Patent ID: 8637199
Filing Date: 2014-01-28
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell using a liquid organic compound for fuel, comprising: a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane which ions pass through, a fuel electrode being bonded to one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and an oxidant electrode being bonded to another surface of the electrolyte membrane; a passage configured to allow fuel to flow; a passage configured to allow oxidant to flow; a fuel mixing tank configured to store fuel supplied to the fuel cell; a fuel circulation line configured to circulate the fuel in the fuel mixing tank and supply the fuel to the fuel cell; a liquid injection line connected to a mixing point located in the fuel circulation line; a concentration controller configured to intermittently or periodically supply the fuel or water to the mixing point through the liquid injection line; and a controller programmed to measure a signal of a voltage or an output of the fuel cell, wherein the controller is programmed to obtain a difference between the voltage or the output when the fuel supplied to the fuel cell has a same concentration as a concentration of the fuel in the fuel mixing tank, and the voltage or the output when the fuel supplied to the fuel cell has a changed concentration with the fuel or water intermittently or periodically supplied from the concentration controller to the fuel circulation line, wherein the controller is programmed to increase a supply rate of the fuel supplied from the concentration controller through the liquid injection line or decrease a supply rate of the water supplied from the concentration controller through the liquid injection line when the difference between the voltage or output exceeds a prescribed range, and wherein the controller is programmed to decrease a supply rate of the fuel supplied from the concentration controller through the liquid injection line or increase a supply rate of the water supplied from the concentration controller through the liquid injection line when the difference between the voltage or output is smaller than a prescribed value.