Patent ID: 7666532
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of starting a fuel cell system including a fuel cell for generating an electric power by reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a temperature of the fuel cell during a time period from stop to startup of the fuel cell system; (b) determining whether the temperature of the fuel cell system reaches a predetermined temperature which is lower than an operation temperature of the fuel cell; (c) determining whether the fuel cell system has experienced a freezing temperature on the basis of the temperature detected by the step (a); and (d) accelerating the startup of the fuel cell when the temperature of the fuel cell system reaches the predetermined temperature during the time period by supplying the oxidizing gas at a flow rate and a pressure that are higher than a flow rate and a pressure at the operation temperature of the fuel cell, respectively.