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Fuel cell system and method for generating electricity from a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack divided into sub-tracks

  • US 7,078,119 B2
  • Filed: 06/29/2004
  • Issued: 07/18/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of generating electricity from a fuel cell system comprising:

  • providing a fuel cell system, said fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack divided into an anode-side sub-stack, central sub-stack, and cathode-side sub-stack by current collectors positioned at each end of the fuel cell stack and two current collectors positioned at intermediate positions of the fuel cell stack, a collector switch that connects said current collectors positioned at each end of the fuel cell stack and said current collectors at intermediate positions to a load, a means of controlling the collector switch, and a means of measuring the temperature of the fuel cell stack;

    controlling said collector switch with said means of controlling the collector switch so that said central sub-stack generates electricity before said anode-side sub-stack and said cathode-side sub-stack start to generate electricity;

    measuring the temperature of said fuel cell stack using said means of measuring the temperature; and

    controlling said collector switch with said means of controlling the collector switch so that electricity is generated by the anode-side sub-stack, cathode-side sub-stack, and central sub-stack when said means of measuring the temperature of the fuel cell stack measures a temperature greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

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