Patent ID: 7892683

Claim:
A purging method for a fuel cell system, comprising: measuring, using a timer, whether a predetermined time is elapsed while a power generation of a fuel cell is stopped; initiating a control unit using electric power from a power storage section when the predetermined time is elapsed, wherein the power storage section is charged with the electric power that is generated by the fuel cell; measuring a temperature of at least one of the fuel cell and a reaction gas flow path; determining whether a failure of at least one of the timer and the power storage section exists; when it is determined that the failure does not exist, determining, using the control unit, whether the temperature is lower than a first predetermined temperature, wherein the first predetermined temperature is set based on a viewpoint that there is a risk that water inside the reaction gas flow path is frozen by the time of a next initiation of the control unit under a condition that the power generation of the fuel cell is continuously stopped; and purging the reaction gas flow path with a purging gas if the temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature, when it is determined that the failure exists, judging that the next initiation of the control unit cannot be established; and purging, when stopping the power generation of the fuel cell, the reaction gas flow path when the failure exists and when the temperature is lower than a second predetermined temperature which is higher than the first predetermined temperature, wherein the second predetermined temperature is set in consideration of environmental information.