Patent ID: 8859155
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: H01M,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system including a fuel cell unit configured to supply electricity and heat, the method comprising: a step of stopping operation of the fuel cell system in at least one of the following cases: a case where an operating time has reached a durable operating time, a case where a number of start-ups has reached a number of durable start-ups, and a case where a duration of equipment use has reached durable years; a basic operation plan creating step of creating a basic operation plan based on the durable years and at least one of the durable operating time and the number of durable start-ups of the fuel cell unit, such that the fuel cell unit is operated within a range of at least one of the first allowable operating time and the first allowable number of start-ups per predetermined unit period; a special operation plan creating step of creating a special operation plan such that the fuel cell unit is operated within a range of at least one of a second allowable operating time and a second allowable number of start-ups per predetermined unit period, the second allowable operating time being longer than the first allowable operating time and being set such that the operating time reaches the durable operating time before elapse of the durable years, the second allowable number of start-ups being greater than the first allowable number of start-ups and being set such that the number of start-ups reaches the number of durable start-ups before elapse of the durable years; an operation plan selecting step of selecting one of the basic operation plan and the special operation plan; and a fuel cell operating step of operating the fuel cell unit based on an operation plan selected in the operation plan selecting step.