METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLD-STARTING A PEM FUEL CELL (PEMFC), AND PEM FUEL CELL SYSTEM

摘要

A low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)system can be efficiently started even when the system is at a temperature near or below freezing (0°C). The cold start procedure is accomplished through heating the fuel cell by filling an anode chamber with fuel and generating hydrogen o the cathode chamber. The temperature by the exother on a cathode catalyst. Then and oxygen is supplied to the current flowing through saturation of the cathode wi the fuel cell without use of change membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system can be the system is at a temperature near or t rt procedure is accomplished through heating the fuel ber with fuel (hydrogen or hydrogen-rich reactant gas) a cathode. A defined amount of oxygen is supplied to uel cell system is locally heated up to defined is chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen the hydrogen generation on the cathode is canceled cathode chamber in an amount sufficient to maintain n external load. This procedure provides plain saturation of the cathode with hydrogen and, as result, mild, safe and fast heating the fuel cell without use of additional external devices.