SELF-THAWING FUEL CELL

摘要

Electrical resistance heating elements (42, 44) recessed in the terminal plates (52, 54), or the cell end plates (14, 16), of a fuel cell stack at the interfaces therebetween are energized by electricity generated by the stack to heat the end cells (7, 9) during start-up of a frozen stack. The flow of current in the heating elements (42, 44) is ended when the temperature of the end cell(s) (7, 9) reach(es) a prescribed above-freezing temperature.