FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD THEREFOR
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell;
a secondary battery charged by the fuel cell;
a charge status detector arranged to detect a charge status of the secondary battery;
a controller arranged to continue power generation in the fuel cell after the fuel cell starts power generation, until a result of detection by the charge status detector is not lower than a first threshold value, before stopping power generation in the fuel cell; and
an instruction unit arranged to stop power generation in the fuel cell;
whereinthe controller stops power generation in the fuel cell based on a power generation stopping command from the instruction unit if a result of detection by the charge status detector is lower than the first threshold value and not lower than a second threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell system and operation methods therefore are capable of ensuring transfer to normal operation while maintaining convenience. A fuel cell system includes a cell stack, a secondary battery, and a controller including a CPU, a main switch, and a stop button. After the main switch is turned OFF, if there is no power generation stopping command from the stop button, the CPU stops power generation in the cell stack after continuing power generation in the cell stack until a charge rate of the secondary battery becomes not lower than a first threshold value. If the charge rate is not lower than a second threshold value and is lower than the first threshold value, generation in the cell stack is stopped in response to the power generation stopping command from the stop button. If the charge rate is lower than the second threshold value, power generation in the cell stack is continued to charge the secondary battery until the charge rate becomes not lower than the second threshold value even if a normal power generation stopping command is provided from the stop button.
18 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell; a secondary battery charged by the fuel cell; a charge status detector arranged to detect a charge status of the secondary battery; a controller arranged to continue power generation in the fuel cell after the fuel cell starts power generation, until a result of detection by the charge status detector is not lower than a first threshold value, before stopping power generation in the fuel cell; and an instruction unit arranged to stop power generation in the fuel cell;
whereinthe controller stops power generation in the fuel cell based on a power generation stopping command from the instruction unit if a result of detection by the charge status detector is lower than the first threshold value and not lower than a second threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a fuel cell system including a secondary battery charged by a fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:
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stopping power generation in the fuel cell after the secondary battery is charged to a charge status not lower than a first threshold value under an absence of a power generation stopping command from an instruction unit; and stopping power generation in the fuel cell in response to the power generation stopping command from the instruction unit if the charge status of the secondary battery is lower than the first threshold value and not lower than a second threshold value.
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Specification