Patent ID: 6519510
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell system, comprising:at least one fuel cell; a cooling system for circulating a cooling fluid for controlling the temperature of the fuel cell; a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of one of the cooling system coolant and the fuel cell for providing an electrical signal responsive to said temperature; a load control means for selectively applying one of an idle load and a service load to the fuel cell; a processor for controlling the transition of the fuel cell between a normal state of operation at a normal operating temperature and under the service load and a second state at a second temperature less than normal operating temperature, the processing including: at least one memory element storing a program for execution by said processor, the program including: first means responsive to the electrical signal for controlling said load control means to apply the idle load to the fuel cell when the temperature of the fuel cell is approximately the normal operating temperature to a transition temperature and to apply the service load to the fuel cell when the temperature of the fuel cell is approximately the normal operating temperature.