MAINTAINING PEM FUEL CELL PERFORMANCE WITH SUB-FREEZING BOOT STRAP STARTS

摘要

The fuel cells (16, 18) adjacent or near the end plate (15) of a fuel cell stack (14) are warmed either by (a) a heater wire (48, 50) within the fuel cell (16) adjacent to the end plate, (b) heater wires (53) disposed in a heater element (52) located between the end plate and the fuel cell closest to the end plate (15), (c) one or more heaters (56) are disposed in holes (55) within the end plate (15), (d) a catalytic heater (61) disposed on the inner surface of the end plate, or (e) catalytic burner (78, 100) disposed adjacent a current collector (70) between an end cell (16) and insulation (81) on an end plate (82). The fuel cells (16, 18) may be heated before or during startup at sub-freezing temperatures to prevent loss of fuel cell performance.