Patent ID: 8187760
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel-cell system, comprising: a reformer being heated by a burner, thereby generating reactant gas from fuel; a fuel cell for generating electric power by reactant gas; a condenser for generating condensed water by condensing water content, which is included in the reactant gas to be supplied to said fuel cell or in off gas of the reactant gas; and a reservoir for reserving the condensed water being created in said condenser, wherein the fuel-cell system further comprises: (i) a drain valve being disposed between said condenser and said reservoir, and being capable of switching between a closed state, in which communication between said condenser and said reservoir is shut off, and an opened state, in which said condenser is communicated with said reservoir to discharge the water in said condenser to the reservoir; and (ii) a controller programmed to carry out inner-pressure increment and drain controls in which said drain valve is put into the opened state after increasing inner pressure in said condenser upon starting up the fuel-cell system.