction and the leftward-rightward direction.

Abstract: A fuel cell watercraft (1) includes an electric outboard motor (6); a fuel cell unit (2) adapted to supply electric power to the electric outboard motor; a hydrogen fuel tank (3) adapted to supply hydrogen fuel to the fuel cell unit; and a storage space (10) adapted to house the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen fuel tank, wherein the fuel cell watercraft is configured such that a relief valve (30) is installed on the hydrogen fuel tank, the storage space includes a hatch (11c) used to introduce the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen fuel tank, a lid member (11b) used to tightly close the hatch, and means (11a) for detecting unauthorized opening of the lid member, and when the unauthorized opening is detected, the relief valve is opened.

Abstract: Fuel cell structure and method of producing electrical energy from a methanol-based initial material. The fuel cell structure is comprised of a fuel cell for decomposing hydrocarbon-based fuel in order to produce electrical energy, a fuel tank from which fuel can be fed into the fuel cell, and a treatment unit for decomposition products, into which unit it is possible to direct the decomposition products of the fuels. The fuel tank and the treatment unit are at least partly separated from each other by a movable wall, and the wall is arranged to move to even out the pressure difference and the volume difference between the fuel tank and the treatment unit. The movable wall makes it possible to remove disadvantageous pressure differences between the fuel tank and the treatment unit, in which case a continuous feed of fuel into the fuel cell is achieved, which feed continues until either the fuel is expended or the treatment of the decomposition products is brought to an end.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, auxiliary devices, an auxiliary device controller, a secondary battery, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a diagnosis controller. In an output stop state where the fuel cell does not output electric power, the auxiliary device controller performs a residual water scavenging process of scavenging water remaining in the fuel cell to outside of the fuel cell system by driving the auxiliary devices using electric power supplied from the secondary battery and supplying the gas to the fuel cell. The diagnosis controller diagnoses the secondary battery using a current integrated value that is obtained by integrating amounts of current supplied from the secondary battery in a predetermined voltage range of a discharge voltage of the secondary battery that changes in response to discharge when electric power is supplied to the auxiliary devices by performing the residual water scavenging process.

Abstract: A coolant storage tank (1) for storing coolant in a fuel cell system (2), the coolant storage tank comprising a plurality of individually controllable heater elements (7, 8a, 8b). A coolant storage tank comprising a first heater element (7) located at a base of the coolant storage tank and a second heater element (8a) is also disclosed. A coolant storage tank comprising a first coolant storage compartment (50) in fluid communication with a second coolant storage compartment (51), the first coolant storage compartment including at least a first heater element (54) and wherein the second coolant storage compartment is unheated is also disclosed. A method of melting frozen coolant in a coolant storage tank is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, auxiliary devices, an auxiliary device controller, a secondary battery, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a diagnosis controller. In an output stop state where the fuel cell does not output electric power, the auxiliary device controller performs a residual water scavenging process of scavenging water remaining in the fuel cell to outside of the fuel cell system by driving the auxiliary devices using electric power supplied from the secondary battery and supplying the gas to the fuel cell. The diagnosis controller diagnoses the secondary battery using a current integrated value that is obtained by integrating amounts of current supplied from the secondary battery in a predetermined voltage range of a discharge voltage of the secondary battery that changes in response to discharge when electric power is supplied to the auxiliary devices by performing the residual water scavenging process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flow battery pack with a monitoring system. The flow battery pack with a monitoring system comprises a battery pack device and a monitoring device. The battery pack device comprises a pole plate, and the pole plate is provided thereon with a measuring port. The monitoring device comprises a measuring probe, and the measuring probe extends to the interior of the battery pack device and is arranged corresponding to the measuring port on the pole plate. The monitoring device is used for monitoring the flow pressure and temperature at the measuring port. According to the technical solution of the present disclosure, a monitoring device is introduced into the interior of a flow battery pack, and the real values of correlative parameters of the interior of the battery pack and the distribution status thereof can be obtained through the monitoring device.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (10) includes a pressure decrease valve (121) and a flow control valve (122) provided in a hydrogen supply line (120P) that extends from a high pressure gas tank (110) to a fuel cell (100). A low temperature environment may cause the function of these devices to decrease. Therefore, if the gas temperature inside the high pressure gas tank (110) is higher than the temperature of this low temperature environment and is a temperature at which the decreased function can be recovered, high pressure gas inside the tank is made to flow through the hydrogen supply line (120P) to expose the pressure decrease valve (121) and the like to the relatively high temperature gas before a start signal that starts the system is received.

