Patent ID: 7943261
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a fuel cell comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode sandwiching the electrolyte, and one pair of separator plates each having a gas flow path for feeding and discharging a fuel gas to the anode and for feeding and discharging an oxygen-containing gas to the cathode, the method comprising the steps of carrying out a restoring operation including: (A) operating the fuel cell while feeding the oxygen-containing gas to the cathode, (B) terminating feeding of the oxygen-containing gas to the cathode, and (C) feeding a hydrocarbon gas that is a city gas desulfurized with a desulfurizer, a propane gas or a butane gas to the cathode instead of the oxygen-containing gas which has been fed to the cathode, to decrease a potential of the cathode after terminating feeding of the oxygen-containing gas to the cathode.