Patent ID: 8728641

Claim:
A startup control device of a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells stacked together, each of the fuel cells having a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane interposed between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode; a gas supply unit configured to supply a reactant gas to the fuel cell stack; and a controller configured to control the gas supply unit based on a parameter value related to the occurrence of flooding of the fuel cell stack; wherein during startup of the fuel cell stack, the controller is configured to control the gas supply unit to supply the reactant gas to the fuel cell stack at a first supply pressure for a time period determined based on the parameter value; and wherein after the time period has expired, the controller is configured to control the gas supply unit to supply the reactant gas to the fuel cell stack at a second supply pressure, the second supply pressure being less than the first supply pressure.