Patent ID: 7147946
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: B60L,C01B,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A startup control device for a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system having a reformer which generates a hydrogen-rich reformate gas; a fuel cell which generates power using an oxidizing agent and the reformate gas supplied from the reformer, the fuel cell having a fuel cell stack and a power control circuit for controlling power generation and an output to a load circuit; and a heating device for warming the reformer; the startup control device comprising: a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the reformer at a single position; and a controller programmed to: set a warm-up period of the reformer based on the temperature of the reformer detected immediately before warm-up by the temperature sensor; set a waiting time based on a target power of the fuel cell; control the heating device so that the warm-up operation of the reformer is performed within the warm-up period; and command the power control circuit to start output of current, after the waiting time has elapsed since stopping the warm-up operation of the reformer; wherein the controller stores a first map that specifies the relation between the waiting time and the target power of the fuel cell, the waiting time increases as the target power of the fuel cell increases, and the controller is programmed to set the waiting time from the target power of the fuel cell, by referring to the first map.