Fuel cell

摘要

A fuel cell system 10 removes water retaining in a cathode catalyst layer 217 in a fuel cell 20, after a start-up of the fuel cell 20 and before feed of coolant to the fuel cell 20.

主权项

1. A fuel cell system that operates a fuel cell configured to generate electric power through electrochemical reaction of hydrogen with oxygen, the fuel cell system comprising:
a cooling pump configured to feed a coolant to the fuel cell; a determining unit configured to determine, after start-up of the fuel cell, whether the fuel cell is located in a cold environment that freezes water in the fuel cell if feeding the coolant is started in starting up the fuel cell; and a water remover configured to remove water retaining in a cathode catalyst layer formed on a cathode side of an electrolyte membrane in the fuel cell when the fuel cell located in the cold environment is determined by the determining unit, after a start-up of the fuel cell and before feed of the coolant by the cooling pump, further comprising: a melt detector configured to detect melt of water frozen in the cathode catalyst layer, wherein the water remover starts removal of the water retaining in the cathode catalyst layer when the melt of frozen water is detected by the melt detector, after the start-up of the fuel cell and before the feed of the coolant by the cooling pump.