Patent ID: 8211579
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell that generates power with fuel gas and oxidant gas; a fuel supply line that is connected between a fuel gas supply device and the fuel cell and through which fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell flows; a fuel gas supply control valve installed on the fuel supply line that is for adjusting an amount of fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas supply device; a fuel exhaust line that is connected to the fuel cell and through which fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cell flows; a bypass line that connects the fuel supply line with the fuel exhaust line; a circulating pump installed on the bypass line so as to circulate the fuel gas exhausted from the fuel cell so that it travels from the fuel exhaust line to the fuel supply line; a purge valve installed on the fuel exhaust line so as to exhaust the fuel gas to outside of the fuel cell; a sensor that detects or estimates a fuel gas concentration of the fuel gas that flows into the fuel cell; and a controller configured to perform a start-up control when oxidant is detected or estimated in an anode of the fuel cell when the fuel cell starts up from an unloaded state in which the fuel cell is not generating an electrical output, wherein the controller is configured to: