1 kW portable fuel cell system based on PEFCs

We have developed a 1 kW portable fuel cell system that is powered by polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). It consists of a cabinet that contains a fuel cell stack, hydrogen gas cylinders, an inverter, a control unit, and other components. The volume and mass of the system are about 275 l and 120 kg. The system can supply 1 kW of AC 100 V power for three hours using two 10 l hydrogen gas cylinders. The warm-up time is only about one minute. The system generates electric power from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in air, so it is very quiet and does not emit harmful gases or carbon dioxide. Our portable fuel cell system has been applied as a long-term power back-up system in combination with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and a synchronization-switch system.