Patent ID: 7419735
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system, comprising: a hydrogen tank; a fuel cell connected and adapted to receive hydrogen gas and generate electric power; a hydrogen adsorbing alloy tank having a hydrogen adsorbing alloy, the hydrogen adsorbing alloy tank being connected to receive the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank, and adapted to adsorb the received hydrogen gas in the hydrogen adsorbing alloy, and to discharge the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen adsorbing alloy to the fuel cell; a heat exchange unit connected and adapted to circulate a heat exchange medium to the fuel cell and the hydrogen adsorbing alloy tank, to cause heat exchange at least between the fuel cell and the hydrogen adsorbing alloy tank; a first passage connecting the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell, so as to allow hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank to flow into the fuel cell; a second passage branching from the first passage and connecting the first passage and the hydrogen adsorbing alloy tank; a shut-off valve in the first fuel passage at a location downstream from a location where the second passage branches from the first passage; a control unit adapted such that when a temperature of the fuel cell is equal to or lower than a first reference temperature, the control unit heats the fuel cell by shutting the shut-off valve to supply the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen adsorbing alloy tank through the first passage and the second passage so that the hydrogen gas is adsorbed in the hydrogen adsorbing alloy tank with generation of heat, and transmitting the generated heat to the fuel cell by the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange unit.