METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AMOUNT OF LIQUID WATER INSIDE FUEL CELL, METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AMOUNT OF LIQUID WATER DISCHARGED FROM FUEL CELL, DEVICE FOR ESTIMATING AMOUNT OF LIQUID WATER INSIDE FUEL CELL, AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM

摘要

The procedure of the invention successively obtains an estimated value of amount of liquid water in a fuel cell during operation in each specified period by the following steps (a) to (d), thereby improving the detection accuracy of the water condition inside the fuel cell. The step (a) obtains a previous estimated value. The step (b) obtains a drainage rate that represents an amount of liquid water discharged from the fuel cell per unit time, based on the previous estimated value and a value representing a current flow rate of a reactive gas in the fuel cell. The step (c) multiplies the drainage rate by a period of obtaining the estimated value, so as to calculate an amount of liquid water discharged from the fuel cell for a specified duration. The step (d) determines a current estimated value, based on the amount of liquid water discharged from the fuel cell for the specified duration.