Abstract: A fuel cell power supply includes a fuel cell voltage detection means which detects a terminal-to-terminal voltage of the fuel cell; an internal resistance calculation element configured to supply electric power from a battery to a motor via a second DC-DC converter and configured to calculates a resistance value of an internal resistance of the fuel cell on the basis of a detection voltage of the fuel cell in a state where a current output of the fuel cell is stopped, a detection voltage of a terminal-to-terminal voltage of the fuel cell in a state where the output current of the fuel cell is adjusted to a value, and the value; and a deterioration level determination element configured to determines a deterioration level of the fuel cell on the basis of a change in the resistance value of the internal resistance of the fuel cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for controlling pressure oscillation in an anode of a fuel cell stack. In particular, an electronic control unit is configured to determine operation information including a reference power mapped based on the operating pressure of a fuel cell system and a reference differential pressure between at least two predetermined points in a vicinity of the anode, compare the power of the fuel cell system with the reference power and, when the power is less than the reference power, control the pressure in the anode to be an oscillating target pressure, and compare the measured differential pressure between the at least two points with the reference differential pressure and, when the measured differential pressure is less than the reference differential pressure, reduce a purge valve operation cycle.

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 oxidizing gas supply is stopped during the catalyst activation treatment, and the output voltage of the fuel cell is linearly decreased toward the reduction target voltage. Once the interruption condition of the activation treatment has been satisfied, a voltage command value of the converter is returned to a standby voltage and, after waiting till the output voltage of the fuel cell returns to the vicinity of the standby voltage, the compressor is operated to start the supply of the oxidizing gas, and the catalyst activation treatment is completed. As a result, overcharging of the battery caused by rapid increase in the output power of the fuel cell is avoided.

Abstract: A fuel cell system increases an output voltage of a fuel cell if an electric power generation command value Pref for the fuel cell abruptly reduces while the fuel cell is being warmed up at a low-efficiency operation, which has lower electric power generation efficiency than that of a normal operation. Thus, the surplus electric power Ws corresponding to the difference between an electric power generation amount Pmes of the fuel cell and the electric power generation command value Pref is stored into a capacitive component of the fuel cell, thereby matching the electric power supplied to an external load of the fuel cell (Pmes-Ws) with the electric power generation command value Pref. This makes it possible to conduct control not to supply the surplus electric power to the external load when the electric power required from the fuel cell suddenly reduces during the low-efficiency operation.

Abstract: A limit switch for detecting opening/closing of a hood is connected to a controller. A power supply relay is also connected to the controller. A switching contact of the relay is located on power supply line for supplying power supply from a fuel cell. When the hood is closed, the limit switch is on and the controller maintains the switching contact in a closed state so that power supply from the fuel cell to various power-consuming components is allowed. On the other hand, when the hood is opened, the limit switch is turned off. In response to this, the controller opens the switching contact so that the power supply from the fuel cell to the various power-consuming components is shut off.

Abstract: A method for determining the health of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a constant flow of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack, shutting off a flow of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack when a predetermined concentration of hydrogen in the anode side has been achieved, and identifying a catalyst surface area and a catalyst support surface area for catalyst layers in the fuel cell stack. The method also includes determining the total parasitic current of the fuel cell stack to determine a cross-over parasitic current and a shorting resistance of the fuel cell stack. The method further includes calculating the catalyst surface area and the catalyst support surface area of the catalyst layers and comparing the difference between the identified catalyst surface area and the calculated catalyst surface area to estimate the change in the catalyst surface area.

Abstract: A system and method for determining when to trigger reconditioning of a fuel cell stack and when to disable the reconditioning of the fuel cell stack. In one embodiment, the stack reconditioning is triggered when a maximum stack power estimation falls below a first predetermined power threshold. The reconditioning of the stack can be disabled so it is not performed when the trigger occurs if the reconditioning process does not raise the maximum power estimation above a second predetermined power threshold or the time from one reconditioning trigger to a next reconditioning trigger is less than a predetermined time threshold, or both.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system connected to a power grid includes determining a frequency of the power grid, and adjusting the operation of the fuel cell system based on the determined frequency.

Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of providing a suitable power distribution is provided. A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; a motor that can be driven upon the supply of electric power and can generate regenerative power; a power storage unit which can be charged with power generated from the fuel cell and regenerative power of the motor and can discharge charge power to the motor; an auxiliary apparatus used for operating at least the fuel cell; and a control unit that controls a power distribution between the above components.

Abstract: A humidifier assembly for humidifying fuel for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a water heater adapted to receive recycled water and to generate heated water using cathode exhaust, and a fuel saturator adapted to receive deaerated cleansed water, at least a portion of the deaerated cleansed water comprising the heated water, and fuel and to humidify the fuel with a first portion of the deaerated cleansed water, the fuel saturator tower outputting humidified fuel for use in the fuel cell system and a second portion of the deaerated cleansed water for use as recycled water in the water heater.

Abstract: Disclosed is an MEA in which a catalyst layer is coated on both sides of an ion exchange membrane. An ion exchange membrane support film is attached on both sides of an edge portion of the ion exchange membrane, and a PCB is mounted on one surface of the ion exchange membrane support film along an outer line of the catalyst layer of the MEA. Furthermore, a PCB terminal is formed on one end of the PCB, and a connector is connected to the PCB terminal to communicate with an external controller. The PCB includes a heating element, a first temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the heating element, a second temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the MEA, a first contact measuring the resistance of unit cells, and a second contact measuring the voltage of the unit cells, formed in a predetermined arrangement to communicate with the PCB terminal.

