Fuel cell system and control method therefor
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system arranged to charge a secondary battery that is detachable from the fuel cell system and to supply electric power to a load, the fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell;
system components necessary to maintain power generation in the fuel cell;
a determination device arranged to determine whether or not the secondary battery has been removed from the fuel cell system during a period of power generation in the fuel cell;
a first controlling device programmed to control a power supply from the fuel cell to the load based on a result of the determination made by the determination device;
a time measuring device arranged to measure a waiting time starting at a time when the determination device determines that the secondary battery has been removed; and
a second controlling device programmed to stop a power generation operation in the fuel cell when the measured waiting time reaches a predetermined time;
whereinthe first controlling device is programmed to prioritize supplying power to the system components to ensure that an amount of power required to maintain the power generation in the fuel cell is supplied to the system components and that the power supplied to the load is always an amount not greater than a difference between an amount of power generated by the fuel cell and the amount of power required to maintain the power generation in the fuel cell, if the determination device determines that the secondary battery has been removed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell system is arranged to charge a secondary battery, which is detachable from the fuel cell system, and to supply electric power to a load. The fuel cell system includes a cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells and a controller having a CPU. During power generation in the cell stack, the CPU determines whether or not the secondary battery has been removed from the fuel cell system based on a voltage drop in the cell stack. With the determination that the secondary battery has been removed, the CPU turns off a relay and power supply from the cell stack to the load is stopped. The fuel cell system reliably maintains its operation even after removal of the secondary battery.
21 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A fuel cell system arranged to charge a secondary battery that is detachable from the fuel cell system and to supply electric power to a load, the fuel cell system comprising:
-
a fuel cell; system components necessary to maintain power generation in the fuel cell; a determination device arranged to determine whether or not the secondary battery has been removed from the fuel cell system during a period of power generation in the fuel cell; a first controlling device programmed to control a power supply from the fuel cell to the load based on a result of the determination made by the determination device; a time measuring device arranged to measure a waiting time starting at a time when the determination device determines that the secondary battery has been removed; and a second controlling device programmed to stop a power generation operation in the fuel cell when the measured waiting time reaches a predetermined time;
whereinthe first controlling device is programmed to prioritize supplying power to the system components to ensure that an amount of power required to maintain the power generation in the fuel cell is supplied to the system components and that the power supplied to the load is always an amount not greater than a difference between an amount of power generated by the fuel cell and the amount of power required to maintain the power generation in the fuel cell, if the determination device determines that the secondary battery has been removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A controlling method for a fuel cell system arranged to charge a secondary battery that is detachable from the fuel cell system and to supply electric power to a load, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) causing a determination device to determine whether or not the secondary battery has been removed from the fuel cell system during power generation in a fuel cell; (b) causing a first controlling device to prioritize supplying power to system components of the fuel cell system necessary to maintain power generation in the fuel cell to ensure that an amount of power required to maintain the power generation in the fuel cell is supplied to the system components and that a power supply from the fuel cell to the load is always an amount not greater than a difference between an amount of power generated by the fuel cell and the amount of power required to maintain the power generation in the fuel cell, if the step (a) determines that the secondary battery has been removed; and (c) causing a second controlling device to stop power generation in the fuel cell after a lapse of a predetermined time from a starting time when a determination is made in the step (a) that the secondary battery has been removed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification