Simulation Experiment of PEMFC Using Insulation Vessel at Low Temperature Region

ABSTRACT Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is very interesting power source due to high power density, simple construction and operation at low temperature. But it has problems such as high cost, improvement of performance, effect of temperature and initial start at low temperature. These problems can be approached to be solved by using experiment and mathematical method which are general principles for analysis and optimization of control system for heat and hydrogen detecting management. In this paper, insulation vessel and control system for stable operation of fuel cell at low temperature were developed for experiment. The constant temperature capability and the heating time atsub-zero temperatures with insulation control system were studied by using a heating bar of 60W class.PEMFC stack which was made by 4 cells with 50 ㎠ active area in each cell is a thermal source. Timeswhich take to reach constant temperature by the state of insulation vacuum were measured at variable environment temperatures. The test was performed at two conditions: heating mode and cooling mode. Constant temperature capability was better at lower environment temperature and vacuum pressure. The results of this experiment could be used as basis data about stable operation of fuel cell stack in low temperature zone. KEY WORDS : PEMFC(고분자전해질막 연료전지), Insulation vessel(단열용기), Cold-start(냉시동)