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Fuel cell system with reformer response time correction

  • US 7,651,798 B2
  • Filed: 01/15/2003
  • Issued: 01/26/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A control device for controlling a fuel cell system connected to a motor and a rechargeable battery, and provided with a fuel cell and a reformer for producing hydrogen-rich reformate gas supplied to the fuel cell, the fuel cell system and the rechargeable battery supplying the motor with electrical power, the control device comprising:

  • a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the rechargeable battery;

    a load sensor for detecting a required power for the motor;

    means for detecting a state of charge (SOC) of the rechargeable battery;

    a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the load sensor, the controller functioning to;

    calculate a response time of the reformer with respect to the production of hydrogen-rich reformate gas based on the detected temperature of the rechargeable battery when detecting a change in the required power for the motor and based on the detected SOC of the rechargeable battery; and

    control the production of hydrogen-rich reformate gas from the reformer according to the calculated response time,wherein the response time of the reformer with respect to the production of hydrogen-rich reformate gas increases as the detected SOC of the rechargeable battery increases; and

    wherein the controller further detects a variation in the required power for the motor and decreases the response time of the reformer with respect to the production of hydrogen-rich reformate gas based on an increase in a frequency of the occurrence that the detected variation in the required power for the motor is greater than a first threshold value and the required power for the motor is greater than a second threshold value;

    a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature of an external portion of the fuel cell system; and

    a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the reformer, whereinthe controller corrects the response time of the reformer with respect to the production of hydrogen-rich reformate gas based on the detected ambient temperature and the detected temperature of the reformer.

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