Abstract: A gas supply system that supplies a gas after making confluence of the gas flows from gas containers includes: a supply pressure detector that detects supply pressure of the gas following the confluence; and a controller that permits a gas supply-destination apparatus to be activated if the supply pressure detected after an elapse of a determination time from a start of the gas supply is greater than or equal to a threshold pressure, and that prohibits the apparatus from being activated if the supply pressure is less than the threshold pressure. The controller uses a first determination time as the determination time if it is determined that internal pressures that are the gas pressures in the containers are not imbalanced between the containers, and uses a second determination time that is longer than the first as the determination time if it is determined that the internal pressures are imbalanced.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell comprising: a first cathode; at least two anodes electrically connected to each other and to the cathode in a reconfigurable manner; and a processor operatively coupled to the anodes and configured to monitor a parameter of each anode to determine if a given anode has been oxygen-contaminated, and further configured to convert an oxygen-contaminated anode into a second cathode by reconfiguring the electrical connections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the net water drag coefficient (rd) in a fuel cell. By measuring the velocity of the fluid stream at the outlet of the anode, rd can be determined. Real time monitoring and adjustments of the water balance of a fuel cell may be therefore achieved.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including: a wetness detecting section for detecting a wetness of a fuel cell stack; a target SR setting section for setting a target SR of the fuel cell stack based on the wetness; a smallest SR setting section for setting, based on a load, a smallest SR necessary to prevent flooding of the fuel cell stack; and an SR control section for performing control so that an actual SR becomes temporarily larger than the smallest SR when the target SR is smaller than the smallest SR.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrochemical system (100) including a stack of series connected electrochemical units (102). The system is controlled by a control circuit (104) and includes a plurality of differential amplifiers (114), each connected by two inputs to the terminals of an electrochemical unit, in order to supply a voltage representative of the potential difference present between the terminals of said electrochemical unit. Each representative voltage is sent to a control unit (106) arranged for converting said representative voltage into a numerical value transmitted to the control circuit. The system further includes, between each differential amplifier and the control unit, a buffer means (116) controlled by the control circuit. The buffer means is capable of saving the voltage representative of the potential difference present between the terminals of the electrochemical unit to which it is connected. The voltage is saved simultaneously by all of the buffer means.

Abstract: A method for recovering performance of a fuel-cell stack is provided. When hydrogen used as fuel of the fuel-cell stack is contaminated, air is supplied to an anode instead of hydrogen to remove impurities and recover the performance of the fuel-cell stack. The method includes supplying air to an anode of the fuel-cell stack in an operation stop state of the fuel-cell stack to decrease a stack voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises at least one reformer for generating a reformate gas and at least one fuel cell for generating an electric current. An increased lifespan for the anode is achieved when with said anode an anode state value is continuously determined which correlates to a current degree of loading with carbon of the anode of the at least one fuel cell and when depending on the anode state value an oxygen-carbon ratio is varied in the reformate gas which is fed to the anode of the respective fuel cell.

Abstract: For implementing a stop control which extracts a current from a fuel cell and consumes a cathode side oxygen at a system stop, the current extraction from the fuel cell is ended in a state that a certain quantity of oxygen smaller than when the current extraction is started remains on a cathode side of the fuel cell. With this, the hydrogen movement to the cathode side after the system stop can be effectively suppressed and thereby a cathode internal hydrogen concentration at the system start can be kept low, thus making it possible to properly process the cathode side hydrogen at the system start.

Abstract: The present invention comprises fuel cells 84 disposed within a fuel cell module 2, a reformer 20, a reformer temperature sensor 148 for detecting a reforming state temperature, and a control section 110 for controlling the operation of the fuel cell module. The control section prohibits the normal startup POX and executes a restart control different from the normal startup POX when the reforming state temperature is at least in a high temperature region within the POX temperature band in a state in which the operation of the solid oxide fuel cell module is stopped.

Abstract: A system for delivering an input fuel stream to a fuel cell stack to generate electrical current and to discharge an unused fuel stream is provided. A supply produces a supply fuel stream. An ejector combines a purged fuel stream and the supply fuel stream and controls the flow of the input fuel stream to the fuel cell stack. A purging arrangement receives the unused fuel stream which includes impurities and purges the impurities from the unused fuel stream to generate the purged fuel stream. A bypass valve is capable of delivering the purged fuel stream to the ejector. A blower is capable of delivering the purged fuel stream to the ejector. A controller controls one of the bypass valve and the blower for delivering the purged fuel stream to the ejector based on the amount of electrical current generated by the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A gas detection system is configured to detect a preset gas in a predetermined space. The gas detection system includes a gas concentration detector constructed to detect a gas concentration of the preset gas, a recording assembly, a notification module, and a decision module. When the gas concentration detected by the gas concentration detector is higher than a preset first reference value, the decision module controls the notification module to give notice. When the detected gas concentration is higher than a preset second reference value but is lower than the preset first reference value, on the other hand, the decision module controls the notification module to give no notice but record a specific piece of information into the recording assembly. This arrangement of the gas detection system enables the user to readily detect deterioration of a device utilizing a fuel, for example, fuel cells.

Abstract: A method of driving a fuel cell system is disclosed. The method of driving the fuel cell system may include supplying water to a reformer by pressing a pump pipe to pressing members to move the pressing members in a first direction, stopping power generation including stopping a supply of fuel and oxidant to the reformer, and discharging water in the reformer by moving the pressing members in a second direction opposite to the first direction while pressing the pump pipe with the pressing members. A fuel cell system is also disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a reformer, a fuel cell stack and a water transferring pump. The water transferring pump includes pressing members and a pump pipe. The pump pipe is in fluid communication with a water transferring pipe.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an ejector in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack and having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle with a hydrogen feed nozzle and a recirculation conduit upstream of a throat of the CD nozzle, and a thermal source configured to heat the ejector. A hydrogen supply assembly for a fuel cell system includes an ejector having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle and a mixing chamber upstream of the CD nozzle. The mixing chamber has a recirculation conduit and a hydrogen feed nozzle. A thermal source is configured to heat the ejector. A method of controlling a hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell includes, in response to detecting a heating condition at fuel cell start up, controlling a thermal source to heat an ejector upstream of an anode stack to prevent ice formation in the ejector.

Abstract: A method for increasing the temperature of a cooling fluid used to control the temperature of a fuel cell stack at a system freeze start-up. The method includes determining that the cooling fluid is frozen or nearly frozen, and if so, deactivating excessive power draw on the fuel cell stack to minimize stack waste heat and activating a cooling fluid heater to heat the cooling fluid. Once it is determined that the cooling fluid is not frozen or is flowing, then the method initiates a normal system start-up.

Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of improving performance and stability of the system by using stack off-gas includes: a power generation unit that generates power through an electrochemical reaction of a first fuel and a first oxidant; a reforming unit that supplies the first fuel to the power generation unit; a heating unit that receives second fuel and a second oxidant, combusts the second fuel, and is thermal-conductively coupled with the reforming unit; and a connection unit that connects the heating unit with the power generation unit to be in fluid communication and supplies off-gas of the power generation unit to the heating unit. The off-gas is supplied to the heating unit in a pulse type.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system capable of achieving both of improving purge efficiency and preventing deterioration of the fuel cell, and a control method of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a circulation rate adjusting unit that adjusts a circulation rate of a circulation gas, a first startup purge unit that performs the first startup purge by opening a purge valve in a state where the circulation rate of the circulation gas is increased to be a mixing promotion rate capable of promoting mixing of the fuel gas with the circulation gas at system startup of the fuel cell system, and a second startup purge unit that performs the second startup purge by opening the purge valve in a state where the gas circulation rate is reduced to be less than the mixing promotion rate after the first startup purge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extending the lifetime of a PEMFC fuel cell that includes the step of supplying, at anode 3, a chemical compound capable of reacting with oxygen, but not originating from the fuel.

Abstract: A power generator includes a hydrogen generator that generates hydrogen in response to water vapor. A solid oxide fuel cell is coupled to the hydrogen generator for receiving hydrogen and is coupled to a source of oxygen.

Abstract: Disclosed method of load-following operation of fuel-cell system comprises pre-determining functions F=f(P) and P=f?1(F), wherein P is the electric output and F is the fuel flow-rate required to output P. If reformable flow-rate FR<Fmin (the minimum flow-rate value), power generation is stopped. If FR?Fmin and if required output PD?maximum power output PM, (1) is performed; and if FR?Fmin and if PD>PM, (2) is performed. (1) If f(PD)?FR, the output is set at PD, and the fuel flow-rate is set at f(PD); and if f(PD)>FR, the output is set at the maximum value of P lower than PD and computed using P=f?1(FR), and the fuel flow-rate is set at FR. (2) If f(PM)?FR, the output is set at PM, and the fuel flow-rate is set at f(PM); and if f(PM)>FR, the output is set at the maximum value of P computed using P=f?1(FR), and fuel flow-rate is set at FR.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for generating a hydrogen test pulse includes a fuel cell stack having an anode inlet in fluid communication with a hydrogen source via a fuel spending line, a cathode inlet in fluid communication with an oxidant source, and an anode outlet and a cathode outlet in fluid communication with an exhaust line. An electric pressure regulator is in fluid communication with the fuel spending line. An overpressure valve is in fluid communication with an overpressure line, which is in fluid communication with the fuel spending line between the electric pressure regulator and the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen sensor is in communication with the exhaust line, and is configured to measure the hydrogen test pulse.

Abstract: A fuel cell power plant includes a cell stack assembly having an anode and a cathode. A component is arranged in fluid connection with at least one of the anode and cathode. The component has a first shut-down cooling rate. A heat exchanger is arranged in fluid communication with and between the component and one of the anode and cathode. The heat exchanger has a second shut-down cooling rate greater than the first shut-down cooling rate. Water vapor within the fuel cell power plant outside of the cell stack assembly will condense and freeze in the heat exchanger rather than the component, avoiding malfunction of the component upon start-up in below freezing environments.

Abstract: The fuel cell system is simplified and made more compact while providing the favorable recirculation of hydrogen-containing off-gas regardless of the increase or decrease in its flow rate. The fuel cell system is provided with: a cell unit that generates electricity by means of separating hydrogen-containing gas and oxygen-containing gas from each other while placing in flow contact to each other; and a recirculation mechanism for recirculating to the cell unit hydrogen-containing off-gas discharged from the cell unit. The fuel cell system has a flow rate determination unit that determines whether or not the hydrogen-containing gas fed to the cell unit is less than a predetermined flow rate; and a gas feeding pressure varying mechanism that cause the pressure of the hydrogen-containing gas to vary to increase and decrease when it is determined that the hydrogen-containing gas fed to the cell unit is less than the predetermined flow quantity.

