US 11,811,113 B2
Operating method of fuel cell system
Naoki Yamano, Wako (JP); and Takuya Tamura, Wako (JP)
Assigned to HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/679,144.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-061605 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0320549 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01); H01M 8/0432 (2016.01); H01M 8/04007 (2016.01); H01M 8/04029 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04768 (2013.01) [H01M 8/04029 (2013.01); H01M 8/04074 (2013.01); H01M 8/04358 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An operating method of a fuel cell system:
the fuel cell system comprising:
a plurality of fuel cell stacks,
a refrigerant passage configured to circulate a refrigerant circulated in a first fuel cell stack among the plurality of fuel cell stacks through a second fuel cell stack among the plurality of fuel cell stacks,
a temperature acquisition unit configured to acquire a temperature of the refrigerant downstream of the first fuel cell stack and upstream of the second fuel cell stack,
a first bypass flow passage provided in the refrigerant passage on a downstream side of the first fuel cell stack, and branching from the refrigerant passage to bypass the second fuel cell stack,
a first distribution device provided at a branching point between the refrigerant passage and the first bypass flow passage and capable of distributing the refrigerant of the refrigerant passage to the first bypass flow passage,
an IPU provided in the first bypass flow passage,
a second bypass flow passage further branching from the first bypass flow passage to circulate the refrigerant through a heat exchanger, and
a second distribution device provided at a branching point between the first bypass flow passage and the second bypass flow passage and capable of distributing the refrigerant of the first bypass flow passage to the second bypass flow passage,
the operating method comprising:
when the temperature of the refrigerant acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, after start of the first fuel cell stack and after elapse of a delay time, starting the second fuel cell stack;
setting the delay time to be variably set according to the temperature of the refrigerant;
changing, by the first distribution device, an amount of distribution of the refrigerant to the first bypass flow passage on the basis of an amount of heat input required by the second fuel cell stack when the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or lower than a predetermined value; and
changing, by the second distribution device, an amount of distribution of the refrigerant to the second bypass flow passage on the basis of an amount of heat input required by the IPU when a part of the refrigerant is distributed to the first bypass flow passage.