A metal support-type fuel cell that has a configuration in which a fuel cell element is supported by a metal support, and is capable of reasonably and effectively utilizing an internal reforming reaction even when an anode layer provided in the fuel cell element has a thickness of several tens of micron order is obtained. A fuel cell element is formed in a thin layer shape on a metal support, an internal reforming catalyst layer for producing hydrogen from a raw fuel gas by a steam reforming reaction is provided in a cell unit, and an internal reformed fuel supply path for discharging steam generated by a power generation reaction from an anode layer to lead the steam to the internal reforming catalyst layer, and leading the produced hydrogen to the anode layer is provided.

Provided is an aging device for a fuel cell stack, capable of reliably detecting the generation of a negative voltage during aging while also achieving a cost reduction with reduced cell monitors. The voltage of an end cell on the reactant gas inlet side, in which the voltage is likely to become the highest, is monitored alone, so that the generation of a negative voltage in each of a plurality of individual central cells other than the end cell is estimated.

In a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, an anode gas supply channel, an anode gas discharge channel, an injector, a pressure sensor, and a controller, the controller controls the injector so that the pressure on the downstream side of the injector in the anode gas supply channel and does not become lower than target pressure, closes a discharge valve when the amount of discharged anode gas reaches a target discharge amount, the amount of discharged anode gas estimated based on the amount of decrease in the value of the pressure in a first period of the discharge valve open-period, the first period being a period from the point of time after the injector stops the injection and when variation of the pressure falls within a predetermined range to the point of time when the injector next starts the injection, and increases a ratio of the first period to the drive cycle by controlling, during the discharge valve open-period, at least one of the anode gas supply rate of the injector, the amount of electric power generated by the fuel cell, and the drive cycle of the injector.

A supply channel through which an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack is supplied to an exhaust gas combustor is branched so as to provide an oxygen-containing exhaust gas bypass channel through which the oxygen-containing exhaust gas is discharged to the outside in a manner to bypass the exhaust gas combustor. In the structure, the exhaust gas flow rate of an exhaust gas discharged through a condenser (saturated water vapor quantity) is suppressed.

Systems and methods for operating an electric energy storage device are described. The systems and methods may generate a state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating. An overall state of charge may be determined from the state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating and a state of charge estimate that is not based on negative electrode plating.

A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell having first unit cells stacked together, a second fuel cell having second unit cells stacked together, a first voltage detector, a second voltage detector, and a controller. The first voltage detector detects voltage of the first unit cells for every N unit cells on average, and the second voltage detector detects voltage of the whole second fuel cell, or detects voltage of the second unit cells for every M unit cells on average. The controller determines whether any of the first unit cells is in a fuel deficiency state, by referring to a detection result of the first voltage detector, and performs a cancellation process to cancel the fuel deficiency state, on the first fuel cell that is in a power generating state, while stopping power generation of the second fuel cell, when an affirmative decision is obtained.

A vehicle structure of a fuel cell vehicle including: hydrogen tanks; a set of cases that house the hydrogen tanks at a roof side and an underfloor side respectively, and that respectively have, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, mouthpieces of a connecting pipe that is connected to the hydrogen tanks; a center module in which the set of cases is provided; a front module that is joined to a vehicle front side of the center module; a rear module that is joined to a vehicle rear side of the center module; a fuel cell stack that is provided at the front module or the rear module, and to which the hydrogen is supplied from a pipe connected to the mouthpieces; a control unit that is provided at the front module or the rear module; and a driving unit that is provided at the front module or the rear module.

Systems and methods are provided for creating and operating a Direct Current (DC) micro-grid. A DC micro-grid may include power generators, energy storage devices, and loads coupled to a common DC bus. Power electronics devices may couple the power generators, energy storage devices, and loads to the common DC bus and provide power transfer.

A mobile fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generator generating a stack output signal. Multiple boost converter circuits converting the stack output signal into multiple recharge signals while in a first mode. A boost converter circuit converting the stack output signal into a local signal while in a second mode. Multiple charging handles connectable to multiple electric vehicles. A switch circuit presenting the recharge signals to the charging handles, remove the recharge signals from the charging handles and present the local signal while in the second mode. An auxiliary load may be connected to the fuel cell generator and the switch circuit. A rechargeable energy storage circuit powers the auxiliary load while in the first mode and stores energy received in the local signal while in the second mode. The auxiliary load is powered with the local signal while in the second mode.

A fuel cell assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first fuel cell stack in series with a variable resistor and a second fuel cell stack in parallel with the first fuel cell stack and in series with a contactor. A resistance level of the variable resistor is adjusted in response to deactivating the contactor. A method of regulating a fuel cell assembly is also disclosed.