The control device is configured so that when a temperature of the fuel cell at the time of start of power generation of the fuel cell is less than a standard temperature, it makes the fuel cell generate power so that the amount of heat generation of the fuel cell accompanying the power generation loss becomes a first amount of heat generation and so that when a cumulative value of current of a time period during which the fuel cell is made to generate power so that the amount of heat generation becomes the first amount of heat generation is equal to or greater than a predetermined cumulative value, it makes the fuel cell generate power so that the amount of heat generation becomes a second amount of heat generation larger than the first amount of heat generation.

Methods and systems are described for optimizing water discharge in fuel cell vehicles. The system includes a fuel cell stack, a blower for purging water from the fuel cell stack and a controller. The controller detects that an ambient temperature satisfies a threshold temperature. The controller determines the fuel cell vehicle is approaching a stopping location. The controller calculates a water discharge time prediction necessary to purge excess water from the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell vehicle is operating in response to detecting that the ambient temperature satisfies the threshold temperature and the fuel cell vehicle is approaching the stopping location. The water discharge time prediction is calculated based on the blower operating while the fuel cell stack is in at least one of an idle state and a stopped state as the fuel cell vehicle approaches the stopping location.

Methods and systems are described for optimizing water discharge in fuel cell vehicles. The system includes a fuel cell stack, a blower for purging water from the fuel cell stack and a controller. The controller detects that an ambient temperature satisfies a threshold temperature. The controller determines the fuel cell vehicle is approaching a stopping location. The controller calculates a water discharge time prediction necessary to purge excess water from the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell vehicle is operating in response to detecting that the ambient temperature satisfies the threshold temperature and the fuel cell vehicle is approaching the stopping location. The water discharge time prediction is calculated based on the blower operating while the fuel cell stack is in at least one of an idle state and a stopped state as the fuel cell vehicle approaches the stopping location.

Methods and apparatus for reducing the tendency for mold formation and accumulation in membrane-based humidifiers used in PEM fuel cell systems can include reducing the oxygen concentration and/or generating hydrogen peroxide within the humidifier upon shutdown of a fuel cell system. In some embodiments, a fuel cell system comprises valves and lines located and operable to facilitate introduction of hydrogen into the humidifier upon shutdown of the system. In some embodiments, a fuel cell humidifier comprises a catalyst for promoting the generation of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen, and/or comprises acidic gas transport layers.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for using an energy storage device to assist a venturi or an ejector in a fuel cell or fuel stack system.

In a fuel cell system, for example HTPEM fuel cells, especially for automobiles, a multi-stream heat exchange unit is employed in order to save space.

A device for producing and/or storing electrical energy (2), characterized in that the device comprises: an anode (4), a cathode (6), a separator (8) allowing for the transfer of at least one compound capable of triggering and/or enabling a production and/or storage of electrical energy (8), arranged between the anode (4) and the cathode (6), and at least one breakable, pierceable, and/or deformable reservoir (10) made of a compound capable of triggering and/or enabling a production and/or a storage of electrical energy, said reservoir (10) having means for bringing said compound and said separator (8) into contact with each other; said means for bringing said compound and said separator (8) into contact with each other being, in particular, means for transferring a liquid.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack of a plurality of power generation cells and an impedance measuring device for measuring the impedance in the fuel cell stack. When stopping the operation of the fuel cell system, a method for stopping the operation of the fuel cell system operates the plurality of power generation cells to generate electric power, until the impedance value becomes equal to or greater than an objective impedance value. After the impedance value has become equal to or greater than the objective impedance value, the operation stopping method still continues the power generation of the multiple power generation cells for a given period of time.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack of a plurality of power generation cells and an impedance measuring device for measuring the impedance in the fuel cell stack. When stopping the operation of the fuel cell system, a method for stopping the operation of the fuel cell system operates the plurality of power generation cells to generate electric power, until the impedance value becomes equal to or greater than an objective impedance value. After the impedance value has become equal to or greater than the objective impedance value, the operation stopping method still continues the power generation of the multiple power generation cells for a given period of time.

The invention relates to a method for deactivating a fuel cell system (10) comprising a jet pump (28) for conveying an anode-side gas flow in a recirculation path (26), wherein the jet pump (28) comprises a metering valve (36) for metering H.sub.2. While the fuel cell system (10) is cooling, a flow passes through a drive nozzle (46) at least once in order to discharge condensed water. The t invention additionally relates to a jet pump (28) comprising a metering valve (36) and to the use of the method in order to deactivate a fuel cell system (10).