This report endeavours to understand the technical aspects of a 5kW fuel cell based UPS. Suitable testing is done to determine whether the performance of the system is equivalent to a battery based UPS. The Economic analysis deals with the feasibility of a fuel cell UPS is today's economy.
Testing was then carried out to verify the operation of the fuel cell and establish weather performance was equivalent with battery-operated UPS. The influence of temperature and stack power over start-up time was studied. To establish the dynamic operation of the fuel cell, load-switching tests, both of active and reactive nature, were carried out. Consecutive runs of soak tests were done to verify long hours of operation.
The fuel cell has proven capable to equal the performance of a battery bank, to the inverter and then AC load, the fuel cell is just a battery which never drains. Testing in lower operating temperatures has shown start up is not affected by long hours on non-operation. Though the optimum fuel cell stack an ambient temperature of less than 20°C. Start up is not affected when operated with active and reactive loads.
