Method and apparatus for operating polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell below the freezing point of water
US6953631B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for operating a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell at temperatures below the freezing point of water and an apparatus thereof are provided to prevent damage and performance degradation of the membrane-electrode assemblies. Non-humidified gas flows for several seconds before temperature of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell falls below the freezing temperature of water when operation of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stops. Simultaneously, anode of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is filled with a solution having a low freezing point to prevent the temperature of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell falling below the freezing point of water due to the lower ambient temperature in the winter. When the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is restarted, the cell performance is not degraded reflecting that the present invention stably preserves the fuel cell.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.