Assessment of Fuels Cell Power Units in Operational Environments

摘要

Assessment of the operation of portable fuel cells while under various loads utilizing a mass spectrometer (MS), has proven to be a very beneficial technique for determining fuel cell performance under a variety of environmental conditions. Employing a mass spectrometer allows various input parameters, such as fuel composition, percent relative humidity, temperatures, gas flow rates, etc. to be varied while effluent gas compositions are monitored. The obtained data can be employed as a very valuable diagnostic tool that can be used to assist in the development of the optimal operating parameters which will result in significantly improved long-term fuel cell performance. Data obtained on operating fuel cells under different environmental parameters will be discussed.