Patent ID: 7989112
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell having a membrane, which generates power by a chemical reaction of two reaction gases, each supplied to one side of the membrane; reaction gas paths through which the two reaction gases flow; a purge device for purging at least one of the two reaction gases from the reaction gas paths; a purging operation detection device for determining whether a purging operation has been carried out during a stoppage of the fuel cell; a monitoring device for monitoring a state of the fuel cell; and a control unit programmed to direct the purge device to carry out a purge operation when the monitoring device determines that the fuel cell is in the predetermined state, wherein the control unit provides first and second indicators, the first indicator associated with a state wherein a purge has not occurred during said stoppage of the fuel cell and the second indicator associated with a state wherein a purge has occurred during said stoppage of the fuel cell, the control unit setting the second indicator when a purge operation is carried out, and further that the monitoring device only monitors the state of the fuel cell if the first indicator is present, and the monitoring device does not monitor the state of the fuel cell if the second indicator is present so that multiple purges are not carried out during said stoppage of the fuel cell.