Fuel cell system and fuel cell vehicle

Abstract

To provide a fuel cell system capable of efficiently cleaning the inside of a fuel cell according to the type of impurities inside.SOLUTION: A fuel cell system has a fuel cell, cleaning equipment for cleaning the inside of the fuel cell using water produced by a reaction in the fuel cell as cleaning water, an analyzer to analyze the water quality of wastewater discharged by the cleaning equipment, and a controller that determines the cleaning conditions by the cleaning equipment based on the results of the analysis by the analyzer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell system applied to, for example, a vehicle, and a fuel cell vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] The following prior art documents disclose configurations for cleaning impurities inside a fuel cell by using water produced during a reaction in the fuel cell or condensed water generated due to temperature changes within the fuel cell. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-156789 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2015-011914 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2016-033863 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2008-152936 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional technology, of which the above-mentioned document is an example, there was a problem that the types of impurities that could be washed in the fuel cell were limited. Specifically, a configuration for washing impurities originating from the hydrogen electrode (anode), a configuration for washing by-products during methane reforming, and the like were proposed. On the other hand, the impurities present in the fuel cell are not uniform, but differ depending on the vehicle's running conditions, etc. Therefore, there was a demand for the development of a washing system that can perform appropriate washing depending on the contamination status inside the fuel cell. There was also a demand for a system that can be applied to washing impurities that cannot be removed by the air filter of the oxygen electrode (cathode) and impurities generated by reactions inside the fuel cell.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems as an example, and aims to provide a fuel cell system that can efficiently clean the inside of the fuel cell depending on the type of impurities inside the fuel cell, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the fuel cell system of the present disclosure is characterized by having a fuel cell, a cleaning device for cleaning the inside of the fuel cell using water produced by a reaction within the fuel cell as cleaning water, an analysis device for analyzing the water quality of wastewater discharged by cleaning by the cleaning device, and a control device that determines the cleaning conditions for the cleaning device based on the analysis results by the analysis device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a fuel cell system capable of efficiently cleaning the inside of the fuel cell according to the type of impurities therein. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device of the fuel cell system according to the embodiment; FIG. [Diagram 3] 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a cleaning process performed by a control device. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the fuel cell stack cleaning process in step S12. [Diagram 5] 13 is a diagram showing a presentation example of wastewater analysis information and cleaning condition information. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Next, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described. In addition, configurations other than those described in detail below can be implemented by appropriately supplementing elemental techniques and configurations related to known fuel cell systems, including those described in Patent Document 1 above.

[0010] In this disclosure, the term "impurity" refers to a substance that reduces the power generation efficiency of a fuel cell when present inside the fuel cell. Specific examples of impurities include iron, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, formic acid, methane, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and benzene. Regarding iron as an impurity, iron (Fe) is generally contained in the separator of a fuel cell. Iron may be released as the fuel cell deteriorates, and since this iron may accelerate the deterioration of the electrolyte membrane, it is defined as an impurity in this disclosure.

[0011] In this disclosure, the water generated by the power generation of the fuel cell stack 5 is also referred to as "produced water" or "washing water."

[0012] <1. Overall configuration of fuel cell system> First, an example of the overall configuration of a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In this embodiment, the fuel cell system 1 is a system mounted on a fuel cell vehicle, but the fuel cell system is not limited to this example and may be a system used for other purposes, such as a stationary fuel cell in a home.

[0013] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a fuel cell system 1 according to this embodiment. The fuel cell system 1 includes an oxidizing gas path (cathode gas path) 10, an anode gas path (anode gas path) 20, a fuel cell stack 5 having a plurality of fuel cells, and a control device 50 that controls the entire system.

[0014] The fuel cell system 1 generates electricity by supplying hydrogen gas (anode gas) and oxidizing gas (cathode gas) to a fuel cell stack 5 and causing an electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen gas and the oxidizing gas in the fuel cell. The fuel cell system 1 includes a cooling device (not shown) that circulates a refrigerant to cool the fuel cell system 1, and an electric circuit (not shown) that charges the power generated by the fuel cell system 1 into a secondary battery or supplies it to an electric load. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which air (oxygen) is used as the oxidizing gas. Note that the oxidizing gas (oxygen) and hydrogen gas may be collectively referred to as reactive gases.

