ELY
Hydrogen electrolyser
A DC load that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, supplied through a rectifier as a controllable sink in a microgrid.
SLD
Symbols · FC
Fuel cell
An electrochemical source that converts hydrogen or another fuel directly into DC electricity, usually followed by a converter.
In plain English
What does Fuel cell mean?
A fuel cell produces DC electricity from an electrochemical reaction between a fuel, usually hydrogen, and oxygen from air. Unlike a battery it does not store its reactants; it runs as long as fuel is supplied. Stack voltage falls noticeably with load current, so a DC/DC converter or inverter almost always follows it.
A simple example
Drawings show the cell or stack as a rectangle with plates, or as a cell symbol labelled FC, with positive and negative DC leads. Balance-of-plant items such as the air blower, humidifier and coolant pump are auxiliary loads and normally appear on a separate auxiliary supply drawing.
What the drawings help you do
The symbol does not state whether the stack can follow fast load changes. Most fuel cell systems pair with a battery or supercapacitor to cover transients, and the fuel supply, purge and safety interlocks belong on the process drawings.
This particular reference
An electrochemical source that converts hydrogen or another fuel directly into DC electricity, usually followed by a converter. A fuel cell converts supplied fuel continuously; a battery stores a fixed charge and must be recharged.
- DC
- Direct current: electricity flowing in one direction.
- Rating
- A value stating the conditions for which equipment is specified.
- Schematic
- A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance.
Read the source: IEC graphical symbols for diagrams · Battery energy storage and power conversion
SLD / Schematic · FC
What it represents
A fuel cell produces DC electricity from an electrochemical reaction between a fuel, usually hydrogen, and oxygen from air. Unlike a battery it does not store its reactants; it runs as long as fuel is supplied. Stack voltage falls noticeably with load current, so a DC/DC converter or inverter almost always follows it.
Drawings show the cell or stack as a rectangle with plates, or as a cell symbol labelled FC, with positive and negative DC leads. Balance-of-plant items such as the air blower, humidifier and coolant pump are auxiliary loads and normally appear on a separate auxiliary supply drawing.
The symbol does not state whether the stack can follow fast load changes. Most fuel cell systems pair with a battery or supercapacitor to cover transients, and the fuel supply, purge and safety interlocks belong on the process drawings.
How to read it
- Expect a converter and often a battery buffer next to the stack.
- Separate stack output from auxiliary consumption when reading ratings.
Information to show or reference
- State stack voltage range and current.
- Show converter and buffer storage.
- Reference fuel supply and safety interlocks.
A distinction that matters
A fuel cell converts supplied fuel continuously; a battery stores a fixed charge and must be recharged.
Sources you can follow
These public references support the explanation and provide further detail. Their graphics and downloadable files remain with their publishers.
IEC graphical symbols for diagrams
IEC graphical symbol context for sources and conversion elements.
Battery energy storage and power conversion
Public energy storage and power conversion context.
About this graphic
This illustration was authored independently by Elora Grid to explain the concept. It is not reproduced from a customer drawing, an official standard graphic or a manufacturer CAD file. Its correspondence to an exact IEC or IEEE symbol identifier has not been certified.
SVG and DXF downloads contain this original artwork. DXF uses unscaled drawing units; a GA envelope supplies no product dimensions, clearances or fabrication information. Original artwork is available under CC BY 4.0. Third-party references retain their own terms.
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