Patent ID: 7582371
Filing Date: 2009-09-01
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell including a cell that comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode; means for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode of said fuel cell; a dilute tank that stores an aqueous solution of liquid fuel and circulates said aqueous solution between the anode of said fuel cell and the dilute tank; a fuel tank connected to said dilute tank via a first controlling section; a water tank connected to said dilute tank via a second controlling section; a gas detector that measures a component of a gas discharged from the cathode of said fuel cell and outputs a measured result; a current detector that measures the amount of power generated by said fuel cell and outputs a measured result; and a controller that controls said first controlling section and said second controlling section based on the results outputted by said gas detector and said current detector, wherein the gas detector is capable of determining the amount of liquid fuel which has crossed over the polymer electrolyte membrane from the anode to the cathode based on the measured result of gas discharged, and wherein the liquid fuel is comprised of methanol, and the gas discharged from the cathode is carbon dioxide.