[0015] The fuel cell stack 5 is constructed, for example, using known solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and has a stack structure in which a plurality of fuel cells are stacked. Each fuel cell has a hydrogen electrode on one side of an electrolyte made of an ion exchange membrane, and an oxygen electrode on the other side. The fuel cell also has a pair of separators arranged to sandwich the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. Hydrogen gas is supplied to a hydrogen gas flow path formed in the hydrogen electrode, and air is supplied to an air flow path formed in the oxygen electrode, and the supplied hydrogen gas and air react with each other to generate electricity.

[0016] A cooler 16 is installed adjacent to the fuel cell stack 5. The cooler 16 has a function of cooling and condensing water (produced water) generated by the power generation of the fuel cell stack 5. The condensed water contains impurities contained in the oxidizing gas and hydrogen gas, and by-products generated by the power generation of the fuel cell stack 5. The cooler 16 also has a function of cooling the air to increase the density of the air, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack 5. As the cooler 16, for example, a known heat exchanger that uses the wind generated by the running of the vehicle or cooling water is used.

[0017] The cathode gas path 10 includes a cathode gas supply passage 11 through which air supplied to the fuel cell stack 5 flows, and a cathode offgas passage 12 through which cathode offgas discharged from the fuel cell stack 5 flows. An air blower 15 and a stack inlet valve 17 are provided in the cathode gas supply passage 11.

[0018] The air blower 15 is controlled by the control device 50, and takes in air through the air filter 13 and discharges the air. The air blower 15 functions as a cleaning device that cleans the inside of the fuel cell stack 5 by discharging water generated by power generation in the fuel cell stack 5 to the outside of the fuel cell stack 5 together with discharging air. The air blower 15 condenses the generated water inside the fuel cell stack 5 by discharging air.

[0019] Furthermore, the air blower 15 has a function of storing the generated water in the fuel cell stack 5 in the cathode-side drainage receiving portion 18 by discharging air. Furthermore, the air blower 15 has a function of back-diffusing the generated water in the fuel cell stack 5 from the cathode side to the anode side by discharging air. The air blower 15 may be a known air compressor having an air compression function. In other words, the air blower 15 may function as an air pressurizing device.

[0020] The stack inlet valve 17 is controlled by the control device 50 and opens and closes the cathode gas supply passage 11 upstream of the fuel cell stack 5. The stack inlet valve 17 opens the cathode gas supply passage 11 when the fuel cell stack 5 is generating electricity and closes the cathode gas supply passage 11 when power is not being generated. However, the stack inlet valve 17 may be a proportional valve used to control the pressure or flow rate of the cathode gas.

[0021] A flow rate sensor 45 is provided on the suction side of the air blower 15. The flow rate sensor 45 detects the discharge flow rate of air sucked in and discharged by the air blower 15. In addition, a pressure sensor 14 that detects the supply pressure of air is provided between the stack inlet valve 17 and the fuel cell stack 5. Sensor signals from the flow rate sensor 45 and the pressure sensor 14 are sent to the control device 50.

[0022] The cathode gas supply passage 11 is connected to the air flow paths of each of the fuel cell units provided in the multiple fuel cell stacks 5. Each of the air flow paths of the fuel cell units is connected to a cathode offgas passage 12. The cathode offgas passage 12 is provided with a cathode-side wastewater storage unit 18 that stores water generated by power generation in the fuel cell stacks 5, and a cathode-side wastewater analyzer 18a that analyzes the components of the water stored in the cathode-side wastewater storage unit 18.

[0023] The cathode side drainage storage unit 18 is a water tank that temporarily stores the water discharged from the cathode side of the fuel cell stack 5. The water stored in the cathode side drainage storage unit 18 includes water produced by the power generation of the fuel cell stack 5. The water stored in the cathode side drainage storage unit 18 may also include impurities that could not be removed by the air filter 13 from the air supplied to the fuel cell stack 5, and by-products produced by the power generation of the fuel cell stack 5. The cathode side drainage storage unit 18 may be equipped with a discharge valve (not shown) that discharges the stored water at appropriate times.

[0024] The cathode-side wastewater analyzer 18a has a function of analyzing the water quality of the water stored in the cathode-side wastewater storage unit 18. Specifically, as with the anode side, the cathode-side wastewater analyzer 18a can be an optical turbidimeter using a transmitted light method or a scattered light method, a conductivity meter, an ion chromatograph, a pH meter, or the like.

[0025] A back pressure control valve (oxygen electrode outlet valve 19), a back pressure control valve opening sensor (not shown), etc. may be provided in the cathode offgas passage 12. The cathode offgas discharged to the cathode offgas passage 12 is discharged into the atmosphere via a diluter 29 provided at the junction of the cathode offgas passage 12 and the anode offgas passage 35.

[0026] The anode gas path 20 includes a hydrogen supply source 21, an anode gas supply passage 22 through which hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen supply source 21 to the fuel cell stack 5 flows, an anode-side wastewater storage unit 24 that stores water produced by power generation by the fuel cell stack 5, an anode-side wastewater analyzer 24a that analyzes the components of the water stored in the anode-side wastewater storage unit 24, a circulation flow path 28 for returning hydrogen gas (anode off-gas) discharged from the fuel cell stack 5 to the anode gas supply passage 22, and a circulation pump 25 that pressure-feeds the anode off-gas in the circulation flow path 28 to the anode gas supply passage 22. The anode gas path 20 also includes a gas-liquid separator 27 provided in the circulation flow path 28, and a drainage flow path 31 and an anode off-gas passage 35 connected to the gas-liquid separator 27.

[0027] The anode-side drainage storage unit 24 is a water tank that temporarily stores the water discharged from the anode side of the fuel cell stack 5. The water stored in the anode-side drainage storage unit 24 includes water produced by power generation in the fuel cell stack 5. The water stored in the anode-side drainage storage unit 24 may also contain impurities such as carbon monoxide and sulfur contained in the hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell stack 5. The anode-side drainage storage unit 24 may be equipped with a discharge valve (not shown) that discharges the stored water at appropriate times.

[0028] The anode-side wastewater analyzer 24a has a function of performing water quality analysis of the water accommodated in the anode-side wastewater accommodation unit 24. Specifically, as with the cathode side, an optical turbidimeter using a transmitted light method or a scattered light method, a conductivity meter, an ion chromatograph, a pH meter, or the like can be used as the anode-side wastewater analyzer 24a.

[0029] The hydrogen supply source 21 is, for example, a high-pressure tank or a hydrogen adsorption alloy, and stores high-pressure hydrogen gas. The anode gas supply passage 22 includes a pressure regulating valve 23 that regulates the pressure of the hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell stack 5. The pressure regulating valve 23 may be, for example, a pressure reducing valve controlled by the control device 50 that reduces the pressure of the hydrogen gas to a preset pressure. Alternatively, the pressure regulating valve 23 may be a pressure regulating valve such as an injector controlled by the control device 50. A shutoff valve that switches whether or not hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack 5 may be provided upstream of the pressure regulating valve 23. The anode gas supply passage 22 is connected to each anode gas flow path of the fuel cell. In addition, each anode gas flow path of the fuel cell is connected to a circulation flow path 28.

[0030] The circulation pump 25 is controlled by the control device 50, and circulates and supplies the hydrogen gas in the circulation flow path 28 to the fuel cell stack 5. More specifically, the circulation pump 25 has a function of supplying hydrogen gas into the fuel cell stack 5 and washing the water present in the anode by flushing it with the hydrogen gas. The circulation flow path 28 is also provided with a gas-liquid separator 27. The gas-liquid separator 27 separates and recovers moisture from the anode off-gas. The drainage flow path 31 connected to the gas-liquid separator 27 is connected to the diluter 29 via a water purge valve 33. The water purge valve 33 is driven to open and close by the control device 50, and discharges the moisture recovered by the gas-liquid separator 27 to the diluter 29.

[0031] Furthermore, the anode off-gas passage 35 connected to the gas-liquid separator 27 is connected to the diluter 29 via a hydrogen purge valve 37. The hydrogen purge valve 37 is driven to open and close by the control device 50, and introduces the anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 5 into the diluter 29. The discharged anode off-gas is mixed with and diluted with the cathode off-gas in the diluter 29, and is released into the atmosphere.

[0032] The control device 50 executes various processes for operating the fuel cell system 1. The control device 50 executes a process for controlling cleaning in the fuel cell stack 5. In brief, the control device 50 drives the air blower 15 as a cleaning device and performs a process for cleaning the inside of the fuel cell stack 5. The control device 50 also controls the driving of the air blower 15 as a cleaning device based on at least one of the analysis results by the cathode side wastewater analyzer 18a and the anode side wastewater analyzer 24a. The control device 50 may control the cleaning range, cleaning temperature, cleaning time, etc., during the process for cleaning the inside of the fuel cell stack 5. The control device 50 also controls the driving of the air blower 15 based on the sensor signals of the flow rate sensor 45 and the pressure sensor 14. The control device 50 can also control the opening and closing of various valves such as the stack inlet valve 17, the pressure regulating valve 23, the water purge valve 33, and the hydrogen purge valve 37.

