Patent ID: 7470479
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for warming up a fuel cell system comprising; a fuel cell which generates electric power due to an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, an air supply pipe for supplying air to the fuel cell as an oxidant gas, an air exhaust pipe for discharging exhaust air from the fuel cell to an atmosphere, a compressor provided on either of said air supply pipe and said air exhaust pipe, which carries the air and a communication pipe which returns said exhaust air to said air supply pipe, and which communicates said exhaust air pipe with said air supply pipe to form a circulation cycle including said compressor; said method comprising: detecting a temperature of the fuel cell, determining whether or not the detected temperature of the fuel cell is lower than a first prescribed temperature, and heating said fuel cell by circulating the air, which has been heated by a heat generated due to adiabatic compression through said compressor prior to the generation of the electric power, if the detected temperature of the fuel cell is lower than the first prescribed temperature.