Apparatus for estimating fuel-cell hydrogen concentration and fuel cell system
First Claim
1. A hydrogen concentration estimating apparatus for a fuel cell that includes an anode and a cathode and generates electric power by the anode receiving hydrogen and the cathode receiving oxygen, the apparatus comprising:
- measuring means for measuring impedance or admittance of the fuel cell; and
estimating means for estimating a hydrogen concentration inside the fuel cell based on a measured value measured by the measuring means such that the hydrogen concentration is estimated to be relatively low when an impedance semicircle of the fuel cell is relatively large.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an impedance measuring instrument, and a control device. The control device is connected to the impedance measuring instrument. The impedance measuring instrument measures the impedance of the fuel cell according to the AC impedance method. The control device stores in advance a reference value corresponding to a reference hydrogen concentration. The control device compares the real part Z′ of impedance acquired via the impedance measuring instrument against the reference value. When Z′ is equal to or greater than the reference value, the control device estimates the hydrogen concentration of the fuel cell to be equal to or less than the reference hydrogen concentration.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A hydrogen concentration estimating apparatus for a fuel cell that includes an anode and a cathode and generates electric power by the anode receiving hydrogen and the cathode receiving oxygen, the apparatus comprising:
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measuring means for measuring impedance or admittance of the fuel cell; and estimating means for estimating a hydrogen concentration inside the fuel cell based on a measured value measured by the measuring means such that the hydrogen concentration is estimated to be relatively low when an impedance semicircle of the fuel cell is relatively large. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A hydrogen concentration estimating apparatus for a fuel cell that includes an anode and a cathode and generates electric power by the anode receiving hydrogen and the cathode receiving oxygen, the apparatus comprising:
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measuring means for measuring I-V tangent resistance of the fuel cell; and estimating means for estimating a hydrogen concentration of the fuel cell based on the measured I-V tangent resistance.
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11. A hydrogen concentration estimating apparatus for a fuel cell that includes an anode and a cathode and generates electric power by the anode receiving hydrogen and the cathode receiving oxygen, the apparatus comprising:
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a measuring unit which measures impedance or admittance of the fuel cell; and an estimating unit which estimates a hydrogen concentration inside the fuel cell based on a measured value measured by the measuring unit such that the hydrogen concentration is estimated to be relatively low when an impedance semicircle of the fuel cell is relatively large.
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Specification