FUEL CELL SYSTEM

• US 20100209787A1
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishigaki, Katsuki, Kajiwara, Shigeto
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/400
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04447 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04679 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

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.

Claims

1. A gas detection system configured to detect a preset gas in a predetermined space, the gas detection system comprising:

a gas concentration detector constructed to detect a gas concentration of the preset gas;

a recording assembly;

a notification module; and

a decision module configured to, when the gas concentration detected by the gas concentration detector is higher than a preset first reference value, control the notification module to give notice, and when the detected gas concentration is higher than a preset second reference value but is lower than the preset first reference value, control the notification module to give no notice but record a specific piece of information into the recording assembly.

2. A fuel cell system including fuel cells, the fuel cell system having the gas detection system in accordance with claim 1.

3. The fuel cell system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the gas concentration detector detects a concentration of hydrogen as the preset gas.

4. A vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system in accordance with claim 2.

5. A vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system in accordance with claim 3.