Abstract: In a method for operating a fuel cell system having recirculation blower arranged in a fuel cell circuit, fuel discharged from the anode exhaust is fed back to the inlet side of the fuel cell system via the recirculation blower. The direction of flow in the fuel return line is reversed in at least a portion of the return line, in an alternating manner.

Abstract: A fuel cell system can be initiated in shorter time while minimizing the deterioration of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a fuel electrode, an oxidizer electrode and an electrolyte membrane disposed there between, the fuel cell producing electricity by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidizer gas, which are supplied to the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, respectively; a fuel gas supplying device for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxidizer gas supplying device for supplying the oxidizer gas to the fuel cell stack; a current controlling device for extracting a current from the fuel cell stack; and a voltage sensor disposed in at least two of the fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: A concentration of a fuel supplied to a fuel cell and a heat exchange rate of a heat exchanger are controlled simultaneously in order to maintain a temperature of fuel cell stack and a diluted fuel concentration that is supplied to the fuel cell stack in a target level. Further, by appropriately responding to an exterior temperature changes or unexpected fuel cell performance changes, it is possible to improve a system efficiency and stability of fuel cell operation and to regulate the fuel concentration quickly and accurately compared to a prior sensor-less concentration controller.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating an amount of carbon support loss in fuel cells of a fuel cell stack in a vehicle, for example, during vehicle off-times. The system and method include estimating an amount of time that a hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero and calculating an amount of carbon loss based on the amount of time that the hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero.

Abstract: A control system for a direct alcohol fuel cell, comprising: a fuel tank; a fuel cell stack; a pump feeding the fuel in the fuel tank to the fuel cell stack; a switching mechanism connecting the pump selectively with the fuel and air in the fuel tank; and a control unit switching the switching mechanism to connect the pump with the air when stopping power generation of the fuel cell stack. When the generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped, feeding of the fuel to the fuel cell stack is stopped and the air is supplied to the fuel cell stack thereby pushing out the remaining fuel.

Abstract: A control unit operates a fuel-cell power generation apparatus efficiently according to power consumption and supplied hot-water heat consumption which are different in each home. A generated-power command-pattern creation section creates a plurality of generated-power command patterns which are obtained from a combination of a start time and a stop time of the fuel-cell power generation apparatus, based on a power-consumption prediction value. A hot-water storage-tank heat-quantity calculation section calculates a stored hot-water heat quantity for a predetermined period in a hot-water storage tank, based on a supplied hot-water heat-consumption prediction. A fuel-cell system-energy calculation section calculates fuel-cell system energy which indicates the energy of a fuel required in hot-water supply equipment and electricity required in electric equipment when the fuel-cell power generation apparatus is operated in each generated-power command pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for reconditioning a fuel cell stack to recover stack voltage loss. The method includes first operating the fuel cell stack in a wet condition where the humidity level in the stack is above 100% to provide liquid water at the cell electrodes. The method then applies a low voltage potential to the stack that causes contaminants to be released from the catalyst surface of the cell electrodes. This step can include starving the cathode side of oxygen for a limited period of time. The method then causes water to flow through the stack so that the contaminants are flushed out of the stack. The process can be performed during vehicle operation where small amounts of voltage would be recovered or during vehicle service where a relatively large amount of voltage could be recovered.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed in which the oxidative degradation of an anode of a fuel cell during an operation stop period is restrained. The fuel cell system (39) of the invention comprises a fuel cell (1) configured to generate electric power by use of hydrogen contained in a fuel gas supplied to an anode (1a) and oxygen contained in an oxidizing gas supplied to a cathode (1c); and a combustor (4) configured to combust flammable gas, and is formed such that after stopping the power generation, the flammable gas is introduced into and kept in the cathode (1c) and when discharging the flammable gas from the cathode (1c), the flammable gas is combusted by the combustor (4).

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (1) having an electrolyte membrane (2), an anode (3) and a cathode (4) sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (2), a cathode gas passage (98) through which an oxidizing gas is supplied to and discharged from the cathode (4), and an anode gas passage (97) through which a fuel gas is supplied to and discharged from the anode (3); a fuel gas channel having an anode gas passage (97) and through which the fuel gas is supplied to and discharged from the anode (3); and an oxidizing gas channel having the cathode gas passage (98) and through which the oxidizing gas is supplied to and discharged from the cathode (4).

