US2019157695A1 · US · A1
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-2019157695-A1 |
| Application number | US-201816192893-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | A1 |
| Filing date | Nov 16, 2018 |
| Priority date | Nov 22, 2017 |
| Publication date | May 23, 2019 |
| Grant date | — |
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In a fuel cell system and a method of controlling the fuel cell system, correlation temperature correlated to temperature of a fuel cell stack is obtained. Further, temperature of a heating unit provided at the bottom of a water storage area of a gas liquid separator is estimated. The presence/absence of water in the gas liquid separator is determined based on the correlation temperature of the fuel cell stack and the temperature of the heating unit.
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1 . A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a fuel gas supply unit configured to supply a fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxygen-containing gas supply unit configured to supply an oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack; a gas liquid separator provided at least in one of the fuel gas supply unit and the oxygen-containing gas supply unit; a fuel cell stack correlation temperature acquisition unit configured to obtain correlation temperature correlated to temperature of the fuel cell stack; a heating unit provided at a bottom of a water storage area of the gas liquid separator; a heating unit temperature estimation unit configured to estimate temperature of the heating unit; and a control unit configured to determine presence/absence of water in the gas liquid separator based on the correlation temperature of the fuel cell stack and the temperature of the heating unit. 2 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to perform heating control using the heating unit at time of starting operation at low temperature, and control heating quantity of the heating unit based on a determination result regarding the presence/absence of the water. 3 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the gas liquid separator comprises a drain valve configured to discharge water stored in the water storage area; and the control unit is configured to perform water discharge control by driving the drain valve based on a determination result regarding the presence/absence of the water. 4 . The fuel cell system according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether water discharge has been performed normally based on temperature change of the heating unit during the water discharge control. 5 . The fuel cell system according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine that water discharge has been performed normally when the temperature of the heating unit is changed by a predetermined value or more, relative to the correlation temperature of the fuel cell stack. 6 . The fuel cell system according to claim 5 , wherein after the control unit determines that water discharge has been performed normally, the control unit is configured to determine that remaining water is present in the gas liquid separator when temperature of the heating unit is changed by less than a predetermined value, relative to the correlation temperature of the fuel cell stack, and perform water discharge control again. 7 . A method of controlling a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a fuel gas supply unit configured to supply a fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxygen-containing gas supply unit configured to supply an oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack; a gas liquid separator provided at least in one of the fuel gas supply unit and the oxygen-containing gas supply unit; a fuel cell stack correlation temperature acquisition unit configured to obtain correlation temperature correlated to temperature of the fuel cell stack; a heating unit provided at a bottom of a water storage area of the gas liquid separator; and a heating unit temperature estimation unit configured to estimate temperature of the heating unit, the method comprising the step of determining presence/absence of water in the gas liquid separator based on the correlation temperature of the fuel cell stack and the temperature of the heating unit by a control unit.
Electrical heating · CPC title
with product water removal · CPC title
of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks · CPC title
Humidity; Water content · CPC title
of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners · CPC title
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