Diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic method for fuel cell

• US 7,166,929 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kondo, Masaaki, Saito, Norihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/715,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20040106025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04246 Short circuiting means for defective fuel cells detection of defective fuel cells H01M8/04664, methods for shunting fuel cells H01M8/04955
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04365 of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04567 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04597 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04768 of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a diagnostic apparatus for a fuel cell installed in a moving object as a power source is characterized by comprising an operation control portion that is connected to a control system installed in the moving object to perform operation control of the fuel cell and that performs operation control of the fuel cell by issuing an operational instruction to the control system, a diagnostic portion that diagnoses a state of the fuel cell on the basis of operation of the fuel cell controlled by the operation control portion, and a power adjustment portion that adjusts power obtained from the fuel cell operated by the operation control portion during a diagnosis made by the diagnostic portion.

Claims

1. A diagnostic apparatus for a fuel cell, the fuel cell installed in a moving object as a power source to move the moving object, the moving object including a moving object control system to perform operation control of the fuel cell, the diagnostic apparatus separate from the moving object, and the diagnostic apparatus comprising:

an operation control portion that is connectable to the moving object control system and that performs operation control of the fuel cell by issuing an operational instruction to the moving object control system;

a diagnostic portion that diagnoses a state of the fuel cell on the basis of operation of the fuel cell controlled by the operation control portion; and

a power adjustment portion that adjusts power obtained from the fuel cell operated by the operation control portion during a diagnosis made by the diagnostic portion.

2. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information on an operational state of the fuel cell is input to the operation control portion via the moving object control system.

3. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the diagnostic portion diagnoses a state of the fuel cell on the basis of information on the operational state of the fuel cell which has been input to the operation control portion via the moving object control system.

4. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the operation control portion controls adjustment of power by the power adjustment portion.

5. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the power adjustment portion is connected to an output terminal of the fuel cell and adjusts power by absorbing or consuming power obtained from the fuel cell.

6. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the power adjustment portion is provided with an accumulator portion that can be charged with and discharged of electricity, and adjusts power by charging the accumulator portion with power obtained from the fuel cell.

7. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the diagnostic apparatus is separate from the moving object.

8. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the operation control portion adjusts power by charging an accumulator portion installed in the moving object with power obtained from the fuel cell.

9. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the power adjustment portion is a charging system that is installed in the moving object and that can charge the accumulator portion with power obtained from the fuel cell.

10. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the power adjustment portion adjusts power by consuming power obtained from the fuel cell by a power-consuming unit installed in the moving object.

11. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the power adjustment portion includes a unit control system that is installed in the moving object to control driving of the power-consuming unit consuming power obtained from the fuel cell.

12. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fuel gas supply portion that supplies the fuel cell with a fuel gas as a substitute for a fuel gas supply system installed in the moving object to supply the fuel cell with a fuel gas serving for power generation by the fuel cell.

13. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling portion that cools the fuel cell as a substitute for a cooling system installed in the moving object to cool the fuel cell.

14. A diagnostic method for a fuel cell, the fuel cell installed in a moving object as a power source to move the moving object, the moving object including a moving object control system to perform operation control of the fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:

performing operation control of the fuel cell by issuing a predetermined operational instruction to the moving object control system;

adjusting power obtained from the fuel cell operated by the predetermined operational instruction; and

diagnosing a state of the fuel cell on the basis of operation of the fuel cell resulting from the operational instruction.

15. The diagnostic method according to claim 14, wherein

a fuel gas serving for power generation by the fuel cell is supplied to the fuel cell from the outside of the moving object for the diagnosis.

16. The diagnostic method according to claim 14, wherein

a coolant is supplied to the fuel cell from the outside of the moving object so as to cool the fuel cell for the diagnosis.