Patent ID: 11888189
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  Y | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a membrane electrode assembly having an anode electrode joined to one surface of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a cathode electrode joined to other surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane;
an anode-side internal passage facing the anode electrode of the membrane electrode assembly;
a cathode-side internal passage facing the cathode electrode of the membrane electrode assembly;
a hydrogen supply section configured to supply hydrogen gas to the anode-side internal passage;
an oxygen supply section configured to supply oxygen gas to the cathode-side internal passage; and
a control device configured to control a flow of the oxygen gas in the oxygen supply section, and
the fuel cell system being configured to generate electric power using an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen passing through the membrane electrode assembly,
wherein the oxygen supply section comprises:
a gas circulation passage connected to one end side and other end side of the cathode-side internal passage;
a first passage section connected to the one end side of the cathode-side internal passage;
a second passage section connected to the other end side of the cathode-side internal passage;
an oxygen supply source connected to the gas circulation passage; and
a gas circulation device configured to circulate and flow the oxygen gas in any of a first direction, wherein the first direction is a direction heading towards the one end side of the cathode-side internal passage from the first passage section, and a second direction, wherein the second direction is a direction heading towards the other end side of the cathode-side internal passage from the second passage section, in the gas circulation passage, and

wherein an end part of the second passage section which is located at an opposite side of the cathode-side internal passage is connected to the first passage section;
the gas circulation device comprises a pump device that is rotatable in both a forward direction and a reverse direction and that is provided in the second passage section; and
the control device switches a flow direction of the oxygen gas by the gas circulation device according to a distribution state of moisture at the cathode electrode of the membrane electrode assembly.