GB/T 43691.1-2024 Fuel cell modules – Part 1: Safety
1 Scope
This document specifies safety related requirements for construction, operation under normal and abnormal conditions and the testing of fuel cell modules.
This document is applicable to fuel cell modules with the following electrolyte chemistry:
——alkaline;
——polymer electrolyte (including direct methanol fuel cells)[) Also known as proton exchange membrane fuel cell.]);
——phosphoric acid;
——molten carbonate;
——solid oxide;
——aqueous solution of salts.
Fuel cell modules can be provided with or without an enclosure and can be operated at significant pressurization levels or close to ambient pressure.
This document deals with conditions that can yield hazards to persons and cause damage outside the fuel cell modules. Protection against damage inside the fuel cell modules is not addressed in this document, provided it does not lead to hazards outside the module.
These requirements can be superseded by other standards for equipment containing fuel cell modules as required for particular applications.
This document does not cover fuel cell road vehicle applications.
This document is not intended to limit or inhibit technological advancement. An appliance employing materials or having forms of construction differing from those detailed in the requirements of this document can be examined and tested according to the purpose of these requirements and, if found to be substantially equivalent, can be considered to comply with this document.
The fuel cell modules are components of end products. These products require safety evaluation to meet appropriate end-product safety requirements.
This document covers only up to the DC output of the fuel cell module.
This document does not apply to peripheral devices as illustrated in Figure 1.
This document does not cover the storage and delivery of fuel and oxidant to the fuel cell module.
Figure 1 Fuel cell power system components
2 Normative references
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T 4208 Degrees of protection provided by enclosure (IP code) (GB/T 4208-2017, IEC 60529:2013, IDT)
GB/T 5169 (all parts) Fire hazard testing for electric and electronic products [IEC 60695 (all parts)]
GB/T 5169.11-2017 Fire hazard testing for electric and electronic products - Part 11: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods - Glow-wire flammability test method for end-products (GWEPT) (IEC 60695-2-11:2014, IDT)
GB/T 5226.1 Electrical safety of machinery - Electrical equipment of machines - Part 1: General requirements (GB/T 5226.1-2019, IEC 60204-1:2016, IDT)
GB/T 16855.1 Safety of machinery - Safety-related parts of control systems - Part 1: General principles for design (GB/T 16855.1-2018, ISO 13849-1:2015, IDT)
GB/T 20438 (all parts) Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems [IEC 61508 (all parts)]
ISO 23550 Safety and control devices for gas and/or oil burners and appliances - General requirements
Note: GB/T 30597-2014 General requirements of safety and control devices for gas burners and gas-burning appliances (ISO 23550:2011, MOD)
IEC 60079-10-1 Explosive atmospheres - Part 10-1: Classification of areas- Explosive gas atmospheres
Note: GB 3836.14-2014 Explosive atmospheres - Part 14: Classification of areas - Explosive gas atmosphere (IEC 60079-10-1:2008, IDT)
IEC 60335-1 Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 1: General requirements
Note: GB 4706.1-2005 Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 1: General requirements (IEC 60335-1:2004, IDT)
IEC 60352 (all parts) Solderless connections
Note: GB/T 18290 (all parts) Solderless connections [IEC 60352 (all parts)]
IEC 60512-15 (all parts) Connectors for electronic equipment - Tests and measurements - Part 15: Connector tests (mechanical)
IEC 60512-16 (all parts) Connectors for electronic equipment - Tests and measurements - Part 16: Mechanical tests on contacts and terminations
IEC 60617 Graphical symbols for diagrams (available at http://std.iec.ch/iec60617)
Note: GB/T 4728 (all parts) Graphical symbols for electrical diagrams (IEC 60617 database)
IEC 60730-1 Automatic electrical controls - Part 1: General requirements
Note: GB/T 14536.1-2022 Automatic electrical controls - Part 1: General requirements (IEC 60730-1:2013, IDT)
IEC 61010-1 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use - Part 1: General requirements
Note: GB 4793.1-2007 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use - Part 1: General requirements (IEC 61010-1:2001, IDT)
IEC 61204-7 Low-voltage switch mode power supplies - Part 7: Safety requirements
IEC 62040-1 Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) - Part 1: Safety requirements
Note: GB/T 7260.1-×××× Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) - Part 1: Safety requirements (IEC 62040-1:2022, IDT)
IEC 62061 Safety of machinery - Functional safety of safety-related control systems
Note: GB 28526-2012 Electrical safety of machinery - Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems (IEC 62061:2005, IDT)
IEC 62282-4-101 Fuel cell technologies - Part 4-101: Fuel cell power systems for electrically powered industrial trucks - Safety
Note: GB/T 41134.1-2021 Fuel cell power systems for industrial electric trucks - Part 1: Safety (IEC 62282-4-101:2014, MOD)
IEC 62368-1 Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1: Safety requirements
Note: GB 4943.1-2022 Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1: Safety requirements (IEC 62368-1:2018, MOD)
IEC 62477-1:2022 Safety requirements for power electronic converter systems and equipment - Part 1: General
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
fuel cell module
assembly incorporating one or more fuel cell stacks and, if applicable, additional components, which is intended to be integrated into a power system or a vehicle
Note: A fuel cell module comprises the following main components: one or more fuel cell stack(s), a piping system for conveying fuels, oxidants and exhausts, electric connections for the power delivered by the stack(s) and means for monitoring, control or both. Additionally, a fuel cell module can comprise: means for conveying additional fluids (e.g. cooling media, inert gas), means for detecting normal and abnormal operating conditions, enclosures or pressure vessels and module ventilation systems, and the required electronic components for module operation and power conditioning.
[Source: IEC 60050-485:2020, 485-09-03]
3.2
acceptance test
contractual test to prove to the customer that the item meets certain conditions of its specification
[Source: GB/T 2900.83-2008, 151-16-23, modified - The admitted term "hand-over test" has been deleted.]
3.3
maximum allowable differential working pressure
maximum differential pressure between the anode and cathode side, specified by the manufacturer, which the fuel cell module can withstand without any damage or permanent loss of functional properties
Note: The maximum allowable differential working pressure is expressed in Pa.
[Source: IEC 60050-485:2020, 485-17-02, modified - "fuel cell" has been replaced with "fuel cell module".]
3.4
allowable working pressure
maximum gauge pressure specified by the manufacturer which the fuel cell module can withstand without any damage or permanent loss of functional properties
Note: For fuel cell modules incorporating pressure relief devices, this is normally used to define the threshold of the set pressure.
3.5
ambient temperature
temperature of the medium surrounding a device, equipment or installation which may affect the performance of the device, equipment or installation
3.6
conditioning
preliminary step that is required to properly operate a fuel cell module (3.1) to achieve a desired performance following a protocol specified by the manufacturer
Note: The conditioning can include reversible processes, or irreversible processes, or both depending on the cell technology.
[Source: IEC 60050-485:2020, 485-11-08, modified - "fuel cell" has been replaced with "fuel cell module".]
3.7
fuel cell
electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidant to electric energy (DC power), heat and reaction products
Note: The fuel and oxidant are typically stored outside the fuel cell and transferred into the fuel cell as they are consumed.
[Source: IEC 60050-485:2020, 485-08-01]
3.8
fuel cell stack
assembly of single cells, separators, cooling plates, manifolds and a supporting structure that electrochemically converts, typically, hydrogen-rich gas and air reactants to DC power, heat and other reaction products
[Source: IEC 60050-485:2020, 485-06-01]
3.9
rated current
maximum continuous electric current as specified by the manufacturer, at which the fuel cell module has been designed to operate
[Source: IEC 60050-485:2020, 485-12-02, modified - "power system" has been replaced with "module" and the note has been deleted.]
3.10
crossover
cross leakage
leakage between the fuel side and the oxidant side of a fuel cell, in either direction, generally through the electrolyte
[Source: IEC 60050-485:2020, 485-06-25]
3.11
gas leakage
sum of all gases leaving the fuel cell module except the intended exhaust gases
Note: Gas leakage may occur from:
——the fuel cell stack;
——associated pressure relief devices;
——other gas ducting and flow controlling components.
Contents
Foreword II
Introduction IV
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Requirements
4.1 General safety strategy
4.2 Design requirements
5 Type tests
5.1 General
5.2 Shock and vibration test
5.3 Gas leakage test
5.4 Normal operation test
5.5 Allowable working pressure test
5.6 Pressure withstanding test of cooling system
5.7 Continuous and short-time electrical rating
5.8 Overpressure test
5.9 Dielectric strength withstand test
5.10 Insulation test
5.11 Differential pressure test
5.12 Gas leakage test (repeat)
5.13 Normal operation (repeat)
5.14 Flammable concentration test
5.15 Tests of abnormal operating conditions
6 Routine tests
6.1 General
6.2 Gas tightness test
6.3 Dielectric strength withstand test
7 Markings and instructions
7.1 Nameplate
7.2 Marking
7.3 Warning label
7.4 Documentation
Annex A (Informative) Significant hazards, hazardous situations and events dealt with in this document
Annex B (Informative) Additional information for the performance and evaluation of the tests
B.1 Estimating the leakage rate of a system when testing with a gas other than the working gas
B.2 Derivation of the “safety factor” for the allowable working pressure test (5.5)
B.3 Proposed acceptance tests
Bibliography
