Patent ID: 7666537

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell having an electrolyte, a cathode provided at one side of the electrolyte, an anode with a hydrogen permeable metal layer provided at the other side of the electrolyte, a cathode channel for supplying oxidizing gas to the cathode, an anode channel for supplying fuel gas containing hydrogen to the anode; a hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section configured to reduce a partial pressure of hydrogen in the anode channel for preventing degradation of the hydrogen permeable metal layer; a temperature parameter acquisition section configured to acquire a parameter relating to a temperature of the hydrogen permeable metal layer; and a fuel cell controller for controlling an operation state of the fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell controller has a degradation prevention mode for causing the hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section to operate when the temperature of the hydrogen permeable metal layer represented by the temperature parameter deviates from a predetermined temperature range.