Standards Development

Scope

This part of IEC 62282 provides test methods for the electrical, thermal, and environmental performance for the portable fuel cell power systems. These portable fuel cell power systems are movable and not fastened or otherwise secured to a specific location. The purpose of the portable fuel cell power systems is to produce electric power. 

This document applies to AC and DC type portable fuel cell power systems, with a rated output voltage not exceeding 600 V AC, or 850 V DC for indoor and outdoor use. These portable fuel cell power systems cannot be used in hazardous locations as defined in IEC 60050-426:2008, 426-03-01 unless there are additional protective measures in accordance with IEC 60079-0.

This document does not apply to portable fuel cell power systems that are:

a)      Permanently connected (hard wired) to the electrical distribution system

b)      Permanently connected to a utility fuel distribution system

c)      Exporting power to the grid

d)      For propulsion of road vehicles

e)      intended to be used on board passenger aircraft

The following fuels and fuel feedstocks are considered within the scope of this document:      

– hydrogen

–        liquid alcohols e.g. methanol, ethanol

–        chemical hydrides

–        metals (e.g. Mg, Al or Zn) or metal alloys immersed in electrolyte (e.g.aqueous solutions of salts or alkali) in air or oxygen

This document does not preclude the use of similar fuels or oxidants from sources other than air provided the unique hazards are addressed through additional requirements.

This document describes type tests and their test methods only. No routine tests are required or identified, and no performance targets are set in this document.

KeyEMD Electromagnetic disturbance EMI Electromagnetic interference

Please see draft for Figure 1 – Portable fuel cell power systems

The overall design of a portable fuel cell power system anticipated by this document shall form an assembly of some or all the following systems (see Figure 1), integrated as necessary, to perform designated functions, as follows:

–        Fuel processing system – chemical processing equipment including any associated heat exchangers and controls required to convert input fuel to a composition suitable for the fuel cell stack.

–        Oxidant processing system – subsystem that meters, conditions, processes and may pressurize the incoming oxidant supply for use within the portable fuel cell power system .

–        Thermal management system – subsystem intended to provide cooling and heat rejection in order to maintain thermal equilibrium within the portable fuel cell power system , and, if necessary, to provide for the recovery and utilization of excess heat and to assist in heating the portable fuel cell power system s during start-up.

–        Power conditioning system – equipment which is used to change the magnitude or waveform of the voltage, or otherwise alter or regulate the output of a power source.

–        Automatic control system – assembly of sensors, actuators, valves, switches and logic components (including process controllers) that maintains theportable fuel cell power system parameters within the manufacturer’s specified limits without manual intervention.

–        Fuel cell module – assembly, including a fuel cell stack(s), which electrochemically converts chemical energy to electric energy and thermal energy intended to be integrated into a power generation system.

–        Fuel supply system – either integral to the portable fuel cell power system or supplied through a removable and refillable container assembly.

–        On-board energy storage system – an internal energy source intended to aid or complement the fuel cell module in providing power to internal or external loads.

–        Ventilation systems – subsystem of the portable fuel cell power system that provides, by mechanical means, air to its cabinet.

These requirements are not intended to prevent the design and construction of a portable fuel cell power system not specifically described in this standard, provided that such alternatives have been considered and equivalent testing yields equivalent safety performance to that prescribed by this standard. In considering alternative designs or construction, this standard may be used to evaluate the alternative materials or methods to be used as to their ability to yield equivalent performance to that prescribed by this standard.

This standard does not cover requirements of pressurized or non-pressurized fuel supply containers upstream of the appliance gaseous or liquid fuel supply connector that are not integral to the portable fuel cell power system.

All pressures in this standard are absolute pressures, unless otherwise specified.