Abstract: A fuel cell is operated with high power such that which a humidified gas and a dry gas are selectively supplied as oxidant to a cathode of the fuel cell. This method includes (S1) supplying a humidified gas while a power is constantly maintained or until the power begins to decrease; (S2) after supplying the humidified gas, supplying a dry gas to obtain a greater power than an average power of the step (S1); and (S3) after obtaining a predetermined power in the step (S2), repeatedly supplying a humidified gas in case the power decreases and supplying a dry gas in case the power decreases again afterwards, thereby increasing the power such that the predetermined power is maintained. This method provides an optimal operating condition to a fuel cell, thereby ensuring a high power.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for a vehicle includes a fuel cell, a fuel supply device, an oxidizer supply device, an anode potential measuring device, and a discharge controller. The anode potential measuring device is configured to measure an anode potential of an anode. The discharge controller is configured to control discharge of electric current from the fuel cell as part of a process of stopping the fuel cell during idling of the vehicle. When receiving idle stop permission for the fuel cell, the discharge controller determines whether the fuel cell is permitted to discharge. When the anode potential is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, the discharge controller permits the fuel cell to discharge. When the anode potential is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the discharge controller does not permit the fuel cell to discharge.

Abstract: Fuel cells for selectively reacting a feedstock material with or without generating electricity, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A fuel cell system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first electrode positioned in a first region, a second electrode positioned in a second region, an ion-transport medium between the first and second regions, and an electrical circuit connected between the first and second electrodes. The system is operable in a first mode to react the feedstock material by a non-electricity-generating reaction to produce a product and in a second mode to react the feedstock material by an electricity-generating reaction to produce electricity. A controller receives an input (e.g., corresponding to a change in demand for electricity) and causes the system to switch between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode in response to the input.

Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (5) includes a stack (6) of fuel cells, each of which have an anode (9), a cathode (10), and a PEM (11) disposed between the anode and the cathode. A controller (17) recognizes an indication (67) of no load demand (68) by a load (59), to operate (45) an air recycle loop (44-46) utilizing the process air blower (35) and transfer the power output (57) of the stack from the load (59) to an auxiliary load (60), comprising a resistance which will consume a predetermined small amount of power in response to the current applied thereto, when the stack operates at a critical voltage above which fuel cell corrosion is unacceptable. Fuel and air will also be reduced (16, 40). The controller may cause increased cathode recycle when the critical voltage is reached and increased air when the voltage is a fraction of a volt below the critical voltage.

Abstract: A microporous membrane is made by a dry-stretch process and has substantially round shaped pores and a ratio of machine direction tensile strength to transverse direction tensile strength in the range of 0.5 to 5.0. The method of making the foregoing microporous membrane includes the steps of: extruding a polymer into a nonporous precursor, and biaxially stretching the nonporous precursor, the biaxial stretching including a machine direction stretching and a transverse direction stretching, the transverse direction including a simultaneous controlled machine direction relax.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel-cell system and a method of operating the fuel-cell system, wherein functions F=f(P) and P=f?1(F) of electrical output P and fuel flow-rate F required to output P are beforehand obtained, and a reformable fuel flow-rate FR is calculated from the temperature of reforming catalyst layer. When FR?Fmin, if the output demand PD?maximum output PM, and when f(PD)?FR, F is set to f(PD); and when f(PD)>FR, the P is set to the maximum value within a range of less than PD amongst P calculated from P=f1(FR), and F is set to FR. When PD>PM, and when f(PM)?FR, the cell output is set to PM, and F is set to f(PM). When f(PM)>FR, the cell output is set to the maximum value amongst P calculated from P=f1(FR), and F is set to FR.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reformer that generates reformed gas using reforming fuel; a fuel cell that generates electric power using the reformed gas generated by the reformer; and a control device. The control device includes a plurality of different stop control modes for stopping operation of the fuel cell system, and selects a specific stop control mode among the plurality of stop control modes, according to the cause of a malfunction of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell system is provided having: at least one electrochemical cell stack, each stack having at least one reactant fluid inlet; a pressure transmitter arranged in the at least one reactant fluid inlet of each stack; and a control unit for regulating the electrochemical cell system, the control unit receiving at least one signal value from the pressure transmitter indicative of the reactant fluid pressure. The control unit may compare the at least one signal value with a stored values and generate a leak indication based on the rate of pressure decay within the electrochemical cell system. A method of detecting and indicating a leak is also disclosed.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system enabling an improvement in fuel consumption and a method for controlling thereof. A fuel cell system 1 includes a fuel cell 10, an air pump 21, an air supply channel, a hydrogen supply channel, a hydrogen tank, a hydrogen discharge channel, a hydrogen reflux channel, an air discharge channel, a purge valve 441, and a control device 30. The control device 30 includes a dilution judgment portion 31 judging whether dilution of hydrogen gas has been completed; an air increase portion 33 for increasing an air mass in the air discharge channel; a power production calculation portion 34 calculating an amount of power production based on the air mass increased; and a fuel cell drive portion 35 driving the fuel cell 10 to produce electric power to obtain the amount of power production calculated.

Abstract: The moisture state of a fuel cell is determined without causing any variation in the supply state of the reactant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. An output current control section temporarily performs a current sweep while maintaining the amount of oxidant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. A resistance component calculation section calculates the resistance component in the fuel cell by using an output current value and an output voltage value of the fuel cell being that of when the current sweep is temporarily performed. A moisture content calculation section calculates the moisture content in the fuel cell by using the resistance component. A moisture content determination section determines whether or not the moisture content is equal to or lower than a dry state threshold value. A moisture content increasing processing section performs a moisture content increasing process when the moisture content is equal to or lower than the dry state threshold value.

Abstract: An open type fuel cell system is provided including a recirculating unit that recirculates hydrogen discharged from a main fuel cell into the main fuel cell and a reproducing unit that removes water and impurities produced in operation of the main fuel cell. The open type fuel cell system is adapted so that it does not discharge hydrogen supplied to a main fuel cell into the atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for discharging used operating media of a fuel cell (1) in a fuel cell system (20), at least some of which are explosive, comprising a sensor unit (30) for examining the operating media discharged from an operating space (27). In order to discharge the used operating media from the fuel cell system independently of the operation of the fuel cell system and taking safety regulations into account, a mixing zone (32) is provided for mixing the operating media with a scavenging medium (28) to obtain waste air (33), wherein the operating space (27) is closed by a fan (29), and the sensor unit (30) is disposed downstream of the mixing zone (32), viewed in the flow direction of the waste air (33).

Abstract: In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is described. The fuel cell includes a twin-cell electrochemical filter. A flow of reformate H2 and pulse potential are switched between each respective filter cell such that when CO-contaminated H2 is fed to one filter cell, generally simultaneously a pulse potential is applied to the other filter cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system for vehicles and a method for controlling the same which stably maintains an output of a fuel cell by precisely estimating a recirculated hydrogen amount to a stack. A fuel cell system according to the present invention may include: a stack comprising a plurality of unit cells for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidizing agent; a blower for recirculating a gas exhausted from the stack so as to supply the gas back to the stack; an ejector for recirculating the gas exhausted from the stack, receiving hydrogen so as to mix the hydrogen to the recirculated gas, and supplying the mixture to the stack; a sensor module for detecting a driving condition of the vehicle; and a control portion for controlling operations of the blower and the ejector by using the driving condition of the vehicle and performance maps of the blower and the ejector.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a fuel cell system. An anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) receives air and fuel exhaust streams from one or more fuel cell stacks of the fuel cell system. The one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads. An ATO temperature signal is used to control at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks or the current provided to the one or more loads.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system capable of performing a purge operation necessary for realizing a stable output and being miniaturized without using a controller or a sensor, there is provided a fuel cell system having a main power generation part and a sub-power generation part positioned on a downstream side of a fuel flow path of the main power generation part, including: a purge valve provided on a downstream side of the fuel flow path of the sub-power generation part; and an actuator for opening/closing the purge valve with an electromotive force of the sub-power generation part.

Abstract: Chemical additives are disclosed to increase solubility of salts in liquefied gas electrolytes.