A method of controlling a fuel cell includes collecting, by a control unit, environmental information and state information of a fuel cell stack; determining, by the control unit, a motor output offset value from the collected environmental information and the collected state information of the fuel cell stack; correcting, by the control unit, a default critical output corresponding to a current vehicle operating state based on the determined motor output offset value; determining, by the control unit, the stop or the restart of the fuel cell by comparing a motor output demand determined from current vehicle operating information with the corrected critical output; and controlling, by the control unit, an operating state of the fuel cell to become a state of the determined stop or restart.

A method of controlling a fuel cell includes collecting, by a control unit, environmental information and state information of a fuel cell stack; determining, by the control unit, a motor output offset value from the collected environmental information and the collected state information of the fuel cell stack; correcting, by the control unit, a default critical output corresponding to a current vehicle operating state based on the determined motor output offset value; determining, by the control unit, the stop or the restart of the fuel cell by comparing a motor output demand determined from current vehicle operating information with the corrected critical output; and controlling, by the control unit, an operating state of the fuel cell to become a state of the determined stop or restart.

The present disclosure relates to a control method for a fuel cell. The control method includes: collecting, by a controller, state information of a fuel cell (FC) stack; determining, by the controller, a degradation state of the FC stack from the collected state information of the FC stack; correcting, by the controller, a basic threshold output corresponding to a present driving state of a vehicle on the basis of information of the determined degradation state of the FC stack; comparing, by the controller, a post-correction threshold output that is obtained by correcting the basic threshold output and a motor demand output, and determining, by the controller, stopping or restarting of a fuel cell; and controlling, by the controller, such that the determined stopping or restarting state of the fuel cell is achieved.

The present disclosure relates to a control method for a fuel cell. The control method includes: collecting, by a controller, state information of a fuel cell (FC) stack; determining, by the controller, a degradation state of the FC stack from the collected state information of the FC stack; correcting, by the controller, a basic threshold output corresponding to a present driving state of a vehicle on the basis of information of the determined degradation state of the FC stack; comparing, by the controller, a post-correction threshold output that is obtained by correcting the basic threshold output and a motor demand output, and determining, by the controller, stopping or restarting of a fuel cell; and controlling, by the controller, such that the determined stopping or restarting state of the fuel cell is achieved.

An operation controller of a fuel cell and an operation control method thereof in a system for generating a drive output through a fuel cell and a battery includes a processor for selectively performing a driving stop control of the fuel cell through an operation variable including a required drive output and a load weight.

An operation controller of a fuel cell and an operation control method thereof in a system for generating a drive output through a fuel cell and a battery includes a processor for selectively performing a driving stop control of the fuel cell through an operation variable including a required drive output and a load weight.

A fuel cell module is configured or operated, or both, such that after a shut down procedure a fuel cell stack is discharged and has its cathode electrodes at least partially blanketed with nitrogen during at least some periods of time. If the fuel cell module is restarted in this condition, electrochemical reactions are limited and do not quickly re-charge the fuel cell stack. To decrease start up time, air is moved into the cathode electrodes before the stack is re-charged. The air may be provided by a pump, fan or blower driven by a battery or by the flow or pressure of stored hydrogen. For example, an additional fan or an operating blower may be driven by a battery until the fuel cell stack is able to supply sufficient current to drive the operating blower for normal operation.

A fuel cell module is configured or operated, or both, such that after a shut down procedure a fuel cell stack is discharged and has its cathode electrodes at least partially blanketed with nitrogen during at least some periods of time. If the fuel cell module is restarted in this condition, electrochemical reactions are limited and do not quickly re-charge the fuel cell stack. To decrease start up time, air is moved into the cathode electrodes before the stack is re-charged. The air may be provided by a pump, fan or blower driven by a battery or by the flow or pressure of stored hydrogen. For example, an additional fan or an operating blower may be driven by a battery until the fuel cell stack is able to supply sufficient current to drive the operating blower for normal operation.

An electrical power system includes a first plurality of fuel cells connected to a positive voltage bus, a second plurality of fuel cells connected to a negative voltage bus, and a switching system configured to independently connect and disconnect a fuel cell in the first plurality of fuel cells with another fuel cell in the second plurality of fuel cells. Due to the series-parallel configuration aligned with the bus voltage, electrical power system may not require a DC-DC voltage convertor and thus allows elimination of a DC-DC voltage convertor from the electrical power system.

An electrical power system includes a first plurality of fuel cells connected to a positive voltage bus, a second plurality of fuel cells connected to a negative voltage bus, and a switching system configured to independently connect and disconnect a fuel cell in the first plurality of fuel cells with another fuel cell in the second plurality of fuel cells. Due to the series-parallel configuration aligned with the bus voltage, electrical power system may not require a DC-DC voltage convertor and thus allows elimination of a DC-DC voltage convertor from the electrical power system.