The invention provides a water tank heating method and unit, an electronic device and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. Before the SOFC system is started, ice in a water tank has been heated up, so after the SOFC system is started, the heating time of the heated ice, i.e., the thawing time of the water tank, will be shortened. Further, in the ice heating process, a pre-set needed SOFC thawing time determined according to current stack outlet temperature is used as a heating control parameter. As the stack outlet temperature is a key factor influencing the starting time of the SOFC system, the heating control will be more accurate if the pre-set needed SOFC thawing time corresponding to the stack outlet temperature is used as a heating control parameter.

A method for distinguishing the cause of voltage losses in a fuel cell device includes: a) Detection of a quasi-stationary operation of the fuel cell device, b) Acquisition and storage of a measured current-voltage characteristic curve with the current values and the voltage values of a fuel cells stack of the fuel cell device, c) Use of a PtOx model to determine PtOx voltage losses and calculation of a corrected current-voltage characteristic curve for the PtOx-free and normally humidified fuel cell stack, and d) Comparison of the current-voltage characteristic curves determined in step b) and in step c) and detection of an at least partially dried-out fuel cell stack if the measured current-voltage characteristic curve runs below the corrected current-voltage characteristic curve. A fuel cell device and a motor vehicle comprising a fuel cell device are also provided.

A gas turbine engine includes a fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell stack and defining a fuel cell assembly operating parameter, a fuel source, and a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel from the fuel source and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell stack. A controller is configured to perform operations including receiving data indicative of system operation conditions, determining a set of fuel cell operating conditions to move the system emission output into or maintain the system emission output within an emissions range, and controlling the fuel cell assembly operating parameter according to the determined set of fuel cell operating conditions.

A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell assembly, the fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell, and a turbomachine, the turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell. A controller is configured to receive data indicative of an engine constraint of the turbomachine, determine that the engine constraint has achieved a fuel cell trim threshold; and perform a fuel cell corrective action with the fuel cell assembly in response to determining that the engine constraint has achieved the fuel cell trim threshold.

A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell assembly, the fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell, and a turbomachine, the turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell. A controller is configured to receive data indicative of an engine constraint of the turbomachine, determine that the engine constraint has achieved a fuel cell trim threshold; and perform a fuel cell corrective action with the fuel cell assembly in response to determining that the engine constraint has achieved the fuel cell trim threshold.

A fuel cell system is provided and the fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a fuel processing unit configured to process a raw fuel to produce a fuel gas for the fuel cell; an oxidant gas heating unit configured to heat an oxidant gas for the fuel cell; a combustor configured to combust the raw fuel to produce a combustion gas for use in heating the fuel processing unit and the oxidant gas heating unit; a supply control unit configured to, during a warm-up of the fuel cell, control supply of the raw fuel to the fuel processing unit and the combustor; and a power generation control unit configured to control a power generation state during the warm-up of the fuel cell. When the fuel cell has reached a power generation available temperature, the power generation control unit is configured to cause the fuel cell to perform power generation, and the supply control unit is configured to supply the raw fuel to both the fuel processing unit and the combustor.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a circuit, a pump, a pressure regulating valve, and a control apparatus. The fuel cell includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies and a separator. The separator has a gas channel and a coolant channel. The circuit is coupled to the coolant channel and allows a coolant to circulate therethrough. The pump delivers the coolant toward the coolant channel. The pressure regulating valve adjusts a pressure of the coolant in the coolant channel. The control apparatus controls a flow rate of the coolant in the coolant channel by controlling a rotational speed of the pump on the basis of a temperature of the fuel cell, and controls the pressure of the coolant in the coolant channel by controlling a position of the pressure regulating valve on the basis of a pressure of gas in the gas channel.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a circuit, a pump, a pressure regulating valve, and a control apparatus. The fuel cell includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies and a separator. The separator has a gas channel and a coolant channel. The circuit is coupled to the coolant channel and allows a coolant to circulate therethrough. The pump delivers the coolant toward the coolant channel. The pressure regulating valve adjusts a pressure of the coolant in the coolant channel. The control apparatus controls a flow rate of the coolant in the coolant channel by controlling a rotational speed of the pump on the basis of a temperature of the fuel cell, and controls the pressure of the coolant in the coolant channel by controlling a position of the pressure regulating valve on the basis of a pressure of gas in the gas channel.

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.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a fuel cell controller. The fuel cell controller is configured to control a cooler based on a command from a host controller, the cooler being configured to cool the fuel cell. When a predetermined condition regarding the fuel cell is satisfied, the fuel cell controller controls the cooler according to a procedure predetermined in the fuel cell controller, regardless of the command from the host controller.