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:
Nov. 27, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 07, 2009
Hiroaki Matsuda, Osaka, JP;
Hideyuki Ueda, Osaka, JP;
Hiroaki Matsuda, Osaka, JP;
Hideyuki Ueda, Osaka, JP;
Panasonic Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack for generating power and power generation control means. The fuel cell stack has at least one cell that includes a cathode to which an oxidant is supplied, an anode to which a fuel is supplied, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. The power generation control means has dryness degree determination means for determining the degree of dryness of the fuel cell stack based on shut-down period. When the shut-down period is shorter than a predetermined period of time, the power generation control means supplies a gas for drying to the cathode for a predetermined period of time, to remove water remaining in the cathode. When the shut-down period is equal to or longer than the predetermined period of time, such a drying operation is not performed.