Patent ID: 8244382

Claim:
An apparatus for monitoring a schedule for testing fuel cells in a station that comprises a human-machine interface assembly and a central controller assembly, wherein the human-machine interface assembly comprises a data operator, the central controller assembly comprises a programmable logic controller, and the apparatus comprises: a human-machine interface disposed in the human-machine interface assembly and electrically connected to the data operator; a schedule editor disposed in the human-machine interface assembly and electrically connected to the data operator, wherein the schedule editor includes programming language enabling a user to edit and amend a schedule for operating the station and further producing a schedule file via the human-machine interface; a current-voltage curve editor disposed in the human-machine interface assembly and electrically connected to the data operator to enable a user to view and edit a current-voltage curve in an operative condition via the human-machine interface; a data storage unit disposed in the human-machine interface assembly and electrically connected to the data operator for storing the schedule file, present values and set values of sensors and instruments; a schedule executor disposed in the central controller assembly, electrically connected to the programmable logic controller, made of real-time modules, and producing a control operation command based on the schedule file and causing the current-voltage curve editor to execute a Tafel test; and an instrument driver disposed in the central controller assembly and electrically connected to the programmable logic controller and the schedule executor to drive the instruments under the control operation command provided from the schedule executor; the schedule file comprises a stop point, at least one target, at least one target-related parameter, an execution period, fluid control-related setting, temperature control-related setting, heat recovery-related setting, electric load-related setting, a stack temperature-controlling procedure, a reformer monitor procedure, a burner control procedure, a user-defined procedure, an emergency shut-down procedure and a normal shut-down procedure.