Patent ID: 7056611

Claim:
A system for controlling an operating temperature of a fuel cell, comprising: at least one heat source for adding indirect heat to inlet air entering the fuel cell; an adjustable air mover for providing an adjustable rate of inlet air flow to the fuel cell; an inlet air temperature sensor for sensing the inlet air temperature air entering the fuel cell; an operating temperature sensor for sensing the operating temperature of the fuel cell; and at least one controller connected to the inlet air temperature sensor and the heat source for adjusting the heat output by the heat source to maintain the inlet air temperature at a desired inlet air temperature set-point (T inset ), and connected to the operating temperature sensor and the adjustable air mover for adjusting the inlet air flow rate, within a predetermined range around an inlet air flow set-point (F set ), in response to changes in the operating temperature of the fuel cell to maintain the operating temperature of the fuel cell at a desired temperature set-point (T opset ); wherein the efficiency of said fuel cell is not adversely affected by the adjusting the inlet air flow rate.