This part of IEC 62282 provides the minimum requirements for safety and performance of fuel cell modules. This standard applies to fuel cell modules with the following electrolyte chemistry:
- alkaline;
- proton exchange membrane (including direct methanol fuel cells);
- phosphoric acid;
- molten carbonate;
- solid oxide fuel cell modules.
Fuel cell modules might be provided either with or without an enclosure and might be operated at significant pressurization levels or close to ambient pressure.
This standard deals with conditions that can yield hazards to persons and damage outside the fuel cell modules only. Protection against damage to the fuel cell modules internals is not addressed in this standard, provided it does not lead to hazards outside the module.
These requirements may be superseded by other standards for equipment containing fuel cell modules as required for particular applications. This part of IEC 62282 is not applicable for road vehicle applications.
This standard is not intended to limit or inhibit technological advancement. An appliance employing materials or haying forms of construction differing from those detailed in the requirements of this standard may be examined and tested according to the intent of these requirements and, if found to be substantially equivalent, may be considered to comply with the standard.
The fuel cell modules are components of final products. These products require evaluation to appropriate end-product safety requirements.
Unless otherwise specified, the fuel cell module must be capable of operating under the following ambient conditions:
a) altitude up to 1 000 m;
b) air containing approximately 21 % ± 1 % oxygen by volume.
This standard covers only up to the d.c. output of the fuel cell module. This standard does not apply to peripheral devices as illustrated in Figure 1.
This standard does not cover the storage and delivery of fuel and oxidant to the fuel cell module.