[0033] <2. Example of control device configuration> 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 50. The control device 50 includes a control unit 51 and a storage unit 69. The control unit 51 includes one or more processors, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). A part or the whole of the control unit 51 may be configured with updatable firmware or the like, or may be a program module or the like executed by commands from the CPU or the like.

[0034] The storage unit 69 is communicatively connected to the processor and includes a memory for recording computer programs executed by the processor, control parameters, acquired information, and the like. The storage unit 69 may include a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and may include a storage device such as a CD-ROM or a storage device. Sensor signals from the pressure sensor 14, the flow rate sensor 45, and the like are input to the control device 50. Analysis results from the cathode side wastewater analyzer 18a and the anode side wastewater analyzer 24a are also transmitted to the control device 50.

[0035] The control unit 51 includes a cleaning necessity determination unit 52, a cleaning device control unit 53, an analysis information generation unit 54, a cleaning condition determination unit 55, and a presentation control unit 56. Each of these units is a function realized by the execution of a computer program by a processor. However, some or all of these units may be configured with analog circuits.

[0036] The cleaning necessity determination unit 52 determines whether or not cleaning of the fuel cell stack 5 is required. Specifically, the cleaning necessity determination unit 52 determines whether or not cleaning of the fuel cell stack 5 is required based on cleaning condition information stored in the memory unit 69. The cleaning necessity determination unit 52 may detect the end of power generation of the fuel cell stack 5 based on the flow rate of the flow rate sensor 45, and use this as a trigger to perform the above-mentioned cleaning necessity determination.

[0037] The cleaning device control unit 53 controls the operation of the air blower 15 as a cleaning device. Specifically, the cleaning device control unit 53 controls the current supplied to the air blower 15, and controls the amount or pressure of air supplied to the fuel cell stack 5. The cleaning device control unit 53 also controls the cooler 16, cools the water vapor in the fuel cell stack 5 and changes it to water, and controls the amount of cleaning water in the fuel cell stack 5. The cleaning device control unit 53 controls the current supplied to the circulation pump 25, and controls the amount or pressure of hydrogen gas pushed out to the anode.

[0038] The analysis information generating unit 54 receives the analysis results of the cathode side wastewater analyzer 18a and the anode side wastewater analyzer 24a. The analysis information generating unit 54 generates wastewater analysis information based on the received analysis results. The generated wastewater analysis information may include at least the analysis results and analysis date information of the cathode side wastewater analyzer 18a and the anode side wastewater analyzer 24a. The analysis information generating unit 54 may store the above-mentioned wastewater analysis information in the memory unit 69.

[0039] The cleaning condition determination unit 55 generates cleaning condition information for the fuel cell stack 5 based on the wastewater analysis information generated by the analysis information generation unit 54. The cleaning condition information includes at least one of the following: the travel distance until the next cleaning of the fuel cell stack 5, the cleaning range at the next cleaning, the cleaning temperature at the next cleaning, and the cleaning time at the next cleaning. More specifically, the cleaning condition determination unit 55 determines, as the cleaning range, which of the cathode and the anode of the fuel cell stack 5 is to be cleaned, or whether to clean both of them. Furthermore, the cleaning condition determination unit 55 determines, as the cleaning temperature, the temperature of the generated water in the fuel cell stack 5 at which the cleaning process is to be started. Furthermore, the cleaning condition determination unit 55 determines, as the cleaning time, the elapsed time until the next cleaning or the travel distance. The cleaning condition information generated by the cleaning condition determination unit 55 may include, for example, the following information. That is, when the deterioration of the fuel cell progresses, the concentration of iron (Fe) may be equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration as the analysis result of the anode-side wastewater analyzer 24a in the wastewater analysis information generated by the analysis information generation unit 54. In this case, the cleaning condition information may include a condition for cleaning the anode after the next vehicle run, which is to use a predetermined amount of cleaning water or more.

[0040] The presentation control unit 56 has a function of presenting the generated wastewater analysis information or cleaning condition information to the user via a display or audio device (not shown).

[0041] <3.Operation> The operation of the cleaning process of the fuel cell system 1 performed by the control device 50 will be described in detail below.

[0042] 3 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the cleaning process by the control device 50. This main routine of the cleaning process can be executed after the vehicle has finished traveling and before the ignition is turned off. More specifically, the main routine of the cleaning process can be executed by the control device 50 after a predetermined time has elapsed while the vehicle speed is zero. This main routine of the cleaning process may be executed in response to a start operation via the display or the like by a user who is in the vehicle that has finished traveling.

[0043] First, the cleaning necessity determination unit 52 of the control device 50 determines whether or not cleaning of the fuel cell stack 5 is necessary. Specifically, the cleaning necessity determination unit 52 determines whether or not cleaning of the fuel cell stack 5 is necessary based on the cleaning condition information stored in the memory unit 69. More specifically, the cleaning necessity determination unit 52 determines whether or not a condition such as "the mileage has exceeded 100 km since the most recent cleaning" is met (step S11). If it is determined that "cleaning is necessary" (S11 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S12.

[0044] In addition, in the above step S11, when it is determined that "cleaning is necessary" (S11 / No), the cleaning necessity determining unit 52 ends the processing of this routine.

[0045] In step S12, the control device 50 executes a cleaning process for the fuel cell stack 5. This execution step will be described later. Next, when step S12 ends, the control device 50 turns off the ignition of the vehicle (step S13) and ends the processing of this routine.

[0046] Next, the flow of the cleaning process of the fuel cell stack 5 in step S12 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that, as an example, the following describes a flow in which both the cathode and the anode are cleaned. However, the contents of the present disclosure are not limited to this, and the order of cleaning the cathode and the anode may be reversed, or either the cathode or the anode may be cleaned.

[0047] First, the cleaning device control unit 53 performs a process to close the water purge valve 33 and the hydrogen purge valve 37 (step S121). More specifically, in order to produce water to be used for cleaning the fuel cell stack 5, the cleaning device control unit 53 closes the hydrogen purge valve 37 to prevent hydrogen gas from circulating.

[0048] Furthermore, in order to keep the water generated by the power generation in the fuel cell stack 5 within the fuel cell stack 5 without discharging it, the cleaning device control unit 53 performs a process to close the water purge valve 33. This makes it possible to use the water generated by the power generation in the fuel cell stack 5 as cleaning water.

[0049] Next, the cleaning device control unit 53 performs a process to close the inlet and outlet of the oxygen electrode (stack inlet valve 17 and oxygen electrode outlet valve 19) and the inlet of the hydrogen electrode (pressure regulating valve 23) (step S122). More specifically, the cleaning device control unit 53 performs a process to close the inlet and outlet of the fuel cell stack 5 in order to clean the inside of the fuel cell stack 5 with the produced water. The oxygen gas and hydrogen gas remaining inside the fuel cell stack 5 react to produce water and water vapor. The cleaning device control unit 53 may also perform a process to charge the power generated by the reaction in this cleaning process into a secondary battery (not shown).

[0050] After the water vapor generated inside the fuel cell stack 5 is condensed by the cooler 16 and changed into water (step S123), the cleaning device control unit 53 performs a process of opening the inlet and outlet of the oxygen electrode (stack inlet valve 17 and oxygen electrode outlet valve 19) (step S124). Note that the above step S123 is not an essential step, and the water vapor inside the fuel cell stack 5 may be changed into water by being allowed to cool naturally for a certain period of time.

[0051] Next, the cleaning device control unit 53 performs a drive process for the air blower 15 (step S125). Specifically, the cleaning device control unit 53 drives the air blower 15 to supply air to the fuel cell stack 5, and the water inside the fuel cell stack 5 is discharged by the supplied air. Note that the discharged water contains impurities and the like in the cathode of the fuel cell stack 5, and thus the cathode is cleaned by discharging these as well to the outside of the fuel cell stack 5. Note that a part of the discharged water is accommodated in the cathode-side wastewater accommodation unit 18 provided in the cathode off-gas passage 12.

[0052] In step S125, the cleaning device control unit 53 may perform a process of supplying pressurized air by, for example, driving the air blower 15 at a pressure higher than the pressure used during driving. By the process of supplying pressurized air, a part of the water generated in the cathode is pushed to the anode side through the ion exchange membrane (reverse diffusion). Generally, the amount of water generated in the cathode in a fuel cell stack is greater than that in the anode, but by pushing the generated water from the cathode side to the anode side as described above, the inside of the anode can also be cleaned using a sufficient amount of water.

[0053] Next, the cleaning device control unit 53 performs a process to close the inlet / outlet of the oxygen electrode (stack inlet valve 17 and oxygen electrode outlet valve 19 (step S126). The cleaning device control unit 53 also performs a process to open the inlet of the hydrogen electrode (pressure regulating valve 23) (step S127). As a result of this process, the hydrogen gas pressurized from the hydrogen supply source 21 washes away the water present in the anode of the fuel cell stack 5. As the water present in the anode contains impurities, etc., these are also discharged to the outside of the fuel cell stack 5, thereby achieving cleaning of the anode.

