Apparatus for preventing carbon corrosion at cathod in fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for effectively preventing carbon corrosion from occurring at the cathode of a fuel cell. The present apparatuses include an air blower supplying air from an air supply source to a fuel cell; a fuel cell receiving air from the air blower to generate electricity by a chemical reaction; an air discharge pipe through which residual air remaining after oxygen of the air is consumed for chemical reaction in the fuel cell is discharged; a pressure sensor provided in the air discharge pipe for detecting air pressure in the fuel cell; an air discharge solenoid valve provided in the air discharge pipe for controlling air flow of the air discharge pipe; and a controller controlling operation of the air blower and the air discharge solenoid valve by receiving a signal detected by the pressure sensor wherein the controller detects the air pressure through the pressure sensor to allow the air blower to supply air to the fuel cell until the air pressure reaches a predetermined pressure and then closes the air discharge solenoid valve until the oxygen in the fuel cell is completely exhausted, thereby preventing the formation of hydrogen / oxygen interface at the anode of the fuel cell.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0060912 filed June 21, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. field of invention [0002] The present invention relates to a device for preventing carbon corrosion on the cathode of a fuel cell by preventing the formation of a hydrogen / oxygen interface at the anode of the fuel cell during start-up and shutdown of the fuel cell. Background technique [0003] A fuel cell serving as a main power source of a fuel cell vehicle generates power through a reaction between oxygen provided by air and hydrogen stored in a fuel tank of the vehicle. [0004] figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a fuel cell system in a fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell 10 includes a separator 11 , an anode 12 , an electrolyte membrane 13 , a cathode 14 , a hydrogen / oxygen / coolant distribution structure 15 , an anode flow field 16 , a cathode flow field 17 and a coolant flow fiel...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0025] However, the use of gas burners has safety concerns and requires additional equipment

This additional unit requires more power and space in the design

[0026] Also, using nitrogen cylinders has some problems: it requires the extra installation of nitrogen cylinders in the transport, and the cylinders must be refilled when the nitrogen is exhausted

[0027] In addition, purging air during fuel cell shutdown inevitably creates a hydrogen / oxygen interface on the anode, which shortens the time the anode is filled with air, thereby damaging fuel cell performance

[0028] Also, in the device and method using this fuel cell startup / shutdown process, startup and shutdown are very time-consuming, which causes inconvenience

[0029] Therefore, prior art devices and methods have a detrimental effect on the durability performance of the fuel cell

Also, if the hydrogen off-gas and air off-gas are exposed to the air, there is a possibility of damage to the fuel cell due to pollutants in the ambient air

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