Fuel Energy and Environment Lab

Lab Report Group 5

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Apparatus
Startup
1-Stack and Ambient Temperature must be less than 45°C.

2-Holding the ON/OFF button down for 2 sec will start the system.

Experiment
Attach hydrogen fuel supply, adjust regulator to set flow rate.

1. Connect the H, from the cylinder to the equipment.

2. Switch ON the main power button.

3. Adjust the flow of hydrogen gas by pressure regulator.

4. Increase the load by using a load selector switch which will vary the Voltage and Current.

5. Vary the Hydrogen Flow as well

6. Repeat the experiment for different H₂ flow and Loads.

Shutdown
1-Turn down the load to zero.

2-Power off the Equipment by pressing OFF button for 2 sec.

3-Rotate the regulator anticlockwise to close the valve. Disconnect the H₂ Supply.

Safety Points
• Pressure reading must not increase from 55 bar. Acceptable range is 45-55bar.
• If the temperature exceeds and reaches the range of 43-45, immediately decrease load and
flow of Hydrogen or power off the Equipment if needed.
• Disconnect the Hydrogen Tube from the Hydrogen inlet immediately after the fuel stack is
shutdown. Since H2 gas can leak into the fuel cell and destroy the stack.

Observations & Calculations

HHV of H2 = 258800 J/mole

Density of Hydrogen Gas = 0.08375 kg/m³

Molar Flowrate= 0.0341 mol/s

Load In H2 flow H2 molar V (volts) I (amps) P= IV Efficiency

pressure rate flow rate (watt) %
(bar) (L/min) (mol/s)
1 0.49 1.692 0.0341 15.3 0 0 0
2 0.49 1.757 0.0341 12 0.9 10.8 0.12
3 0.49 1.377 0.0341 10.9 1.9 20.71 8.00
4 0.49 1.358 0.0341 10.2 2.8 28.56 32
Graphs

2.5

1.5

0.5

15 25

0.5 1.5 2.5