FUEL CELL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell configured to operate in an operation mode selected from a power generation mode and a power generation stop mode;
a coolant supply device for circulating an amount of coolant through a coolant path for cooling the fuel cell;
a fuel cell temperature detector for detecting a fuel cell temperature of the fuel cell;
a coolant temperature detector for detecting a coolant temperature of the coolant in the coolant path; and
a controller for controlling the amount of coolant circulated by the coolant supply device, selecting the operation mode of the fuel cell between the power generation mode and the power generation stop mode, and calculating the difference between the detected coolant temperature and detected fuel cell temperature;
wherein while the operation mode of the fuel cell is selected to be the power generation stop mode the controller increases the amount of the coolant circulated as the difference between the detected coolant temperature and the detected fuel cell temperature increases.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell system having a fuel cell, a coolant supply device for circulating a supply of the coolant through a coolant path for cooling the fuel cell, a fuel cell temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the fuel cell, a coolant temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the coolant in the coolant path, and a controller for controlling the amount of coolant circulated by the coolant supply device. The controller selects an operation mode of the fuel cell between a power generation mode and a power generation stop mode and calculates the difference between the detected coolant temperature and detected fuel cell temperature. While the operation mode is the power generation stop mode, the controller increases the amount of the coolant circulated as the difference between the detected coolant temperature and the detected fuel cell temperature increases.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell configured to operate in an operation mode selected from a power generation mode and a power generation stop mode; a coolant supply device for circulating an amount of coolant through a coolant path for cooling the fuel cell; a fuel cell temperature detector for detecting a fuel cell temperature of the fuel cell; a coolant temperature detector for detecting a coolant temperature of the coolant in the coolant path; and a controller for controlling the amount of coolant circulated by the coolant supply device, selecting the operation mode of the fuel cell between the power generation mode and the power generation stop mode, and calculating the difference between the detected coolant temperature and detected fuel cell temperature; wherein while the operation mode of the fuel cell is selected to be the power generation stop mode the controller increases the amount of the coolant circulated as the difference between the detected coolant temperature and the detected fuel cell temperature increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell configured to operate in an operation mode selected from a power generation mode and a power generation stop mode; coolant supply means for circulating an amount of coolant through a coolant flow path for cooling the fuel cell; fuel cell temperature detection means for detecting a fuel cell temperature of the fuel cell; coolant temperature detection means for detecting a coolant temperature of the coolant in the coolant flow path; and control means for controlling the amount of coolant circulated by the coolant supply means, selecting the operation mode of the fuel cell between the power generation mode and the power generation stop mode, and calculating the difference between the detected coolant temperature and detected fuel cell temperature; wherein while the operation mode of the fuel cell is selected to be the power generation stop mode, the amount of coolant circulated increases as the difference between the detected coolant temperature and the detected fuel cell temperature increases. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for preventing thermal shock to a fuel cell in a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
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circulating an amount of coolant to cool the fuel cell; detecting a fuel cell temperature of the fuel cell; detecting a coolant temperature of the coolant; selecting an operation mode of the fuel cell to be one of a power generation mode and a power generation stop mode; and controlling the amount of coolant circulated to the fuel cell to increase as the difference between the detected coolant temperature and the detected fuel cell temperature increases, when the power generation stop mode is selected. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification