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:
Jun. 15, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 27, 2006
Fusaki Igarashi, Toyota, JP;
Hiroaki Mori, Kasugai, JP;
Fusaki Igarashi, Toyota, JP;
Hiroaki Mori, Kasugai, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaihsa, Toyota-shi, JP;
Abstract
Nitrogen concentration in a fuel-cell stack is estimated more accurately, hence the life of the fuel-cell is prevented from being reduced by operation performed when the impurity concentration in the anode increases. The fuel-cell system comprises: stack temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the fuel-cell stack; fuel electrode pressure detection means for detecting the pressure of the fuel electrode; and standing time measuring means for measuring the standing time. The fuel electrode nitrogen concentration, which indicates concentration of nitrogen in the fuel electrode of the fuel cell (nitrogen or the like transmitted from the air electrode to the fuel electrode via an electrolyte membrane), is estimated on the basis of the temperature of the fuel-cell stack at the time when operation of the fuel cell is stopped, the pressure in the fuel electrode at the time when the operation of the fuel cell is restarted, and the standing time between when the operation of the fuel cell is stopped and when the operation of the fuel cell is restarted.