OUTLINE
To provide the FC stack assembly with the large amounts of oxygen needed to generate electricity, a high voltage, high flow rate FC air compressor with motor assembly has been adopted.
To cool the compressed air, a water-cooled intercooler has been provided inside the FC air compressor with motor assembly.
The outlet of the FC air compressor with motor assembly has been provided with a silencer to reduce its operating noise.
A resonator provided inside the air cleaner hose assembly to reduce vibration and air pulsation during FC air compressor operation for improved quietness.
A design resistant to water and snow entry has been adopted.
MAIN FEATURES
Characteristics of FC Vehicle Intake System
| Foreign Matter Management | In a FC vehicle, the compressed outside air flows directly into the FC stack. If the air supply contains foreign matter, air passages can be blocked, metal contaminants can adhere to the poles and inhibit electrical generation, etc., so foreign matter management is performed for each component and foreign matter is removed by the air cleaner. |
| NV Handling | Compared to a gasoline vehicle, the main sources of noise are the FC air compressor operating sound and the airflow sound from the intake components. To achieve the quiet vehicle that is one of the selling points of a FC vehicle, the intake system units incorporate acoustic absorption measures such as resonators and sound absorbing materials to counteract the FC air compressor operating noise and intake component noise. |
| Air Supply Temperature | The supplied air is compressed by the FC compressor and supplied into the FC stack. If the temperature of the supplied air is too high, it can exceed the heat resistance temperature of the FC air compressor and cause a malfunction. For this reason and to intake air efficiently from the grill, seals and intake air temperature-based controls are used to avoid intake of hot air from behind the radiator. |
| Water / Snow Entry | If the supplied air is contaminated with water or snow, some of the air passages will become difficult for air to pass, and airflow pressure losses will increase. For this reason, when the actual supplied air volume deviates from the airflow volume estimated based on system control, the proper amount of generated electricity is not reached, and malfunctions such as insufficient speed may occur. Furthermore, blockage can result in air supply (oxygen) not reaching the FC, causing electrical generation to stop.* For this reason, the radiator grill and grill intake cover have been provided with a shape that make it difficult for water to enter. |
*: Before blockage occurs, the FC system detects a malfunction and displays a message on the multi-information display of the combination meter.
Note
If the air supplied to the FC stack contains high concentrations of fine dust, sulfurous substances or amine-based substances (thinners, etc.), the electrical generation performance of the FC cell may be reduced, causing a reduction in output.
If the intake system is contaminated by salt water, and chlorine components flow into the FC stack, the FC material may experience functional degradation causing a reduction in output.