Patent ID: 7883811
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus for a fuel cell stack comprising: a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack having a stacked body formed by stacking fuel cell units together and a pair of end plates sandwiching the stacked body therebetween; electrical heaters disposed near the ends of the stacked body or the end plates, respectively; a water purging device for purging water which is generated during a power generation operation in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, and which is held in the fuel cell units; temperature sensors for measuring temperature values of the fuel cell units, wherein a first one of the temperature sensors is attached to one of the fuel cell units disposed in the middle of the fuel cell stack, and at least a second one of the temperature sensors is attached to at least a one of the fuel cell units disposed near ends of the fuel cell stack; and a control unit which controls the power generation operation in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, and which is operatively connected to the electrical heaters and the water purging device, wherein the control unit is adapted to: