JP2002093445A - Fuel cell device and its operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve power generation efficiency at the startup and to thaw ice in a fuel cell device at a low temperature such as the freezing point, in a fuel cell device for feeding the air to a fuel cell at normal pressure. SOLUTION: For this fuel cell device provided with the fuel cell 1 and an air feeding means 30 for feeding the air to the air electrode thereof at normal pressure, a temperature sensing means 5 for sensing the temperature of the fuel cell, and an air heating means 60 for heating the fed air based on the temperature sensed thereby. Since the fuel cell is warmed by the fed air, high heating capability can be set without increasing the size of the device, the power generation efficiency at the startup can be improved and a warming period for thawing the ice in the device can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a method of operating the same, and more particularly to a technique for efficiently generating power in a fuel cell at a low temperature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one type of fuel cell, there is a type using a polymer solid electrolyte membrane. This type of fuel cell has good power generation efficiency at normal temperature because heat generation due to power generation loss is small, but has a characteristic that power generation efficiency becomes extremely low at low temperatures. Therefore, it is difficult for this fuel cell to exhibit sufficient power generation capacity immediately after starting in a cold state.

In order to cope with such a cold state, conventionally, there is a technique of heating circulating cooling water of a fuel cell device and warming up the fuel cell using the same. One of them is a method of heating cooling water and supplying it to the fuel cell to warm it up. For example, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-94202, a heater is built in a water storage tank of a cooling water circulation system. At the time of starting, this heater is operated by power supply from a secondary battery or a fuel cell. As another method, in a fuel cell device employing a pressurized air supply system, there is a method in which air warmed by heat associated with adiabatic compression of an air supply compressor is sent and warmed up.

[0004]

However, in the above-described technology of heating the cooling water and supplying it to the fuel cell, the heat capacity of the cooling medium and the cooling device is large, and the power required for warm-up is increased because the entire fuel cell is warmed. Becomes larger. In addition, since a cooling circulation system is provided, the stack of fuel cells and the entire system become large. On the other hand, in the method of warming up with heat accompanying the adiabatic compression, the amount of air that can be supplied is limited and the amount of heating is small because of the pressurization method. In addition, the supply air temperature increases, and a high-temperature portion is locally formed, which may cause damage to the electrodes, the electrolyte membrane, and the sealant.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel cell device for supplying air to a fuel cell, in which the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell at the time of starting is improved by warming up the fuel cell device with the supplied air, or a low temperature such as below freezing. It is a primary object to provide a device for thawing water in the device below. A second object of the present invention is to provide an operation method for improving the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell at the time of start-up or thawing water in the device at a low temperature such as below freezing in the fuel cell device. I do.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell apparatus comprising a fuel cell and air supply means for supplying air to an air electrode of the fuel cell. Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell, and air heating means for heating the supply air based on the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detection means are provided.

In the above configuration, it is effective that the air supply means is a rotating fan.

In any of the above structures, it is effective that the temperature detecting means is configured to detect the temperature of the air discharged from the fuel cell.

Alternatively, the temperature detecting means may be configured to detect a temperature of air supplied to the fuel cell.

Further, in any of the above configurations, it is further effective that the air supply means is configured to control the amount of supply air based on the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detection means.

In any of the above configurations, it is also effective to employ a configuration in which the air heating means controls the heating amount of the supplied air based on the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detection means.

Further, in any one of the above structures, there is provided a water supply means for supplying water in a liquid state to the surface of the air electrode of the fuel cell, wherein the water supply means is provided between the air heating means and the fuel cell. It is also effective to adopt a configuration arranged between them.

[0013] Next, the present invention provides an air electrode of a fuel cell,
In the operating method of the fuel cell device, in which the supply air is heated by the air heating means according to the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detection means while the air is supplied by the air supply means, the temperature is detected by the temperature detection means When the temperature of the fuel cell is lower than the set lower limit temperature, the heating unit is operated, and when the temperature exceeds the set upper limit temperature, the operation of the heating unit is stopped.

In the above method, it is effective to adopt a configuration in which a predetermined temperature difference is provided between the set upper limit temperature and the set lower limit temperature.

In any one of the above methods, it is effective to start the fuel cell power generation when the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detecting means becomes the lowest temperature at which fuel cell power generation is possible.

In any of the above methods, it is effective that the lowest temperature at which fuel cell power can be generated is lower than the set lower limit temperature.

[0017]

According to the structure of the first aspect,
By heating the air supplied to the fuel cell in accordance with the temperature of the fuel cell, the fuel cell can be warmed up by the supply air, without increasing the size of the device.
A high heating capacity can be set, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell at the time of starting or shortening the warm-up time for thawing the ice in the device at a low temperature such as below freezing.

[0018] Then, with the configuration according to the second aspect,
Since it is easier to secure the flow rate of the supply air than in the case of pressurized air supply, a sufficient heating capacity according to the temperature of the fuel cell can be obtained even at a low temperature.

Further, according to the configuration of the third aspect, the temperature of the fuel cell is detected by the temperature of the exhaust air reflecting the reaction state, whereby accurate heating according to the temperature can be performed.

Further, according to the structure of the fourth aspect, the temperature of the fuel cell can be more appropriately controlled by detecting the temperature of the air supplied to the fuel cell, whereby the temperature of the fuel cell can be controlled more appropriately. It is possible to quickly start the fuel cell and thaw ice in the device at a low temperature such as below freezing.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the supply air can be adjusted by controlling the supply amount by the air supply means under heating by the air heating means. Control becomes easier.

Further, according to the structure of the sixth aspect, the temperature of the supplied air can be adjusted by controlling the amount of air supplied by the air supply means by controlling the amount of heating by the air heating means. Control of setting the cell temperature to a predetermined value becomes easier.

Further, with the configuration according to the seventh aspect, the water supplied to the surface of the air electrode of the fuel cell can be heated by the heated supply air, so that the temperature of the fuel cell is further reduced to a predetermined temperature. Control becomes easy.

Next, with the configuration described in claim 8, the operation of keeping the temperature of the fuel cell within the range between the set lower limit temperature and the set upper limit temperature by simple on / off control of the heating means becomes possible. This makes it possible to improve the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell at the time of startup or to thaw ice in the device at a low temperature, such as below freezing, without increasing the size of the device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention,
By providing a predetermined width between the set upper limit temperature and the set lower limit temperature, instability of the temperature control can be prevented.

Further, according to the structure of the tenth aspect,
The operation of the fuel cell can be started quickly from the lowest temperature at which power can be generated, and energy loss due to heating of supply air can be prevented.

[0027] Further, according to the eleventh aspect,
Since the set lower limit temperature is higher than the fuel cell power generation possible minimum temperature, it is possible to prevent energy loss due to unnecessary heating of supply air from the time when the fuel cell does not start power generation.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a fuel cell device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This device comprises a fuel cell (Fuel Cell) 1 and a fuel cell 1
A fuel supply system 2 for supplying hydrogen as a fuel gas by heating a hydrogen absorbing alloy (MH) of a hydrogen tank 20 to a fuel electrode (not shown) by a heat exchanger 21 and an air electrode (not shown) of the fuel cell 1. An air supply system 3 for supplying air as oxidizing gas and a water supply system 4 for supplying water to the fuel cell 1
And as main components. Further, according to the features of the present invention, a temperature detecting means 5 for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell 1 and an air heating means 6 for heating the supply air based on the temperature of the fuel cell 1 detected by the temperature detecting means 5 are provided. Is provided.

In this embodiment, the air supply means 30 of the air supply system 3 is constituted by a rotating fan (hereinafter, referred to as an air supply fan) for supplying air at normal pressure. Further, the temperature detecting means 5 is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature T3 of the exhaust air of the fuel cell 1. Further, the water supply means 40 in the water supply system 4 of this apparatus is constituted by a water injection nozzle, is disposed between the air heating means 6 and the fuel cell 1, and is provided on the surface of the air electrode of the fuel cell 1. It is assumed that water is supplied in a liquid state.

The air heating means 6 for heating the supply air based on the temperature of the fuel cell main body 1 comprises a heater 60,
The heater 60 is connected to a battery 7 as a secondary battery constituting a driving power supply for the incidental equipment, and can be turned on and off by opening and closing a relay 61 inserted in the connection circuit. In addition, another relay 11 is inserted in a circuit connecting the fuel cell 1 and an external load R such as an inverter-controlled motor. The relay 11 can be controlled in association with the control of the air heating means 6. ing.

As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the connection relationship between the fuel cell 1 and the air supply system 3, the fuel cell 1 is housed in a housing 10. In the fuel cell 1, a large number of plate-shaped cell modules having a length in the air flow direction (vertical dimension) shorter than the length in the direction crossing the air flow (horizontal dimension) are stacked. It is configured as an aggregated stack. Each cell module has a configuration in which a solid polymer electrolyte sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an air electrode is further sandwiched between carbon black separators. The fuel electrode of each cell module is connected to a hydrogen gas introduction pipe through a through hole crossing the module, and the air electrode is connected to the casing 10 through the air introduction groove at the edge of each module.
It is configured to open inside. The air supply means 30 and the housing 10 are connected by a manifold 31, and the end of the manifold 31 is opened at the upper part of the housing 10. The lower part of the housing 10 is connected to the heat exchanger 21 shown in FIG.
2 are connected. Water injection nozzle 40 is housing 1
A plurality of water jets are arranged at the upper part of the cylinder 0 so as to inject water horizontally in a direction crossing the flow of the supply air.

In the fuel cell device having such a configuration, the hydrogen supply valve 22 is opened to supply the hydrogen occluded in the hydrogen storage alloy to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell 1 as fuel gas, while activating the air supply fan 30. Then, as shown by arrows in FIG. 2, air is sucked from the air supply fan 30, and a part of the supply air is converted into an oxidizing gas by the operation of sending the air into the housing 10 via the air manifold 31 as an air electrode. And power is generated. In this power generation state,
Water is supplied to the fuel cell 1 by continuously or intermittently injecting water from the water injection nozzle 40 of the water supply system into the upper part of the housing 10 for cooling, as needed. The heated air that has passed through the fuel cell 1 in the casing 10 passes through the duct 12 and passes through the heat exchanger 21 (hereinafter, FIG. 1).
), Where the heat is transferred to the hydrogen storage alloy (MH) in the hydrogen tank 20, dehumidified by a water condenser (not shown), and finally discharged from the exhaust duct.

In the fuel cell device in which air is supplied to the fuel cell 1 at normal pressure by the air supply fan 30 as described above, in particular, in order to efficiently generate power from the fuel cell at start-up or at a low temperature such as below freezing. In addition, it is necessary to heat the fuel cell device and to thaw the ice in the device. Therefore, the following operation control according to the present invention is performed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of the warm-up operation at the time of starting. This flow is started when the ignition switch is turned on, and the air supply to the fuel cell 1 is started by turning on the air supply fan 30 in the initial step S1. Next, in step S2, the hydrogen supply valve 22 is opened to start supplying hydrogen, and in step S3
Accordingly, the determination of the air outlet temperature T3 based on the preset lower limit temperature (hereinafter, referred to as a preset temperature 1) as a predetermined heater warm-up start temperature is started based on the detection value of the temperature detector 5. When the air outlet temperature T3 is lower than the set temperature 1 by this determination, the following warm-up mode operation is started.

When the operation enters the warm-up mode, step S4 is executed.
Then, the heater 60 is operated by turning on the relay 61, and the air outlet temperature T3 is monitored in the next step S5 by comparison with the preset temperature 2 which is also a predetermined minimum power generation possible temperature. If it is confirmed by the monitoring judgment in step S5 that the temperature has exceeded the set temperature 2, the relay 1 in step S6
1 to start fuel cell power generation, and in the next step S7, compare the air outlet temperature T3 with a preset upper limit temperature (hereinafter referred to as a preset temperature 3) as a predetermined heater warm-up end temperature. To monitor. The relationship between the above set temperatures is as follows.
Since it is 0 ° C., the set temperature 1 is −30 ° C. to 10
It is preferable that the temperature is set higher than the lowest temperature at which fuel cell power can be generated at about ° C and the set temperature 3 is set at about 1 + 2 ° C.
Therefore, a relationship of set temperature 2 <set temperature 1 <set temperature 3 is established between the set temperatures. The reason why the predetermined temperature difference is provided between the set temperature 1 and the set temperature 3 is to ensure the stability of the ON / OFF control of the heater 60. When it is confirmed that the temperature has exceeded the set temperature 3 by the monitoring judgment in step S7, the operation of the heater 60 is stopped by turning off the relay 61 in step S8, and the operation shifts to the normal operation. On the way, the air outlet temperature T3 in step S3
If the determination is not satisfied at the set temperature 1 or higher, the operation directly shifts to the normal operation without performing the warm-up mode operation.

After the initial state of the ignition switch is turned on and the state becomes a steady state as described above, the steady state control shown in FIG. 4 is performed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of the warm-up operation in a steady state. This flow is
In the initial step S9, it is determined whether or not the heater 60 is operating by determining that the relay 61 is on. Since this determination is initially unsatisfied, the routine proceeds to step 10, where it is determined whether or not the air outlet temperature T3 is lower than the set temperature 1. This set temperature may be the same as the previously set temperature 1, or may be set differently according to different conditions at the time of starting and at the time of steady state. When this determination is made, the heater 60 is operated by turning on the relay 61 in the next step S11, and the process returns. Then, since the determination in step S9 is established from the next routine, the air outlet temperature T3 is set to the set temperature 3 in step S12.
Is determined as to whether or not the number has been exceeded. This set temperature 3 may be the same as the previous set temperature 3 or may be set differently. Since this determination is initially unsatisfied, the process returns. Eventually, when the determination in step S12 is established, the relay 61 is turned off in step S13, the operation of the heater 60 is stopped, and the process returns. Thereafter, the air outlet temperature T3 is controlled by the relay 6 under the condition that the air outlet temperature T3 is lower than the set temperature 1.
In the operation / stop control of the heater 60 by turning on / off of 1,
The temperature shown in FIG. 5 is maintained between the set temperature 1 and the set temperature 3.

Thus, according to the first embodiment, while supplying air to the air electrode of the fuel cell 1 by the air supply fan 30, the temperature of the fuel cell 1 detected by the temperature detecting means 5 varies. When the temperature T3 of the fuel cell 1 detected by the temperature detecting means 5 falls below the set temperature 1, the heater 60 is activated to heat the supply air with the heater 60, and the heater 60 is heated above the set temperature 3. At times, an operation of stopping the heater 60 is performed. In the above operation, a predetermined width (about 2 ° C. in the present embodiment) is maintained between the set temperature 3 and the set temperature 1, and stable control is performed. In this operation, when the temperature T3 of the fuel cell 1 detected by the temperature detecting means 5 reaches the set temperature 2 corresponding to the lowest temperature at which fuel cell power generation is possible, power generation of the fuel cell is started. The lowest temperature at which fuel cell power generation is possible is lower than the set temperature 1.

In the first embodiment, the present invention is embodied by the simplest method of controlling ON / OFF of the heater 60 exclusively based on the temperature condition. However, the temperature of the fuel cell 1 is controlled by turning the heater 60 ON. However, it can be controlled by changing the supply air amount. Therefore, a second embodiment for controlling the amount of supplied air while the heater is on will be described next.

FIG. 6 shows a system configuration of the second embodiment. Since the basic configuration of this system is the same as that of the first embodiment, the differences will be mainly described below. FIG.
, The illustration of the water supply system is omitted. In this embodiment, a power adjusting circuit 8 for controlling the air supply fan 30 and the heater 60 in relation to each other is provided instead of the heater control relay of the first embodiment. Further, for this related control, a temperature detecting means for detecting the air temperature T1 on the inlet side of the air supply fan 30 reflecting the outside air temperature and the temperature on the outlet side of the heater 60, that is, the air temperature T2 on the fuel cell inlet side. 5A and 5B are added.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the warm-up operation at the time of starting in this embodiment. This flow also starts when the air supply fan 30 is turned on in step S1.
In the next step S2, it is determined whether or not the air outlet temperature T3 is lower than a preset temperature for starting the heater 60, that is, lower than a lower limit set temperature. When the temperature is low at which this determination is made, the heater 60 is operated in step S3. The next step S4 is an air supply fan inlet temperature T1.
This is a process for obtaining the heating amount Δt from the difference between the target fuel cell inlet air temperature (referred to as T2 target value). This T
2 The target value is a fixed value set as a temperature most suitable for being supplied to the fuel cell, for example, 10 ° C to 30 °.
Set to about C. In the next step S5, in order to determine the air flow rate supplied from the air supply fan 30, the required air flow rate (g / s) = heater heating value (J / s) /
(△ t (K) × specific heat of air (J / g · K)) Here, the heater calorific value is a fixed value and the air specific heat is 1.0 (J / g · K) because of on / off control.
It may be necessary to include the correction factor k in the above equation.
At that time, the required air flow rate (g / s) = k x the heat value of the heater (J / s)
/ (△ t (K) × specific heat of air (J / g · K)). The power supply to the air supply fan 30 is determined in the next step S6 based on the required air flow rate thus obtained. Then, in step S7, electric power is supplied to the air supply fan 30.

Thus, at step S8, it is determined whether or not the fuel cell inlet air temperature T2 has reached the target value T2 (T2
(Target value−T2> 0) is determined. If this determination is made, the fuel cell inlet air temperature T2 is too low, so the air flow rate is reduced in the next step S10 (actually, the air flow rate is reduced according to (T2 target value-T2) × P gain). ). On the other hand, if the determination in step S8 is not satisfied, it is determined in step S9 whether or not T2 target value−T2 <0. If this determination is made, it means that the fuel cell inlet air temperature T2 is too high.
1 to increase the air flow rate (actually (target value of T2-T2) x
Increase the air flow according to the P gain). Under such control, it is monitored in step S12 whether or not the air outlet temperature T3 has reached a preset temperature for stopping the heater 60, that is, whether or not it has reached a set upper limit temperature. The process from step S4 is repeated until the monitoring judgment is established. When the determination in step S12 is established, the process proceeds to step S13, where the heater 60 is turned off, and the operation shifts to the normal operation.

Conversely, the same control as in the second embodiment can be performed by controlling the amount of heat generated by the heater 60 with the supply air amount constant. Therefore, a third embodiment employing such a control form will be described next. The control content in this case is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment except that the control of the air supply amount is replaced with the control of the heater heat generation amount. Therefore, the steps corresponding to those in the second embodiment are given the same step numbers. Instead of the description, the steps corresponding to the replacement will be described below by attaching the same numbers with “′”.

At step S'5 in this operation control, the heater heat value (J / s) = air flow rate (g / s) .times. (. DELTA.t
(K) × specific heat of air (J / g · K)). Here, the air flow rate is a fixed value that is not particularly controlled, and the air specific heat is 1. 0 (J / g · K). Also in this case, it may be necessary to include the correction coefficient k in the above equation.
At that time, the heat value of the heater (J / s) = k × air flow rate (g / s) ÷
(△ t (K) × specific heat of air (J / g · K)). The next step S′6 is a process of determining the power to be supplied to the heater 60 based on the amount of heat generated by the heater. Step S′7 is a process of supplying power to the heater 60. Further, step S′10 is a process of increasing the power supplied to the heater 60 (actually, (T2 target value−T2) ×
The supply power is increased according to the P gain). Similarly, in step S′11, the power supplied to the heater is reduced (actually, (T2
(Target value-T2) × Reduce supply power according to P gain)
Processing.

The air heating means 60 in each of the above embodiments.
As a specific configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, a structure is generally arranged at the outlet of the air supply fan 30 to directly heat the passing air. In this case, the heating wire is formed in a meandering shape. Alternatively, a method of arranging in a spiral shape to secure a contact area while preventing an increase in pressure loss is effective. As another structure, as shown in FIG. 9, a structure in which the air heating means 60 is disposed further above the water injection nozzle 40 of the air supply manifold 31 to heat the supply air is also effective in reducing the pressure loss. In this case, it is one method to adopt a structure in which heating wires are stretched in a grid pattern. Of course, other methods capable of heating the supply air can be employed.

As described in detail above, according to the fuel cell device of each of the above-described embodiments, the air supplied to the fuel cell 1 at normal pressure is heated in accordance with the temperature of the fuel cell 1, so that the fuel Since the battery cells 1 can be warmed up by the supply air, a high heating capacity can be set without increasing the size of the device, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell at the time of starting or reducing the temperature below the freezing point. For example, the warm-up time for thawing the ice in the device under low temperature can be shortened. In particular, comparing the heating amount when the air supply temperature is set to be equal to or lower than the upper limit value between the pressurized compressor and the normal pressure fan, as shown in FIG. 10, the heating amount is increased in proportion to the air flow rate and the temperature. Therefore, in the case of the fuel cell of the normal pressure air supply type as in each of the above-described embodiments, it is advantageous in that a large amount of air can be sent with less power than the pressurized fuel cell. Also,
Since the shape of the separator is shortened in the vertical direction with respect to the air flow path, the fuel cell unit 1 has a longer length than a general flow path in which the flow path length is formed as a bent spiral. The temperature distribution inside becomes smaller. In addition, in the internal manifold type, the inlet portion of the air flow path is narrow, so that the inlet portion is heated intensively. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the external manifold system is employed, the fuel cells are evenly distributed. Heating can be performed efficiently.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to a specific embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
Various modifications are possible based on the matters described in the claims. For example, the temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell may directly detect the temperature of the separator of the fuel cell. In addition, the timing of performing the heating operation is not limited to the low-temperature start (sub-zero temperature environment) described in the embodiment, the case where the outside air temperature is low (there is a possibility of freezing at the supply temperature), and the time when the fuel cell operation is stopped. Alternatively, hot air can be used to remove water from the fuel cell stack. Furthermore, regarding the contents of operation control,
The control of the supply air amount according to the second embodiment and the control of the heating amount according to the third embodiment may be combined.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a fuel cell device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a related structure between a fuel cell and an air supply system in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a starting operation method by the system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a steady operation method by the system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a set temperature and ON / OFF of a heating unit according to the system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a fuel cell device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a starting operation method by the system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a starting operation method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified configuration of the air heating means with respect to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the air supply flow rate and the amount of heat that can be supplied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel cell 5 Temperature detection means 30 Air supply fan (air supply means) 40 Water injection nozzle (water supply means) 60 Heater (air heating means)

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A fuel cell device comprising: a fuel cell; and air supply means for supplying air to an air electrode of the fuel cell; temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the fuel cell; An air heating means for heating supply air based on the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the means is provided. 2. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein said air supply means is a rotating fan. 3. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting unit detects a temperature of air discharged from the fuel cell. 4. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting means detects a temperature of air supplied to the fuel cell. 5. The air supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the air supply unit controls an amount of supplied air based on a temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detection unit. Fuel cell device. 6. The air heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit controls the heating amount of the supply air based on the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detecting unit. The fuel cell device according to claim 1. 7. A water supply means for supplying water in a liquid state to a surface of an air electrode of the fuel cell, wherein the water supply means is disposed between the air heating means and the fuel cell.
The fuel cell device according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 8. A fuel cell device which supplies air to an air electrode of a fuel cell by an air supply means and heats supplied air by an air heating means in accordance with the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detection means. In the operating method, when the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detecting means is lower than a set lower limit temperature, the heating means is operated, and when the temperature exceeds a set upper limit temperature, the operation of the heating means is stopped. A method for operating a fuel cell device, comprising: 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a predetermined temperature difference is provided between the set upper limit temperature and the set lower limit temperature.
An operating method of the fuel cell device according to the above. 10. The fuel cell system according to claim 8, wherein when the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature detecting means becomes the lowest temperature at which fuel cell power generation is possible, power generation of the fuel cell is started.
Or a method for operating the fuel cell device according to item 9. 11. The fuel cell power generation minimum temperature is lower than a set lower limit temperature.
0. The operation method of the fuel cell device according to 0.