摘要 |
A method utilizing the resistance of the electrolytic membrane of a fuel cell is known conventionally as a method for detecting abnormality occurring in the fuel cell. As shown on Fig. 4, resistance of the electrolytic membrane increases as the temperature thereof decreases or the moisture content thereof decreases (i.e. dry state), and decreases as the temperature increases or the moisture content increases (i.e. wet state), and thereby it was difficult to judge whether a deterioration in performance or a simple drop in performance has occurred by simply detecting an increase in resistance. A criterion for judging a deterioration in performance of a fuel cell based on the resistance of an electrolytic membrane is thereby set higher as the electrolytic membrane approaches a dry state and temperature thereof decreases and set lower as the electrolytic membrane approaches a wet state and the temperature thereof increases. Consequently, a deterioration in performance of a fuel cell can be judged easily regardless of the operating state thereof. |