Patent ID: 8227118
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: H01M,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of driving a fuel cell device comprising an electromotive section, a tank configured to contain a fuel, a concentration sensor configured to detect a fuel concentration of a fuel supplied from the tank, and a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the electromotive section, the method comprising: calculating a fuel shortage based on a difference between the fuel concentration detected by the concentration sensor and a desired fuel concentration; detecting the temperature of the electromotive section and a load current of an electronic device connected to the fuel cell device; calculating an efficiency of electricity generation of the electromotive section based on the detected temperature of the electromotive section, the load current measured by the control section, an efficiency characteristic of the electromotive section, stored in the control section, wherein the efficiency characteristic of the electromotive section is determined by taking the maximum at a certain temperature or load current, and decreasing with distance from the maximum and; calculating a fuel consumption by the electromotive section based on an output of the electromotive section and the calculated electricity generation efficiency; and replenishing the tank with an amount of fuel equivalent to the sum of the calculated fuel shortage and the calculated fuel consumption.