Cold-start Mechanism Technical Paper: Ensuring Rapid Fuel Cell Kick-in Even in Sub-freezing Temperatures

The GenCell BOX™ and GenCell REX™ long-duration backup power solutions for mission-critical applications and for utility substations have been designed to deliver zero-emission, climate-resilient power to ensure uninterrupted operations in locations where the grid is at high risk of power outages.  Fueled by hydrogen, GenCell’s alkaline fuel cell technology is extremely rugged and robust, capable of withstanding inclement weather and severe climate conditions and a broad temperature range. With little maintenance or servicing, the units are positioned in remote locations on stand-by, ready to kick in and deliver power immediately on-demand and continue to operate continuously until the outage is repaired, for as long as fuel is available.

A notable and exceptional advantage of alkaline fuel cell technology is its ability to withstand sub-freezing temperatures. To best leverage this capacity, GenCell developed an automated cold start mechanism and incorporated it as a standard feature of GenCell’s backup solutions.  Tested in the lab and in the field, the mechanism has been proven effective and has since been commercially deployed at customer sites. To read the full technical paper, click here or on the image below.