Fuel cell system and operation method thereof which ensures the system will perform normal operation after operating in a special operation mode

摘要

A controller in a fuel cell system operates a fuel cell in a normal mode or in a special mode. In the normal mode, the fuel cell is operated to satisfy at least one of a first operation condition and a second operation condition, under the first operation condition an operation time of the fuel cell per unit period is equal to or shorter than a unit allowable operation time, under the second operation condition the number of times of operation of the fuel cell per unit time is equal to or less than a unit allowable number of times of operation, and in the special mode, the fuel cell is operated without being limited by at least one of the first operation condition and the second operation condition.

主权项

1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell for generating electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas; a controller for controlling at least start-up and shut-down of the fuel cell; and an auxiliary device, at least shut-down and start-up of which is controlled by the controller; wherein the controller operates the fuel cell in a normal mode or in a special mode which is switched by the controller; in the normal mode, the fuel cell is operated so as to satisfy at least one of a first operation condition and a second operation condition, the first operation condition being a condition in which an operation time of the fuel cell per unit period is equal to or shorter than a unit allowable operation time defined based on a total durable operation time of at least one of the fuel cell and the auxiliary device, the second operation condition being a condition in which the number of times of operation of the fuel cell per unit time is equal to or less than a unit allowable number of times of operation defined based on a total durable number of times of operation of at least one of the fuel cell and the auxiliary device, and in the special mode, the fuel cell is operated without being limited by both of the first operation condition and the second operation condition, wherein the controller switches the normal mode to the special mode and operates the fuel cell in the special mode, in the same unit period as a unit period in which the fuel cell is operated in the normal mode; and wherein after the unit period in which the fuel cell is operated in the special mode ends, the controller switches the special mode to the normal mode and operates the fuel cell in the normal mode in a next unit period.