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: An operation method at the time of load increase of fuel cell system includes in this order a first step of determining a target power generation amount of the fuel cell module, a second step of increasing the flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell module, a third step of increasing the flow rate of the water supplied to the fuel cell module, a fourth step of increasing the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell module, a fifth step of increasing the power generation amount of the fuel cell module, and a sixth step of detecting whether the power generation amount of the fuel cell module reaches the target power generation amount or more.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided that can suppress the degradation of the MEA and simultaneously assure the merchantability. The fuel cell system 1 includes: a fuel cell 10 that generates electric power by reacting hydrogen gas and oxidant gas; a temperature sensor 103 that detects the temperature of the fuel cell 10; a voltage lower limit calculation portion 31 that sets the voltage threshold to limit the output of the fuel cell 10 based on the temperature detected of the fuel cell 10; a current upper limit calculation portion 32 and the current limiting portion 33 that limits the output of the fuel cell in a case where the voltage generated by the fuel cell 10 is lower than the voltage threshold.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell capable of extending the time period over which initial rated output power is maintained, while restraining increases in running cost. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell (1), having a fuel cell module (2) furnished with multiple fuel cell units, a fuel supply device (38), an oxidant gas supply device (45), and a controller (110) for controlling the amount of fuel supplied; the controller is furnished with a degradation determining circuit (110a) for determining degradation, and a fuel correction circuit (110b) for correcting the fuel supply amount based on the degradation determination; when it is determined that the fuel cell module has degraded, the fuel correction circuit executes a correction so that rated output power is maintained, and when the predetermined correction switching condition is satisfied, the fuel correction circuit executes a correction to reduce the fuel cell module rated output power.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: an AC impedance measuring unit which measures an AC impedance of a fuel cell at a scavenging start and which measures an AC impedance of the fuel cell when a predetermined time has elapsed from the scavenging start; a scavenging execution time estimation unit which estimates a scavenging execution time based on the AC impedance measured at the scavenging start, the AC impedance measured at a time when the predetermined time has elapsed from the scavenging start, and the predetermined time; and an error processing unit which forcibly terminates scavenging processing if no AC impedance can be measured at the time when the predetermined time has elapsed from the scavenging start.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is equipped with a fuel cell, a DC/DC converter that is electrically connected to the fuel cell, and a control unit that controls the supply of a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell and issues a voltage command to and drives the DC/DC converter to perform high potential avoidance control of restraining an output voltage of the fuel cell from exceeding a high potential avoidance voltage lower than an open circuit voltage. The control unit continues to drive the DC/DC converter so as to perform the high potential avoidance control for a predetermined time after stopping supplying the fuel cell with hydrogen and air in response to the inputting of a system operation stop command.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell; a cathode inflow water amount determining portion that determines a cathode inflow water amount after activation of the fuel cell; an obtaining portion that obtains a pore total volume of the cathode side catalyst layer; an operating condition determining portion that determines, based on the determined cathode inflow water amount and the obtained pore total volume, an operating condition of the fuel cell that includes a current value of current that flows through the fuel cell and an upper limit value of a period of time for which the current flows, for bringing the cathode inflow water amount within a range that is equal to or less than the pore total volume; and an adjusting portion that adjusts the current value and the period of time for which current of the current value flows, such that the determined operating condition is realized.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack that is formed of a plurality of serially connected fuel-cell cells that use fuel gas and oxidant gas to generate electric power; a detecting unit that detects an output power generated by each of a first fuel-cell cell group and a second fuel-cell cell group that are grouped on the basis of a power generation performance factor; and an operating condition changing unit that changes an operating condition of the fuel-cell cells on the basis of a rate of deviation between the generated output power of the first fuel-cell cell group, detected by the detecting unit, and the generated output power of the second fuel-cell cell group, detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: An embedded measurement circuit for a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of bipolar plates that include recessed areas providing conduction and retention points for the measurement circuit. The measurement circuit has a length, a width and a thickness where the width and length of the circuit are greater than the thickness of the circuit. The measurement circuit includes a stepped cut-out portion defining steps along an edge of the length of the circuit. The measurement circuit is positioned between and among the plurality of bipolar plates so that each one of the steps of the stepped cut-out portion of the measurement circuit enables electrical contact with a separate plate and the width of the circuit is perpendicular to a plane of the plates and the thickness of the circuit is along the plane of the bipolar plates.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell stack where electrical energy from regenerative braking is used to operate system loads instead of using fuel cell stack power to conserve hydrogen. A fuel cell stack and an ultracapacitor are electrically coupled to a high voltage electrical bus. A by-pass line is provided around a blocking diode including a by-pass contactor. A stack contactor is provided to disconnect the fuel cell stack from the electrical bus. A stand-by mode request is made if the voltage at a node proximate to the blocking diode closest to the ultracapacitor is higher than the voltage at a node proximate to the blocking diode closest to the fuel cell stack. Steps are then made to electrically prepare the high voltage electrical bus. Then, the stack contactor is opened and the by-pass contactor is closed to allow the regenerate braking energy to power the system loads.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a fuel cell power managing method in which the fuel cell system controls a current output of a fuel cell by adjusting a target voltage value of the fuel cell according to a difference between a current value of the fuel cell and a target constant current value. By doing so, the fuel cell system may allow the fuel cell to stably and constantly output a constant current.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust comprises a fuel cell coupled in the engine exhaust wherein the fuel cell has an output circuit; a battery coupled with the fuel cell; and a controller receiving a signal indicative of an electric output of the fuel cell output circuit, and adjusting one of the fuel amount and the air amount supplied to the engine in response to said signal to affect air-fuel ratio of the exhaust of the engine.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a reactant gas supply device, and a capacitor which supplies a power to various devices when the fuel cell is in a temporary power generation stop state. The fuel cell system drives the reactant gas supply device based on a predetermined current instruction value to supply a reactant gas to the fuel cell, thereby generating the power. Such a fuel cell system comprises a control device which judges whether or not the current instruction value is below a water balance zero current value when the water content of the fuel cell is below a predetermined threshold and the stored electric charge of the capacitor is a predetermined threshold or more. If affirmative judgment is obtained, the control device switches the power generation state of the fuel cell to the temporary power generation stop state.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for supplying power to a load includes: a plurality of fuel cell stacks; a plurality of DC/DC converters coupled to the plurality of fuel cell stacks; and a stack controller for estimating performance of the respective fuel cell stacks according to current amounts of the plurality of fuel cell stacks, and for controlling power converting efficiency of the respective DC/DC converters according to the performance of the fuel cell stacks to control output power generated by the fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a cell voltage monitoring sub-system that measures the cell voltage of each cell in a fuel cell stack and provides an indication of a low performing or failed cell. The fuel cell system uses the cell voltage monitoring sub-system to determine if one of the wires connected to a bipolar plate in the stack is broken or has otherwise failed. The cell voltage monitoring sub-system uses differential amplifiers to compare the positive side voltage and the negative side voltage of a cell to determine if the cell voltage is low or the cell is failing. By looking at the outputs of two differential amplifiers in the cell voltage monitoring sub-system, it can be determined whether adjacent cells provide an indication of both cells failing, which would indicate that a connection wire has failed.

Abstract: An electric power source arrangement is described, comprising a fuel cell means (2) having a nominal voltage and a specified voltage-current characteristic, to be connected to a load (1), and comprising a variable DC-DC voltage converter (3), a by-pass branch (11) by-passing the DC-DC voltage converter, a switch (13) alternatively connecting the fuel cell to the DC-DC voltage converter or to the by-pass branch, and a control unit (12) controlling the switch, which control unit (12) comprises a measuring device coupled to the fuel cell means (2) for detecting the operating point thereof and is configured to connect the by-pass branch (11) if the fuel cell means voltage is within a selected range of section (5) of the voltage-current characteristic of the fuel cell means and to disconnect the by-pass branch in the remaining range of sections (4, 6, 7) of said characteristic.

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a hydrogen generator (1) having a reformer (1a) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a raw material; a fuel cell (2) configured to generate electric power using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator (1); a combustor (3) configured to combust an anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell (2) to heat the reformer (1a); a CO detector (7) configured to detect a carbon monoxide concentration of a flue gas discharged from the combustor (3); an electric heater (8) configured to heat the CO detector (7); and a controller (19), and the controller (19) is configured to increase an amount of energization to the electric heater (8) in accordance with an increase in an amount of electric power generated by the fuel cell (2).

Abstract: Variation of the amount of power to be produced by a fuel cell unit is limited in accordance with a relationship between an output voltage of the full cell unit and an oxidization-reduction potential of catalyst of a fuel cell of the fuel cell unit. The amount of power to be used to charge or discharged from a battery is then corrected according to the limited variation of the amount of power to be produced by the fuel cell unit 40, so as to meet the required system power output.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell which generates electrical power through the reaction of a reaction gas; a reaction gas supply device which supplies the reaction gas to the fuel cell; a cooling device which cools the fuel cell by circulating a coolant through the fuel cell; a fuel cell operating temperature output device which outputs a maximum temperature inside the fuel cell as an operating temperature of the fuel cell; and a fuel cell temperature adjustment device which adjusts a temperature inside the fuel cell so that the operating temperature inside the fuel cell is less than a preset upper temperature limit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a judgment unit which makes a gas leak judgment based on a pressure drop of fuel gas in a gas leak detection portion by consuming the fuel gas in the gas leak detection portion of the fuel gas supply system by electric power generation of a fuel cell and causing auxiliary devices to consume the electric power generated by the fuel cell, and comprises a control unit which increases consumption of the fuel gas in the gas leak detection portion by increasing the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices. With this arrangement, where the electric power generation of the fuel cell and the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices result in an insufficient consumption of the fuel gas, the consumption of the fuel gas can be accelerated by increasing the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices. Thereby, a rapid gas leak judgment can be achieved.

Abstract: When the output of a fuel cell starts to decrease, in consideration of the increase in the power generation efficiency, an instruction for the output of the fuel cell undergoes a smoothing process to gradually decrease the output, and excessive electric power generated during a period in which the power generation efficiency is high is used for charging a battery. While the output of the fuel cell is increasing, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell is low. Thus, assisting electrical energy from the battery is increased. In this manner, the power generation output when the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell is low is reduced from a high power generation output to a low power generation output to achieve improvement in the average power generation efficiency.

Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle has a fuel cell for generating electric power by being supplied with a reactive gas, an electric storage device, a first power supply line connected to the fuel cell, a second power supply line connected to the electric storage device, and a main DC-to-DC converter for performing bidirectional voltage conversion between the first power supply line and the second power supply line, an electric motor to propel the vehicle and a first electric accessory connected to the first power supply line, a second electric accessory having at least a portion connected to the second power supply line.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method for controlling the same corrects concentration sensing values by estimating temperature according to the load amount of a stack. A control method of a fuel cell system including the steps of: measuring the load amount of loads supplied with power from a stack; estimating temperatures at the area where a concentration sensor is installed from the load amount values; producing the corrected concentrations by correcting the concentration sensing values according to the estimated temperatures; and controlling the drive of the fuel cell system according to the corrected concentrations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fuel cell system capable of stably operating auxiliary devices driven at a high voltage and the like, even in a case where a poisoned electrode catalyst is recovered or a fuel cell is warmed up. On detecting that the electrode catalyst is poisoned, a controller derives a target operation point which is sufficient for recovering an activity of the poisoned electrode catalyst. Then, shift of the operation point from a usual operation point to a low-efficiency operation point is realized so that an output power is held to be constant.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system which can accurately detect the water state of a fuel cell to appropriately control the water content of the fuel cell. Based on an FC outlet temperature detected by a temperature sensor, an FC outlet temperature change speed detection unit detects an FC outlet temperature change speed for a unit time. If the FC outlet temperature change speed detection unit judges that the detected FC outlet temperature change speed is lower than a change speed reference value stored in a memory, an impedance measurement instruction is transmitted to an impedance calculation unit. On receiving the impedance measurement instruction from the FC outlet temperature change speed detection unit, the impedance calculation unit performs the impedance measurement for the second time. In consequence, it is possible to realize such scavenging control as to keep the water content of a fuel cell at an appropriate level by the minimum number of impedance measurement times (e.g., twice).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system with which fuel cell stacks can be tested automatically or manually so that production of pollutants and consumption of electricity are little. The system runs various analyses and tests on the fuel cell stacks and provides operative conditions such as temperatures and fluid flows needed in the tests.

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel cell (3); a water passage (8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18); an electric heater (19) configured to heat the water passage; a water-related temperature detector (20); a first abnormality detector (22, etc.) configured to detect first abnormalities; a second abnormality detector (28, etc.) configured to detect second abnormalities; and a controller (21), and the controller is configured to stop an operation of the fuel cell system when the first abnormality is detected by the first abnormality detector or when the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector. In a case where the fuel cell system stops since the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector, the controller causes the electric heater (19) to carry out an operation as an antifreezing operation when the water-related temperature detector detects a temperature that is not more than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system capable of suppressing the increase of a control error of a motor. The system includes a fuel cell which generates a power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, a motor driven by the generated power of the fuel cell, and a control unit which controls the generation state of the fuel cell. The control unit performs high-potential avoiding control to prevent the total voltage of the fuel cell from exceeding a predetermined high-potential avoiding voltage threshold value. In a vehicle velocity region where the control switching of the traction motor is caused, the high-potential avoiding volume is inhibited.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy generation device includes an electrochemical device such as a fuel cell having an electrolyte film arranged between an anode and a cathode and a reference electrode maintained at an oxidation-reduction potential between an metal and a metal ion and arranged in contact with the electrolyte film. The electrochemical energy generation device is operated by measuring a potential of the anode and the cathode based on the reference electrode, deciding the operation condition such as a fuel supply amount to the electrochemical device according to the result of the potential measurement of the anode and the cathode, and selling the operation condition such as the fuel supply amount according to the decision, by an operation condition setting unit. An operation method of the device and an electrochemical device constituting the device are also provided.

Abstract: A system including a fuel cell system configured to produce power from a fuel and a device configured to receive the power as the power is produced. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell arrangement fueled by a fuel supply, and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of available power. The device is configured to manage a device functionality to match the available power.

Abstract: Provided is a power system capable of supplying power steadily to the outside even at a low temperature. A power supply unit disposed in the power system is configured to calculate an amount of power needed to heat a fuel cell to a temperature threshold when the temperature thereof measured by an FC sensor is below the temperature threshold, set an SOC lower limit by adding the calculated amount of power to a discharge threshold of a secondary battery, and control the power supply to a first power supply portion in the range of the SOC lower limit.

