BACK-UP FUEL CELL ELECTRIC GENERATOR COMPRISING A COMPACT MANIFOLD BODY, METHODS OF MANAGING THE OPERATION THEREOF

摘要

The present invention refers to a fuel cell electric generator specifically designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. According to the invention, the generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises on the inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. The invention further refers to methods for the start-up and shut-down of the generator, a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator.