APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING FUEL CELL

摘要

PURPOSE: An apparatus and method of activating a fuel cell stack is provided to remarkably reduce hydrogen consumption for activation by sufficiently improving ion conductivity in comparison with conventional activation processes. CONSTITUTION: A method of activating a fuel cell stack comprises a high humidifying open circuit voltage operation step humidifying the fuel cell stack and operating the fuel cell stack in an open circuit voltage state, and a vacuum wetting step wetting the surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane by forming a vacuum atmosphere inside the stack. An apparatus of activating a fuel cell stack comprises: an activator main body which consists of a hydrogen supply device, air supply device, and a humidifier; and a controller controlling the activator main body. The high humidifying open circuit voltage operation step and the vacuum wetting step are alternately conducted. [Reference numerals] (1) High humidifying open circuit voltage(OCV) operation for introducing droplet into a stack; (2) Wetting by forming a vacuum atmosphere in the stack; (3) Applying load for early consuming remaining gas(5A); (AA) High humidifying OCV operation for 3 minutes; (BB) Vacuum wetting for 3 minutes; (CC) Repeating 9 times; (DD) Terminating activation