Abstract: A method for determining the health of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a constant flow of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack, shutting off a flow of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack when a predetermined concentration of hydrogen in the anode side has been achieved, and identifying a catalyst surface area and a catalyst support surface area for catalyst layers in the fuel cell stack. The method also includes determining the total parasitic current of the fuel cell stack to determine a cross-over parasitic current and a shorting resistance of the fuel cell stack. The method further includes calculating the catalyst surface area and the catalyst support surface area of the catalyst layers and comparing the difference between the identified catalyst surface area and the calculated catalyst surface area to estimate the change in the catalyst surface area.

Abstract: In a fuel cell power source system comprising a fuel cell, a fuel supplier for supplying a fuel to the fuel cell, an electricity storing member capable of charging and discharging an energy, and a control circuit for controlling outputs of the fuel cell and the electricity storing member and the fuel supplier for supplying a power to an external load, there are provided a method of operating the fuel cell power source system and a fuel cell system promoting safety of the fuel cell system and reducing a deterioration in the fuel cell by removing the fuel remaining at inside of the fuel cell after stopping the fuel supplier. At an initial stage of supplying the power to the external load and inside of the fuel cell system, the power is supplied from the electricity storing member, and the electricity storing member is charged by using an output outputted from the fuel cell by generating the power by the fuel cell by using the fuel remaining at inside of the fuel cell system after stopping the external load.

Abstract: An electric system has a fuel cell for generating electric power by being supplied with a reactive gas, an electric storage device having a voltage lower than a voltage output from the fuel cell, a first power supply line connected to the fuel cell, a second power supply line connected to the electric storage device, a first electric accessory serving as at least part of a fuel cell accessory for operating the fuel cell, a first DC-to-DC converter for performing bidirectional voltage conversion between the first power supply line and the second power supply line and a second DC-to-DC converter for lowering a voltage for supply electric power to the first electric accessory.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fuel cell system or the like capable of stably operating an auxiliary machine and the like, even when recovering a poisoned electrode catalyst and warming up a fuel cell. A controller derives a target operation point sufficient for recovering activity of the poisoned electrode catalyst, and realizes shift of an operation point to a target operation point in a state in which an output power is held to be constant. The operation is switched to a low-efficiency operation point, whereby an output voltage of the fuel cell lowers, but the voltage is raised to an allowable input voltage of a high-voltage auxiliary machine by a DC/DC converter.

Abstract: A current sensor assembly that monitors current flow through segments of a fuel cell stack. The current sensor assembly includes a first plate including a first non-conductive substrate having a first conductive path therethrough and that is in electrical communication with a first segment of the fuel cell stack. A second plate includes a second non-conductive substrate having a second conductive path therethrough and that is in electrical communication with a second segment of the fuel cell stack. A first current sensor is operably disposed between the first plate and the second plate and facilitates a first current flow between the first conductive path and the second conductive path. The first current sensor generates a first current signal based on the first current flow.

Abstract: A fuel cell or fuel cell stack heater using resistive heat. A resistive conductor (preferably some type of metal wire) is attached to a source of electricity such as a battery. The resistive conductor is in proximity with the fuel cell or stack so that when the resistive conductor is heated, the cell or stack will also become hot. An insulating material surrounds the outside of the fuel cell or stack, so that it encloses the cell or stack and the resistive conductor. The insulating material will capture heat from the resistive conductor and any waste heat given off by the operation of the fuel cell or stack. A means for modifying the amount of electrical current in the resistive conductor is attached to the apparatus. When the fuel cell or stack reaches the desired temperature, the means is employed to reduce or turn off current in the resistive conductor.

Abstract: An energy management system controls the temperature of a fuel cell system while a vehicle is not running. The energy management system includes a fuel cell stack, a blower that provides air to the fuel cell stack, a water supply, and a hydrogen supply. A hydrogen supply valve is connected between the hydrogen supply and the fuel cell stack. A heater is connected to an output of the fuel cell stack. A controller controls the hydrogen supply valve and the blower to power the heater to warm the fuel cell stack and the water supply. The controller starts the blower and opens the hydrogen supply valve if heating is necessary and if a tank level signal exceeds a first tank level value. The controller activates a purge, drains water from the water supply, and inhibits vehicle startup if the tank level signal does not exceed a first tank level value.