The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 20, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 05, 1997
Shigeyuki Kawatsu, Susono, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A fuel-cells generator system of the present invention carries out an appropriate control to ensure a high output even when a catalyst carried on an electrode is poisoned. An electronic control unit of the fuel-cells generator system measures an output voltage E of fuel cells, a concentration D of carbon monoxide included in a gaseous fuel, a temperature T of the fuel cells, and a pressure P of the gaseous fuel at steps S100 through S130. When the output voltage E has been lowered by the amount of change that is not less than a predetermined voltage E0 at step S140 and when the concentration D of carbon monoxide measured by a carbon monoxide sensor represents the poisoned state of a catalyst carried on the anodes of the fuel cells at step S150, the temperature T of the fuel cells is gradually increased at step S180. The pressure P of the gaseous fuel is also gradually increased at step S190, in order to enable a partial vapor pressure in the gaseous fuel to be kept at a constant value even under the condition of the increased temperature of the fuel cells. This structure keeps the partial vapor pressure in the gaseous fuel at a constant level, thus preventing the partial pressure of hydrogen in the gaseous fuel from being lowered and ensuring a continuous supply of hydrogen to the anodes.