[0054] In step S127, the cleaning device control unit 53 may adjust the opening degree of the pressure regulating valve 23. In step S127, the cleaning device control unit 53 may, for example, drive the circulation pump 25 at an output higher than the output used during driving to supply hydrogen gas to the fuel cell stack 5. In step S127, the cleaning device control unit 53 may perform intermittent pulse control of the opening and closing of the pressure regulating valve 23 to efficiently flush away water present in the anode. A portion of the discharged water is accommodated in the anode-side drainage accommodation unit 24 provided in the anode off-gas passage 35.

[0055] In addition to or instead of opening the inlet (pressure regulating valve 23) of the hydrogen electrode in step S127, the cleaning device control unit 53 may drive the circulation pump 25. This causes the hydrogen gas remaining in the circulation flow path 28 to be supplied to the anode of the fuel cell stack 5, and the supplied hydrogen gas flushes out the water present in the anode, thereby cleaning the anode.

[0056] Next, after performing a process of closing the inlet (pressure regulating valve 23) of the hydrogen electrode (step S128), the analysis information generating unit 54 generates wastewater analysis information based on the analysis results received from the cathode side wastewater analyzer 18a and the anode side wastewater analyzer 24a (step S129). More specifically, the analysis information generating unit 54 performs a process of linking the analysis results by the cathode side wastewater analyzer 18a and the anode side wastewater analyzer 24a with the analysis date to generate wastewater analysis information and storing the wastewater analysis information in the storage unit 69. The wastewater analysis information may include information such as the type and amount of chemical substances contained in the analyzed water.

[0057] Next, the cleaning condition determination unit 55 generates cleaning condition information based on the wastewater analysis information generated by the analysis information generation unit 54 (step S130). More specifically, the cleaning condition determination unit 55 may determine that, when the wastewater analysis information indicates that the content of impurities contained in the cathode is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the next cleaning will be performed without cleaning the cathode. The cleaning condition determination unit 55 may also determine that, when the wastewater analysis information indicates that the total content of impurities contained in the cathode and the anode is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the elapsed time or the travel distance until the next cleaning will be equal to or more than a predetermined value. Alternatively, when the wastewater analysis information indicates that a specific chemical substance (e.g., iron) is contained, the cleaning condition determination unit 55 may determine that the amount of cleaning water at the next cleaning will be equal to or more than a predetermined amount, or that the cleaning temperature will be equal to or more than a predetermined value. The "predetermined value" in each step described above can be determined in advance by experiment or simulation.

[0058] The presentation control unit 56 performs a process of presenting at least a part of the wastewater analysis information generated by the analysis information generation unit 54 and the washing condition information determined by the washing condition determination unit 55 to the user via a display or the like (step S131). More specifically, the presentation control unit 56 may present both the wastewater analysis information generated by the analysis information generation unit 54 and the washing condition information determined by the washing condition determination unit 55, or may present only one of them, as shown in Fig. 5 .

[0059] Although the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs can conceive of various modified or amended examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1... fuel cell system, 5... fuel cell stack, 10... cathode gas path, 11... cathode gas supply passage, 12... cathode off-gas passage, 14... pressure sensor, 15... air blower, 17... stack inlet valve, 19... oxygen electrode outlet valve, 20... anode gas path, 41... bypass passage, 43... bypass valve, 45... flow rate sensor, 50... control device, 51... control unit (processor), 52... cleaning necessity determination unit, 53... cleaning device control unit, 54... analysis information generation unit, 55... cleaning condition determination unit, 56... presentation unit, 69... memory unit

Claims

1. A fuel cell; a cleaning device for cleaning the inside of the fuel cell using water generated by a reaction in the fuel cell as cleaning water; an analyzer for analyzing the quality of wastewater discharged by the cleaning device; and a control device that determines cleaning conditions for the cleaning device based on the analysis result by the analysis device. Fuel cell system.

2. 2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device includes a pressurizing device for pressurizing the cleaning water in the oxygen electrode of the fuel cell and diffusing it back to the hydrogen electrode.

3. The control device includes: Acquire analysis results of wastewater from past cleaning operations analyzed by the analysis device; determining at least one of a cleaning range, a cleaning temperature, and a cleaning time as cleaning conditions for the fuel cell based on the acquired analysis results; The fuel cell system according to claim 1 .

4. A fuel cell vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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