Patent ID: 8821797

Claim:
A hydrogen detection system, comprising: a hydrogen sensor comprising an exposed detection element made of a catalytic metal, wherein the exposed detection element burns hydrogen so as to generate combustion heat, and the hydrogen sensor detects a hydrogen concentration based on a detected value of the detection element, the value varies corresponding to the combustion heat; a heating unit for heating the detection element; a hydrogen storage unit for storing a high-concentration hydrogen; a hydrogen guiding pipe for guiding the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage unit to the detection element; a flow rate adjusting device which is attached to the hydrogen guiding pipe and adjusts a flow rate of the hydrogen; a first dilution unit for diluting the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage unit with a dilution gas at a position between the flow rate adjusting device and the detection element; and a controller for controlling the heating unit and the flow rate adjusting device, wherein the controller performs a sensitivity recovery process by controlling a concentration of hydrogen supplied from the first dilution unit to the detection element using the flow rate adjusting device so that a temperature of the detection element heated by the heating unit is equal to or greater than a desorption temperature at which silicon adhering to the detection element is desorbed by the combustion heat of the hydrogen when a sensitivity recovery of the hydrogen sensor is required.