Abstract: A method for determining when to inject hydrogen gas into the anode side of a fuel cell stack associated with a fuel cell vehicle when the vehicle is off. The method includes estimating the concentration of hydrogen gas in the anode side of the fuel cell stack using a gas concentration model and determining if the estimated concentration of hydrogen gas is below a first predetermined threshold. If the estimated hydrogen gas is less than the threshold, then hydrogen gas is injected into the anode side from a hydrogen source. While the hydrogen gas is being injected, the method compares the estimated concentration of the hydrogen gas in the anode side to a desired concentration, and generates an error signal there between. If the error signal is greater than a second predetermined threshold, the algorithm continues to inject the hydrogen into the anode side of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether valves in a fuel cell system bleed manifold unit (BMU) are blocked with ice or have otherwise failed. The system opens a first bleed valve, closes a second bleed valve and opens an exhaust valve, and then reads a pressure signal to determine whether there is flow through a flow restriction to determine whether the first bleed valve or the exhaust valve is blocked. The system then closes the exhaust valve, leaves the first bleed valve open, and again reads the pressure signal to determine the pressure drop across the flow restriction, which will indicate whether the flow restriction the pressure sensor lines are blocked. The system then closes the first bleed valve and opens the second bleed valve to determine whether the pressure signal indicates a flow through the second bleed valve.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween. An oxidant gas supplying device supplies oxidant gas to the cathode, an oxidant gas backpressure regulating device regulates the pressure of the oxidant gas at the cathode according to a valve opening, and a pressure detecting device detects the oxidant gas pressure at the cathode. During a start-up fuel gas disposal process, a controller controls the oxidant gas supplying device to supply the oxidant gas at a standard oxidant gas flow, controls the valve opening of the oxidant gas backpressure regulating device to a first valve opening, and controls the valve opening of the oxidant gas backpressure regulating device to a second valve opening which is greater than the first valve opening when the oxidant gas pressure detected by the pressure detecting device reaches an elevation target pressure.

Abstract: A fuel cell system can be initiated in shorter time while minimizing the deterioration of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a fuel electrode, an oxidizer electrode and an electrolyte membrane disposed there between, the fuel cell producing electricity by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidizer gas, which are supplied to the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, respectively; a fuel gas supplying device for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxidizer gas supplying device for supplying the oxidizer gas to the fuel cell stack; a current controlling device for extracting a current from the fuel cell stack; and a voltage sensor disposed in at least two of the fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack designed to react reactants for current generation, a cold start detection apparatus for detecting a cold start state of a fuel cell stack and a load which may be connected to the fuel cell stack 2. A control device is designed to connect the load when the fuel cell stack 2 is in the cold start state. The supply of the reactants for the fuel cell stack is conformed to connection of the load, and the control device is designed with software and/or circuitry so as to vary the connected load in one or more step load changes in response to detection of the cold start state of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system which executes a stop process of stopping an output from a fuel cell when a required power generation amount for the fuel cell is smaller than a predetermined power generation amount and supplies oxidant during a stop process period, fuel gas is intermittently supplied to a fuel electrode at a basic supply interval, which is set in advance and at which carbon dioxide is not generated in an oxidant electrode, during the stop process period.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing the performance of fuel cells in fuel cell vehicles. Some embodiments comprise a current control module for controlling the application of a load to the fuel cell and a voltage monitoring module for monitoring one or more voltages within the fuel cell. The current control module may be configured to apply a delay period before applying a load to the fuel cell after the fuel cell has reached an open circuit voltage. In other embodiments, a fixed delay period may be applied before applying a load to the fuel cell after the fuel cell has reached an open circuit voltage or, for example, an incremental set of delay periods that increase as measured temperature decreases.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is arranged to charge a secondary battery, which is detachable from the fuel cell system, and to supply electric power to a load. The fuel cell system includes a cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells and a controller having a CPU. During power generation in the cell stack, the CPU determines whether or not the secondary battery has been removed from the fuel cell system based on a voltage drop in the cell stack. With the determination that the secondary battery has been removed, the CPU turns off a relay and power supply from the cell stack to the load is stopped. The fuel cell system reliably maintains its operation even after removal of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A fuel cell having an oxygen-containing gas flow field and a fuel gas flow field, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas flow field, a fuel gas supply apparatus for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel gas flow field, a scavenging gas supply apparatus for supplying air as a scavenging gas to the fuel gas flow field, and a controller are provided. The controller includes a voltage detection unit for detecting the voltage of the fuel cell after operation of the fuel cell is stopped and a scavenging control unit for starting scavenging in the fuel gas flow field by the scavenging gas supply apparatus after the detected voltage is decreased temporarily, increased, and decreased again to become a preset voltage or less.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fuel cell system, and a method of driving the system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of unit cells producing electricity, a switching unit connecting the plurality of unit cells to a discharge resistor, a switching controller synchronously operated when the voltage of the fuel cell stack reaches an open circuit voltage after power generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped. The switching controller generates select control signals to control the switching unit. The fuel cell system further includes a sensing unit measuring respective cell voltages of the plurality of unit cells and generating cell voltage sensing signals to control activation periods of the select control signals.

