GB/T 20042.2-2023Proton exchange membrane fuel cell—Part 2: General technical specification of fuel cell stacks (English PDF)

3.1 Fuel cell stack core

The part between collector plates in the fuel cell stack, which is composed of and stacked up by pole plates, membrane electrode assemblies and other structural parts inseries.

3.2 Volume of fuel cell stack core

The outer-contour volume of the fuel cell stack core.

3.3 Volumetric power density of fuel cell stack core

The ratio of the rated power of a fuel cell stack to the volume of its stack core.

3.4 Explosive atmosphere

An environment in which a mixture of flammable substances in the form of gas, vapor, dust, fibers or flocs and air - under atmospheric conditions - can keep burning and spread by itself after being ignited.

3.5 Zones

According to the frequency and duration of explosive gas atmospheres, hazardous zones are divided into zone 0, zone 1 and zone 2.

4.1 General safety measures

Since fuel cell stacks contain fuel and other energy storage substances that have already stored energy (e.g., flammable substances, pressurized media, electrical energy, mechanical energy, etc.), the fuel cell stack manufacturer shall evaluate all reasonably foreseeable hazards, and take corresponding safety measures for the fuel cell stack in the following order under practical and feasible conditions:

4.2 Design requirement

4.2.1 General requirements

Fuel cell stack manufacturers shall design based on risk assessment. The risk assessment shall comply with the provisions of GB/T 7826 and IEC 61508 (all parts). The fuel cell stack and all its components shall.

4.2.2 Characteristics under normal operating conditions

When the fuel cell stack is operated under all normal operating conditions specified in the manufacturer's instructions, it shall not cause any damage.

4.2.4 Piping and fitting assembly

Metal formed elbows shall not cause defects impairing their use when bent.

4.2.5 Terminals and electrical connectors

Electrical connectors for power supply to external circuits shall meet the following requirements: […]

4.2.6 Live parts

The manufacturer shall specify in the technical documents the live parts that exist, especially the live parts that are dangerous due to the residual voltage after the system is shut down, and inform the fuel cell system integration manufacturer that it shall take measures to prevent electric shock and prevent fuel cell stacks from accidental short circuit of live parts.

4.2.7 Monitoring requirements

In order to ensure the safety of the fuel cell stack, monitoring measures for relevant parameters, such as the followings, should be provided.

4.3 Technical requirements

4.3.5 Environmental adaptability requirements

4.3.5.1 High and low temperature environment storage requirements

After the fuel cell stack is subjected to the low-temperature storage test (5.14.2) or the high-temperature storage test (5.14.3) under the temperature conditions specified by the manufacturer, there shall be no cracking, fragmentation, permanent deformation or other physical damage.

4.3.5.2 Vibration and shock resistance requirements

The tested sample shall not cause any hazard or functional failure when subjected to the same or similar shock and vibration environment [vibration and shock resistance test (5.14.4)] during the intended use.

4.4 Instruments and precision requirements

The instruments used for the test shall at least include:

5.1 General

Unless otherwise specified, fuel cell stacks should be tested under the following environmental conditions:

5.2 Appearance inspection

The content of the appearance inspection is as follows: […]

5.3 Safety test

5.3.1 General

In order to ensure the safety of the tests, safety tests such as air tightness and insulation resistance of the fuel cell stack shall be carried out before the formal tests start, and if the test fails, the follow-up tests shall be stopped.

5.5 Blow-by test

5.5.1 General

The test shall be carried out after standing at room temperature for 1 h after shutting down according to the method specified by the manufacturer. If the preceding step is 5.4, this step can be omitted.

If the measured blow-by velocity is not greater than the specified value in e) in 6.5.1, it can be judged to meet the requirements.

5.5.3 Measurement of blow-by velocity from anode chamber and cathode chamber

5.6 Allowable working pressure test

5.6.1 Overview

The allowable working pressure test of the fuel cell stack shall be carried out at the highest and lowest operating temperature respectively, and the test medium shall be nitrogen.

5.6.2 High temperature pressure test

Place the fuel cell stack in an environment with the highest operating temperature specified by the manufacturer, and let it stand for more than 12 hours;

5.6.3 Low temperature pressure test

Place the fuel cell stack in an environment with the lowest operating temperature specified by the manufacturer, and let it stand for more than 12 hours.

5.10 Normal operation test

Before the normal operation test, use a voltmeter to check whether the polarity of the sample terminal is correct, and activate the fuel cell stack according to the activation method provided by the manufacturer.

5.11 Rated power test

The steps of the rated power test are as follows: […]

5.12 Electrical overload test

In order to check whether the fuel cell stack has the specified overload capacity, an electrical overload test shall be carried out.

5.14 Environmental adaptability test

5.14.1 General

This test item is to evaluate whether the product's adaptability to the environment can meet the specified requirements during the expected transportation, storage temperature and use process within the specified life cycle of the fuel cell stack.

Before the start of the test, the airtightness test shall be carried out in accordance with 5.4 and 5.5, and the test results shall meet the manufacturer's specified value; after that, the fuel cell stack shall be pre-treated according to the manufacturer's requirements, including operation, purging and standing, etc.

5.14.2 Low temperature storage test

After processing according to the requirements specified by the manufacturer, carry out the low temperature storage test.

5.16 Volumetric power density of fuel cell stack core

5.16.1 Volume measurement of fuel cell stack core

Calculate the volume of the fuel cell stack core by the product of the projected area of the outer contour of the bipolar plate in the direction perpendicular to the plate surface and the distance between the collector plates of the fuel cell stack.

6.1 General provisions

Each fuel cell stack shall have a necessary mark or label, whose uniqueness shall be ensured. The content of the mark or label shall be clear and durable. The marked symbols, codes and their colors shall comply with relevant standards and regulations.

The marks and labels shall be reliably fixed and placed in obvious and eye-catching places that do not hinder inspection, and it shall be ensured that they will not fall off during the entire life of the fuel cell stack.

6.2 Nameplate

There shall be a nameplate on the fuel cell stack. The nameplate shall be reliably fixed at a place that is easy to observe.

6.3 Marking of connectors

If the wrong connection of the connector may lead to unsafety or damage to the sample under test, the manufacturer shall give a clear identification mark. If the electrical connector has polarity, or if there is a grounding terminal and grounding connection wire, it shall be marked.

6.4 Warning signs

Warning signs shall be used for dangerous parts, for example:

6.5 Technical documents provided to users

6.5.1 General requirements

The fuel cell stack information necessary for the integration, installation, operation and maintenance of the fuel cell system shall be described in the form of drawings, tables and instructions. Unless otherwise agreed by the fuel cell system integration manufacturer and the fuel cell stack manufacturer, the fuel cell stack manufacturer shall provide these technical documents for each fuel cell stack.

6.5.2 Installation guide

The installation guide shall give clear and detailed instructions on the installation and fixing of the fuel cell stack, and the connection of electrical wiring, fuel pipelines, oxidizer pipelines and cooling system pipelines.

6.5.3 Installation drawing

The installation drawing shall give all the necessary information for the preparation of the installation of the fuel cell stack.

6.5.6 List of parts and components

In order to ensure the normal operation, preventive maintenance or troubleshooting of the user's fuel cell stack, the list of parts and components shall at least include the necessary information - including names, models, general characteristics, etc. - of the ordered spare parts or spare pieces (such as components, devices, software, test equipment, technical documents). […]