Low Temperature operation of open fuel cell stacks using air circulation

摘要

A method and apparatus for operating an open cathode fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack has a cathode air inlet and a cathode exhaust. A variable feedback path is provided by baffle 23 and air guides 27 for returning at least a portion of the cathode exhaust air to the cathode air inlet. Dependent on the ambient temperature conditions, a proportion of the cathode exhaust air is recycled to the air inlet which enables steady state operation even in sub-zero operating ambient conditions.