Abstract: When starting operation of a fuel cell below the freezing point, a fuel cell system adjusts the open degree of a hydrogen pressure adjusting valve, introduces hydrogen to a hydrogen entrance of the fuel cell so as to make the total pressure of the hydrogen entrance a first pressure, and starts a hydrogen circulation pump. If at least one of the cell voltages acquired by a cell voltmeter is below a predetermined voltage, the system determines that clogging is caused in a hydrogen flow channel in the fuel cell. When it is determined that clogging is present, the open degree of the pressure adjusting valve is adjusted and hydrogen is introduced to the hydrogen entrance so that the total pressure of the hydrogen entrance is a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure. Then, the hydrogen circulation pump is stopped and the fuel cell is warmed up to dissolve the clogging of the hydrogen flow channel.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve the accuracy of estimating a moisture content and suppress an effect of remaining water at the startup of the fuel cell system. A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell including a cell laminate; an estimating unit for estimating a residual water content distribution in the reactant gas flow channel and a moisture content distribution in the electrolyte membrane in a cell plane of each single cell while taking into consideration water transfer that occurs between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode via the electrolyte membrane; and an operation control unit for, based on an estimation result from the estimating unit, setting a scavenging time used in a scavenging process for the fuel cell after the fuel cell system is shut down.

Abstract: An apparatus for recirculation of a cathode gas in a fuel cell arrangement having a cathode gas supply for supplying the cathode gas to a cathode area, and a cathode gas outlet for carrying the partially consumed cathode gas out of the cathode area, includes a recirculation line for recirculation of the partially consumed cathode gas from a junction point in the cathode gas outlet into a supply point in the cathode gas supply. Blocking apparatus is provided to block the cathode gas supply in the flow direction upstream of the supply point and to block the cathode gas outlet in the flow direction downstream from the junction point, such that a closed circuit for the partially consumed cathode gas is formed when the blocking apparatus is closed.

Abstract: A method includes an in-stop-mode power generating process of, if an instruction to stop an operation of a fuel cell is detected, stopping supply of a fuel gas, and supplying an oxide gas to the fuel cell to generate power from an oxide-gas supply apparatus, and then stopping power generation of the fuel cell, and a gas replacing process of, after the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped, activating the gas replacement apparatus at a predetermined timing to supply a replacement gas to the anode side of the fuel cell to replace the fuel gas on the anode side with the replacement gas.

Abstract: Even if a failure occurs in a bypass valve during low-efficiency power generation, the occurrence of an excessive stoichiometry ratio in a fuel cell can be prevented. An output from a pressure sensor or a current sensor is monitored by a control device, and when a failure associated with a closed-valve malfunction of the bypass valve occurs, the degree of opening of the pressure regulating valve is increased to increase an amount of cathode-off gas exhaust, and a revolution speed of an air compressor is reduced to an amount of air discharged by the air compressor, thereby preventing an excessive stoichiometry ratio in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively determining whether a freeze purge should be performed at shut-down of a fuel cell stack. The method includes identifying that the vehicle has been keyed off and then determining whether a stack membrane humidification value is less than a predetermined humidification value that identifies the humidification of membranes in fuel cells in the fuel cell stack. If the stack membrane humidification value is not less than the predetermined humidification value, then the method determines if the ambient temperature is below a predetermined ambient temperature, and if so, performs the freeze purge. If the ambient temperature is not below the predetermined ambient temperature, then the method performs a short non-freeze purge of the flow channels in the fuel cell stack. The method determines a wake-up time for a controller for a next time to determine whether a freeze purge should be performed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for a vehicle includes a fuel cell arrangement that is coupleable to a vehicle drive as a primary load, and to a plurality of secondary loads. A control apparatus which controls the primary load and the secondary loads includes a monitoring circuit that is operable in a special operating mode of the fuel cell system, with the secondary loads being switched on and/or off as a manipulated variable in order to maintain the output voltage, as a reference variable, at a low voltage value that is formed by a cell voltage of the fuel cells of less than 0.45 V on average.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for maintaining hydrogen-selective membranes during periods of inactivity. These systems and methods may include heating and maintaining at least the hydrogen-selective membrane of a hydrogen-producing fuel processing system in a thermally buffered state and/or controlling the chemical composition of the gas streams that may come into contact with the hydrogen-selective membrane. Controlling the chemical composition of the gas streams that may come into contact with the hydrogen-selective membrane may include maintaining a positive pressure of an inert, blanket, reducing, and/or non-oxidizing gas within the membrane separation assembly and/or periodically supplying a reducing gas stream to the membrane separation assembly.

Abstract: A process for shutting down a fuel cell power plant (5) shuts off (40) process air, recycles (44-46) air exhaust 42 to air inlets 34, and connects an auxiliary load to the stack (6). Coulombs are counted by integrating (17) current (73) or voltage (75) to the load to determine when all oxygen in the air side (10, 27, 30, 34, 42, 44-47) of the power plant is consumed and a desired concentration of hydrogen is transferred to the air side of the power plant. The speed of the shutdown processes may be increased by increasing fuel pressure (15) or adding a battery (78) in series with the auxiliary load.

Abstract: The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction of fuel gas and oxidation gas; a battery that stores electricity or supplies electricity; and a driving motor that receives electricity for driving. The fuel cell system further includes: a fuel cell electricity supplying path provided between the fuel cell and the driving motor; a battery electricity supplying path extending from the battery and connected to the fuel cell electricity supplying path; and a circuit breaker that is provided closer to the fuel cell than a connecting point of the fuel cell electricity supplying path and the battery electricity supplying path.

Abstract: A system and method for limiting voltage cycling of a fuel cell stack during a stand-by mode by providing power from a battery to the stack while the stack is turned off. The method includes monitoring the voltage of each of the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack and determining an average cell voltage of the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack. The method also determines whether the average cell voltage of the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack has fallen below a predetermined voltage value and, if so, applies a voltage potential to the fuel cell stack to increase the average cell voltage above the predetermined voltage value.

Abstract: As an activation time power generation mode of a fuel cell system, a control device executes: a first step of determining whether or not hydrogen is present in an anode gas flow path; a second step of bringing a contactor to a connected state if hydrogen is detected in the first step as being present in the anode gas flow path; a third step of supplying air to a cathode through a cathode gas flow path after the second step has been executed; and a fourth step of, if a voltage of the fuel cell stack detected by a voltage detection device reaches a predetermined voltage, connecting an electrical load to the fuel cell stack, and performing electric power generation of the fuel cell stack while maintaining the voltage at or below the predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which prevents the deterioration of the fuel cell stack when feeding of the oxidant gas is paused under a load to perform a fuel conservation operation. Controller shuts down oxidant gas compressor and cooling water circulating pump to execute fuel conservation operation at a low fuel cell system load. The controller gives a current draw instruction to electric power controller. In the fuel conservation operation, electric power controller draws a current larger than zero from fuel cell stack, and keeps the total charge drawn per unit time constant or substantially constant.

Abstract: An FC voltage increasing converter includes a plurality of converter parts having reactors. Regarding the first of the plurality of converter parts provided with a thermistor, the output starts to be limited when the temperature detected by the thermistor reaches a limitation starting temperature, which is obtained based on a reference heat-resistant temperature, which is obtained by subtracting an error of the thermistor from a specification heat-resistant temperature of each of the reactors. Meanwhile, regarding the second, third and fourth of the plurality of converter parts not provided with thermistors, the outputs start to be limited when the temperature detected by the thermistor reaches a limitation starting temperature obtained based on an allowable temperature, which is obtained by subtracting a characteristic-variation temperature of the reactor from the reference heat-resistant temperature of the reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell including an anode and a cathode to which a water-soluble fuel and an oxidant are supplied, respectively, and a water-permeable electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween; a fuel tank; a first fuel supply unit which supplies an aqueous fuel solution to the anode; a second fuel supply unit which supplies the fuel to the first fuel supply unit; an oxidant supply unit which supplies an oxidant to the cathode; a temperature sensor which detects a temperature FT of the fuel cell; and a control unit which controls the first, second, and oxidant supply units, and the fuel cell whether to start or stop power generation. The control unit allows at least the first fuel supply unit to operate while the fuel cell is stopped from generating power, provided that the temperature FT of the fuel cell as such meets specific requirements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell startup apparatus and method, particularly, a fuel cell startup method, by which in an emergency situation such as when a high-voltage battery mounted on a fuel cell vehicle is completely discharged, fuel cell startup can be achieved without assistance of a high-voltage power source. To this end, an air supply port, which is connected to an emergency air supplier, is formed on an air supply line configured to supply air to a cathode of a fuel cell stack, and the emergency air supplier supplies the air to the fuel cell stack when complete discharge of a high-voltage battery and is removably engaged to the air supply port.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and an abnormality detecting method therefor is provided. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes at least one fuel-cell cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane, an anode-side passage supplying and exhausting fuel gas to and from the anode, a cathode-side passage supplying and exhausting oxidation gas to and from the cathode, a voltage detecting unit detecting a fuel cell voltage, a suppressing unit setting a suppression state where, after terminating normal power generation, introduction of the fuel and oxidation gas to the anode-side and cathode-side passages and emission of the fuel and oxidation gas from the anode-side and cathode-side passages to outsides are suppressed as compared with those during the normal power generation; and an abnormality detecting unit, after setting the suppression state, detecting abnormality of the fuel cell system based on the detected voltage or a variation thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell generation system and a start up method thereof which heat up a reformer and a cell main body without any water and nitrogen gas, and start up for a short time until a power generation and without deteriorating a reliability of the cell. In a solid oxide fuel cell generation system having a power generation cell including an anode, a cathode and a solid electrolyte membrane, a mixing portion for obtaining a mixed gas by mixing a used fuel gas discharged from the anode with a raw fuel, a reducing combustion gas generating apparatus, and a reforming portion, the reducing combustion gas generating apparatus has a starting burner generating a reducing combustion gas, and the mixing portion, the reducing combustion gas generating apparatus, the reforming portion and the anode are coupled alphabetically from an upstream side.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator (100) includes: a reformer (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a material gas; a hydro-desulfurizer (2) configured to remove a sulfur compound in the material gas; a recycled gas passage (9) through which the hydrogen-containing gas added to the material gas before the material gas flows into the hydro-desulfurizer (2) flows; a first on-off valve (3) disposed on the recycled gas passage (9); a material gas passage through which the material gas supplied to the reformer (1) flows; a second on-off valve (5) disposed on a portion of the material gas passage, the portion being located downstream of a connection portion where the material gas passage and the recycled gas passage (9) are connected to each other; and a controller (6) configured to open the first on-off valve (3) after the generation stop of the hydrogen-containing gas to supply the material gas to the recycled gas passage (9), and the controller (6) closes the second on-off valve (5

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a reactor constructed from a ion-permeable membrane between a cathode space and an anode space. The membrane includes an extended membrane area which extends outside of the area of the cathode and anode spaces. A carrier layer is attached to and supports the membrane extended area, and the carrier layer is arranged with an integrated circuit adjacent to the fuel cell.

Abstract: In a method for deactivating a fuel cell system, low electric-power generation is performed prior to oxygen-consumption electric-power generation in a case where a state of charge in an electricity storage device provided in the fuel cell system is larger than a predetermined value when a stop switch provided in the fuel cell system is operated. After the state of charge in the electricity storage device is reduced to the predetermined value by compensating for a negative net output by discharging electricity from the electricity storage device, the oxygen-consumption electric-power generation in which oxygen remaining in a cathode system of the fuel cell is consumed to reduce oxygen concentration within the cathode system is performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pre-activation method for a fuel cell stack, which can reduce the amount of hydrogen used and the processing time required during the regular activation process for the fuel cell stack. The disclosure provides, in part, a pre-activation method including: injecting water droplet-containing, humidified hydrogen into a cathode inlet manifold of a fuel cell stack assembled in an assembly process such that the water droplet-containing hydrogen is supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell stack; and sealing and storing the resulting fuel cell stack for a period of time to pre-activate the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided that can establish, for a long time period, a stack to an idling stop state. The fuel cell system includes: an idling stop control means for setting the stack to an idling stop state by, decreasing both a supplied amount of air to the stack and generated electric current produced from the stack to less than during the idling power generation; and a discharge valve control means for determining whether there is a necessity to discharge nitrogen or generated water inside of the anode system, and for opening the purge valve or drain valve in a case of there being a necessity. The discharge valve control means shortens valve open times (PO2, DO2) of the purge valve and drain valve during idling stop to less than the valve open times (PO1, DO1) thereof during idling power generation.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack start method is to provide in which without relying on oxidation and reduction condition of an anode, an output reduction of the fuel cell stack can be avoided. In the start method of a solid polymer type fuel cell stack that is comprised of a separator including an anode flow channel for flowing a fuel, another separator including a cathode flow channel for feeding an oxidant and electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between the separators, the method is characterized by performing successively a first step of feeding the fuel to the fuel cell stack under a condition that a cathode is covered by generated water, a second step of forming an oxide layer on the cathode, a third step of feeding the oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack and a fourth step of extracting load current from the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrochemical-catalytic converter, which can remove nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HCs) and particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas. The electrochemical-catalytic converter comprises a cell module, wherein nitrogen oxides are decomposed to form nitrogen through electrochemical promotion, and wherein carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter are catalyzed to form carbon dioxide and water by an oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, each of the fuel cells including an electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode, an anode supply manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, the anode supply manifold providing fluid communication between a source of hydrogen and the anodes, an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, and a fan in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, wherein the fan controls a flow of fluid through the anodes of the fuel cells after the fuel cell system is shutdown.

Abstract: A process is provided for operating a fuel cell system (1), especially in a motor vehicle, wherein the fuel cell system (1) includes at least one reformer (2) and at least one fuel cell (3). To prolong the service life of the system (1), a warm-holding mode is carried out after switching off the fuel cell system (1). During the warm-holding mode an educt containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide is fed to the reformer (2) and reacted with air in reformer (2) at a catalyst (5) of reformer (2) in an exothermal reaction.

Abstract: An aircraft system comprising a fuel storage system comprising a first fuel tank capable of storing a first fuel and a second fuel tank capable of storing a second fuel is disclosed herein. The aircraft system further comprises a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell capable of producing electrical power using at least one of the first fuel or the second fuel, and a fuel delivery system capable of delivering a fuel from the fuel storage system to the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a fuel gas supply unit; an oxidizing gas supply unit; an oxidizing gas supply passage; an oxidizing gas discharge passage; an oxidizing gas branch passage; an on-off valve disposed on at least one of the oxidizing gas discharge passage and a portion of the oxidizing gas supply passage; an oxidizing gas supply amount measuring unit disposed on the oxidizing gas branch passage; and a controller configured to determine that the on-off valve is normal in a case where a supply amount of the oxidizing gas measured by the oxidizing gas supply amount measuring unit is equal to or larger than a first threshold and determines that the on-off valve is abnormal in a case where the supply amount of the oxidizing gas measured by the oxidizing gas supply amount measuring unit is smaller than the first threshold.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to module level redundancy for fuel cell systems. A monitoring component monitors a set of operational parameters for a fuel cell group. The fuel cell group includes a set of fuel cell units, each having a set of fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stacks include a set of gas powered fuel cells that convert air and fuel into electricity using a chemical reaction. The monitoring component determines that the set of operational parameters do not satisfy a set of operational criteria, and, in response, a load balancing component adjusts the electrical output capacity of the set of fuel cell units included in the fuel cell group.