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. 28, 2011
Filed:
May. 23, 2007
Takashi Akiyama, Osaka, JP;
Hideyuki Ueda, Osaka, JP;
Toshihiko Ichinose, Nara, JP;
Masahiro Takada, Shizuoka, JP;
Takashi Akiyama, Osaka, JP;
Hideyuki Ueda, Osaka, JP;
Toshihiko Ichinose, Nara, JP;
Masahiro Takada, Shizuoka, JP;
Panasonic Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A method for operating a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack composed of a plurality of cells connected in series. The method includes the steps of: (a) supplying a fuel and an oxidant to anodes and cathodes of the cells, respectively, depending on a load to generate power at a constant voltage under constant voltage control; (b) temporarily suspending the supply of the oxidant with the fuel being supplied; and (c) lowering the constant voltage to a predetermined voltage simultaneously with or immediately before the suspension of the supply of the oxidant. According to this operation method, when the supply of the oxidant is suspended, a platinum catalyst in the cathodes can be reduced and reactivated in all the cells.