580 Fuel Cells
additional energy from the battery is utilized. During steady-state operation,
the fuel cell energy is used to charge the battery when the output load is low.
Currently, fuel cells supply only average power from the fuel cell. Thus, peak
power must be supplied from some other energy source such as a battery or
supercapacitor. The power conditioning unit must therefore provide means
for interfacing a battery and also ensure its charge maintenance.
13.1.4 Thermal and Water Management
Water is generated at the cathode reaction and must be removed from the
fuel cell to prevent blockage of reaction sites. In the case of PEM fuel cell,
proper humidication of the membrane is necessary to improve proton
transfer (and efciency), so ...