FUEL CELL, AND CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell capable of carrying out control of power generation output in which deterioration of a stack has been taken into consideration, and a controlling method of the fuel cell. SOLUTION: When power generation is started by a power generating part 2 of the fuel cell 1, an accumulated power generation time is counted. When increase of the accumulated power generation time is more than the standard amount, methanol concentration in the stack at that time is calculated. When the methanol concentration in the stack is calculated, a valve and a pump or the like at the respective places are controlled by a control part 3 so as to change the methanol concentration to an appropriate value. Accompanied with the increase in the accumulated power generation time, by raising the supplied methanol concentration, prevention or alleviation of reduction of the power generation output is enabled, and extending life of a fuel cell system becomes possible. Since the methanol concentration needed for retaining the power generation output is calculated based on the accumulated power generation time, control of the power generation output in which the degree of the deterioration of the stack is taken into consideration becomes possible. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT