Patent ID: 7223489
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A hydrogen purge control apparatus comprising: a fuel cell stack from which hydrogen is purged as necessary; a purged hydrogen dilution device which is disposed downstream of the fuel cell stack, and which includes a chamber formed therein, a first inlet for allowing purged hydrogen to flow into the chamber, a second inlet for allowing air to flow into the chamber, and an outlet for discharging diluted hydrogen from the chamber; a regulator which is disposed between the fuel cell stack and the first inlet, and which is provided for regulating an amount of the purged hydrogen flowing into the purged hydrogen dilution device; and a control unit which is operatively connected to the regulator, and which includes a hydrogen concentration estimating section that is configured to estimate the hydrogen concentration at the outlet of the purged hydrogen dilution device based on an operating state of the fuel cell stack, wherein the control unit operates the regulator depending on the hydrogen concentration estimated by the hydrogen concentration estimating section.