FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND ITS CONTROL METHOD
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell that generates electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas as reaction gases;
a current controlling section that controls a current of the fuel cell so that the current becomes a target current value;
a voltage controlling section that controls a voltage of the fuel cell so that the voltage becomes a target voltage value; and
a heat generation quantity controlling section that controls a heat generation quantity, by calculating a necessary heat quantity that is necessary for the fuel cell system and determining the target current value of the current controlling section and a target voltage value of the voltage controlling section so as to generate heat in the necessary required heat quantity, whereinthe heat generation quantity controlling section determines that the target current value=(Q+P)/Vmax, and the target voltage value=(Vmax*P)/(Q+P), where P is required output power, which is required output power for the fuel cell, Q is the necessary heat quantity, and Vmax is an electromotive force as a theoretical output voltage of the fuel cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell system includes; a fuel cell which generates electricity by using a fuel gas and an oxidant gas as reaction gases; current control means which controls current of a fuel cell; voltage control means which controls voltage of the fuel cell; and heat value control means which calculates a heat value required by the fuel cell system and decides a target current value of the current control means and a target voltage value of the voltage control means so as to generate the calculated necessary heat amount, thereby controlling the heat value. Thus, it is possible to supply a heat required for the fuel cell system without increasing the size of the fuel cell system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell that generates electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas as reaction gases; a current controlling section that controls a current of the fuel cell so that the current becomes a target current value; a voltage controlling section that controls a voltage of the fuel cell so that the voltage becomes a target voltage value; and a heat generation quantity controlling section that controls a heat generation quantity, by calculating a necessary heat quantity that is necessary for the fuel cell system and determining the target current value of the current controlling section and a target voltage value of the voltage controlling section so as to generate heat in the necessary required heat quantity, wherein the heat generation quantity controlling section determines that the target current value=(Q+P)/Vmax, and the target voltage value=(Vmax*P)/(Q+P), where P is required output power, which is required output power for the fuel cell, Q is the necessary heat quantity, and Vmax is an electromotive force as a theoretical output voltage of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell that generates electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas as reaction gases; a secondary battery that is charged by output power of the fuel cell, or that discharges charged electric power; and a voltage controlling section that controls a voltage of the secondary battery, the fuel cell system comprising; a controlling section that, by calculating a necessary heat quantity that is necessary for the fuel cell system and a required output power required therefore, and based on the calculated necessary heat quantity and required output power, controls the fuel cell so as to operate in any of a plurality of modes including a high-efficiency power generation mode in which the fuel cell is caused to generate power at high efficiency;
a first low-efficiency power generation mode in which a lower limit voltage value is set at a first lower limit voltage value and power generation efficiency is lower than that of the high-efficiency power generation; and
a second low-efficiency power generation mode in which the lower limit voltage value is a second lower limit voltage value that is less than the first lower limit voltage value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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8. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell that generates electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas as reaction gases; and a voltage controlling section that controls a voltage of the fuel cell, the fuel cell system further comprising a controlling section that controls the fuel cell, based on a necessary heat quantity that is necessary for the fuel cell system and a required output power required therefore, so as to operate in any of a plurality of modes including a high-efficiency power generation mode in which the fuel cell is caused to generate power at high efficiency; and
a second low-efficiency power generation mode in which a lower limit voltage value is a second lower limit voltage value and power generation efficiency is lower than that of the high-efficiency power generation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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13. A method of controlling a fuel cell system comprising:
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a first step of obtaining a necessary heat quantity that is necessary for the fuel cell system, and a required output power required therefore; a second step of obtaining an operating point determined by a current value and a voltage value that satisfy the necessary heat quantity and the required output power in a current-voltage curve of a fuel cell determined by a supply condition of a reaction gas; and a third step of controlling the current value and the voltage value of the fuel cell so that electric power generation of the fuel cell is performed at the operating point. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification