Variability and comparability of testing procedures for PEMFC stacks and modules regarding performance aspects

Reliable and reproducible testing protocols are needed for fuel cell stacks, modules and subsystems in order to reach comparable results for example in performance measurements. A testing protocol was developed which aims at the performance measurement of fuel cell stacks and modules. Measurements for the reproducibility and comparability were performed on a low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack and on a fuel cell subsystem. The resulting voltages at the different load steps show a difference in adaption to load changes form the stack and the subsystem. In most cases the stack adapted faster with a more stable voltage. The repeatability of the testing protocols was tested which resulted in a higher degradation of the fuel cell subsystem compared to the stack. The measurements in comparison between two laboratories showed a clear decrease in voltages at the second laboratory. The measurement of the test protocol influences the fuel cell stack with an increase in voltage whereas the voltages decrease for the fuel cell subsystem.     

The impact of air contaminants on PEMFC performance and durability

The impact of air contaminants such as sulfur compounds (SO₂, H₂S) and nitrogen compounds (NO_x and NH₃) was investigated using subscale fuel cells. The severity of the effect of these impurities varies depending on the contaminants. Among air contaminants, sulfur compounds cause the most severe performance loss due to decrease of available Pt sites for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). We found that sulfur compounds adsorbed on Pt surface tend to be oxidized to sulfate at 0.9 V and higher potentials. The cell performance can be recovered partially by excursions to high potentials due to increase of available Pt sites. Furthermore, flushing the cathode with high humidity gases results in almost complete recovery of the cell performance. We conclude that these recovery effects are due to oxidation/removal of the contaminants from the Pt surface.     

The impact of flow field pattern on concentration and performance in PEMFC

In this study, we present a rigorous mathematical model, to treat prediction and analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cells gas concentration and current density distribution in mass transfer area and chemical reaction area performed in 3‐D geometry. The model is based on the solution of the conservation equations of mass, momentum, species, and electric current in a fully integrated finite‐volume solver using the CFDRC commercial code. The influences of fuel cell performance with two kinds of flow channel pattern design are studied. The gas concentration of the straight flow pattern appears excessively non‐uniform, resulting in a local concentration polarization. On the other hand, the gas concentration is well distributed for the serpentine flow pattern, creating a better mass transfer phenomena. The performance curves (polarization curves) are also well correlated with experimental data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical study on the compression effect of gas diffusion layer on PEMFC performance

A numerical method is developed to study the effect of the compression deformation of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) on the performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The GDL compression deformation, caused by the clamping force, plays an important role in controlling the performance of PEMFC since the compression deformation affects the contact resistance, the GDL porosity distribution, and the cross-section area of the gas channel. In the present paper, finite element method (FEM) is used to first analyze the ohmic contact resistance between the bipolar plate and the GDL, the GDL deformation, and the GDL porosity distribution. Then, finite volume method is used to analyze the transport of the reactants and products. We investigate the effects of the GDL compression deformation, the ohmic contact resistivity, the air relative humidity, and the thickness of the catalyst layer (CL) on the performance of the PEMFC. The numerical results show that the fuel cell performance decreases with increasing compression deformation if the contact resistance is negligible, but an optimal compression deformation exists if the contact resistance is considerable.     

Visualization of flooding in a single cell and stacks by using a newly-designed transparent PEMFC

The flow phenomenon in the fuel-cell channels is difficult to understand and predict because of the two-phase flow. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with transparent windows are widely used for visualizing the two-phase flow in the channels. In this paper, the visualization of the two-phase flow in the channels was accomplished under various current-density conditions using a transparent cell. The visualization of the single serpentine flow field clearly reveals that anode flooding is more severe than cathode flooding. The main cause for anode flooding is a low gas-flow rate in the channel because of the absence of the carrier gas. In addition, flooding is more significant under a low current-density condition than under a high current-density condition; under the latter condition, there is significantly more reaction heat that prevents flooding. The flow phenomena in the PEMFC stack were also visualized by electrically connecting three transparent cells in series and supplying fuel to each cell from a manifold. Sudden voltage drops and overshoots were detected, and the voltage fluctuations were found to be strongly related to flooding.     

Study of PEM fuel cell performance by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is a suitable and powerful diagnostic testing method for fuel cells because it is non-destructive and provides useful information about fuel cell performance and its components. This paper presents the diagnostic testing results of a 120 W single cell and a 480 W PEM fuel cell short stack by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The effects of clamping torque, non-uniform assembly pressure and operating temperature on the single cell impedance spectrum were studied. Optimal clamping torque of the single cell was determined by inspection of variations of high frequency and mass transport resistances with the clamping torque. The results of the electrochemical impedance analysis show that the non-uniform assembly pressure can deteriorate the fuel cell performance by increasing the ohmic resistance and the mass transport limitation. Break-in procedure of the short stack was monitored and it is indicated that the ohmic resistance as well as the charge transfer resistance decrease to specified values as the break-in process proceeds. The effect of output current on the impedance plots of the short stack was also investigated.     

Experiment and simulation investigations for effects of flow channel patterns on the PEMFC performance

Experiments and simulations are presented in this paper to investigate the effects of flow channel patterns on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The experiments are conducted in the Fuel Cell Center of Yuan Ze University and the simulations are performed by way of a three‐dimensional full‐cell computational fluid dynamics model. The flow channel patterns adopted in this study include the parallel and serpentine flow channels with the single path of uniform depth and four paths of step‐wise depth, respectively. Experimental measurements show that the performance (i.e. cell voltage) of PEMFC with the serpentine flow channel is superior to that with the parallel flow channel, which is precisely captured by the present simulation model. For the parallel flow channel, different depth patterns of flow channel have a strong influence on the PEMFC performance. However, this effect is insignificant for the serpentine flow channel. In addition, the calculated results obtained by the present model show satisfactory agreement with the experimental data for the PEMFC performance under different flow channel patterns. These validations reveal that this simulation model can supplement the useful and localized information for the PEMFC with confidence, which cannot be obtained from the experimental data. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A numerical study on the performance of PEMFC with wedge-shaped fins in the cathode channel

The gas flow field design has a significant influence on the overall performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). A single-channel PEMFC with wedge-shaped fins in the cathode channel was proposed, and the effects of fin parameters such as volume (0.5 mm³, 1.0 mm³, and 1.5 mm³), number (3, 5, and 9), and porosity of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) on the performance of PEMFC were numerically examined based on the growth rate of power density (GRPD) and polarization curve. It was shown that wedge-shaped fins could effectively improve the PEMFC performance. With an increase in fin volume, the distributions of oxygen mass fraction in the outlet area of the cathode channel were lower, the drainage effect of the PEMFC improved, and GRPD also increased accordingly. Similar results were obtained as the number of fins increased. The GDL porosity had a greater effect than the wedge-shaped fins on the improvement in PEMFC performance, but the influence of GDL porosity weakened and the GRPD of porosity decreased as the porosity increased. This study provides an effective guideline for the optimization of the cathode channel in a PEMFC.     

Effect of operational parameters on the performance of PEMFC assembled with Au-coated Ni-foam

An innovative proton exchange membrane fuel cell was assembled using Au-coated nickel foam instead of the conventional flow field (carbon plate). The effect of operational parameters on the performance of this cell was investigated by DC polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Parameters such as cell operating temperature, cathode humidification temperature, and cathode-gas stoichiometry were of concern.     

Development of new test instruments and protocols for the diagnostic of fuel cell stacks

In the area of fuel cell research, most of the experimental techniques and equipments are still devoted to the analysis of single cells or very short stacks. However, the diagnosis of fuel cell stacks providing significant power levels is a critical aspect to be considered for the integration of fuel cell systems into real applications such as vehicles or stationary gensets. In this article, a new instrument developed in-lab is proposed in order to satisfy the requirements of electrochemical impedance studies to be led on large FC generators made of numerous individual cells. Moreover, new voltammetry protocols dedicated to PEMFC stack analysis are described. They enable for instance the study of membrane permeability and loss of platinum activity inside complete PEMFC assemblies.     

Implications of electronic short circuiting in plasma sprayed solid oxide fuel cells on electrode performance evaluation by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electronic short circuiting of the electrolyte in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) arising from flaws in the plasma spray fabrication process has been found to have a significant effect on the perceived performance of the electrodes, as evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The presence of a short circuit has been found to lead to the underestimation of the electrode polarization resistance (R_p) and hence an overestimation of electrode performance. The effect is particularly noticeable when electrolyte resistance is relatively high, for example during low to intermediate temperature operation, leading to an obvious deviation from the expected Arrhenius-type temperature dependence of R_p. A method is developed for determining the real electrode performance from measurements of various cell properties, and strategies for eliminating the occurrence of short circuiting in plasma sprayed cells are identified.     

Experimental analysis of cathode flow stoichiometry on the electrical performance of a PEMFC stack

The paper describes an experimental analysis on the effect of cathode flow stoichiometry on the electrical performance of a PEMFC stack. The electrical power output of a PEMFC stack is influenced by several independent variables (factors). In order to analyse their reciprocal influence, an experimental design methodology was adopted in a previous experimental session, to determine which factors deserve particular attention. In this work, a further experimental analysis has been carried out on a very significant factor: cathode stoichiometry. Its effects on the electrical power of the PEMFC stack have been investigated. The tests were performed on a 3.5 kW_el ZSW stack using the GreenLight GEN VI FC Test Station. The stack characteristics have been obtained running a predefined loading pattern. Some parameters were kept constant during the tests: anode and cathode inlet temperature, anode and cathode inlet relative humidity, anode stoichiometry and inlet temperature of the cooling water. The experimental analysis has shown that an increase in air stoichiometry causes a significant positive effect (increment) on electric power, especially at high-current density, and up to the value of 2 stoichs. These results have been connected to the cathode water flooding, and a discussion was performed concerning the influence of air stoichiometry on electrode flooding at different levels of current density operation.     

蛇形流场结构质子交换膜燃料电池的性能研究

建立包括催化层、扩散层、质子膜在内的三维质子交换膜燃料电池模型,通过Fluent软件模拟4种不同结构的蛇形流场,通过对速度、膜中水含量以及功率密度等分析得出蛇形流场的最优结构,并对最优结构进行参数优化。研究表明,4种不同蛇形流场结构中,Multi-serpentine II为最优,随着温度、压强的增加,这种流场结构的燃料电池呈现出良好的性能,从而为质子交换膜燃料电池双极板的设计提供依据。     

Study of membrane electrode assemblies for PEMFC,with cathodes prepared by the electrospray method

The electrospray deposition of platinum supported on carbon (Pt/C) particles has been used for the preparation of electrodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The departing suspensions contain the Pt/C electrocatalyst together with an ionomer (Nafion^®) and a solvent. Two types of solvent have been used, isopropanol and a mixture of butylacetate, ethanol and glycerol (BEG). The microscopic characterisation of electrosprayed films shows the electrospray deposited Pt/C films with a dendritic morphology. XPS analysis of the films reflects changes in the ionomer component after electrospray deposition. A decrease in the signal corresponding to backbone chain (CF₂) is observed on the films deposited with the low evaporation temperature solvent (isopropanol), indicating some disruption of ionomer chains during the electrospray process. With high evaporation temperature solvent (BEG), the disruption effect seems less acute. Membrane electrode assemblies were prepared with the electrosprayed electrodes as cathodes. Good general performance is encountered, comparable with standard commercial cathodes. Electrosprayed electrodes prepared from high evaporation temperature solvent (BEG) show a higher surface specific area. The internal resistance is something higher for MEAs with electrosprayed cathodes. The long term stability test shows a performance loss of about 10 μV h⁻¹ over 700 h continuous testing.     

外界供给参数对PEMFC输出性能及水热平衡的影响

为了改善质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)内部的水热平衡,从而进一步改善PEMFC的输出性能,文章建立了PEMFC的三维模型,通过改变PEMFC的外界供给参数(进气速度、加湿率以及冷却水流速),应用COMSOL模拟仿真得到了PEMFC的极化曲线和功率曲线、流道和气体扩散层(GDL)的水浓度分布情况,以及冷却水流速对PEMFC温度的影响。研究结果表明:随着进气速度和加湿率的逐渐增加,PEMFC的输出性能均逐渐提升,但是,过高的加湿率可能导致电极水淹;随着冷却水流速的增加,PEMFC温度加速下降,膜内温度分布变得更均匀。     

A three-dimensional full-cell CFD model used to investigate the effects of different flow channel designs on PEMFC performance

A three-dimensional “full-cell” computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is proposed in this paper to investigate the effects of different flow channel designs on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The flow channel designs selected in this work include the parallel and serpentine flow channels, single-path and multi-path flow channels, and uniform depth and step-wise depth flow channels. This model is validated by the experiments conducted in the fuel cell center of Yuan Ze University, showing that the present model can investigate the characteristics of flow channel for the PEMFC and assist in the optima designs of flow channels. The effects of different flow channel designs on the PEMFC performance obtained by the model predictions agree well with those obtained by experiments. Based on the simulation results, which are also confirmed by the experimental data, the parallel flow channel with the step-wise depth design significantly promotes the PEMFC performance. However, the performance of PEMFC with the serpentine flow channel is insensitive to these different depth designs. In addition, the distribution characteristics of fuel gases and current density for the PEMFC with different flow channels can be also reasonably captured by the present model.     

扩散层孔隙率对PEMFC性能影响的模拟研究

为了研究扩散层孔隙率对质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)性能的影响,采用COMSOL软件,通过数值模拟得出气体扩散层不同孔隙率(0.2,0.4,0.6和0.8)时,单直通道和具有楔形肋片(长1 mm,高1.5 mm,宽2 mm)的PEMFC性能曲线、阴极氧气质量分数分布和水质量分数分布。结果表明:扩散层孔隙率对燃料电池性能具有较大影响,随着扩散层孔隙率从0.2增大到0.8,PEMFC的电流密度逐渐增加,最大可达847 mA/cm~2;相对于单直通道,增加孔隙率比添加楔形肋片更利于提升电池性能;在孔隙率为0.6和0.8时,氧气更易扩散到反应区,排水效果更好。     

Enhancing performance of Nafion-based PEMFC by 1-D channel metal-organic frameworks as PEM filler

The paper reports for the first time the preparation of novel Nafion^®-based composite membranes (PEM-1 and PEM-2) using two 1-D channel microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), CPO-27(Mg) and MIL-53(Al), as fillers, for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Results show that the corresponding water uptake and the proton conductivity of the composite membranes were improved by 1.7 times and 2.1 times in magnitude, respectively, as compared to the recast Nafion^® membrane (RN). Further, the PEMFC single cells fabricated from these novel PEM-1 (FC-1) was able to achieve power densities of ca. 74% and 92% higher than that of the RN membrane (FC-3) measured at 50 °C and 80 °C, respectively, under 99.9% humidified conditions. In particular, FC-1 yielded power densities as high as 853 mW cm⁻² at 50 °C and 568 mW cm⁻² at 80 °C under 15.0% humidified conditions. Such notable improvements were mainly ascribed to the water retention ability of the MOFs as fillers brought about by the interplay of their pore structures, the amount of coordinated water and the interactions between the unsaturated metal sites and water molecules. This study further invokes that the 1-D channel microporous MOFs with high water retention ability are good candidates for fillers in proton exchange membrane of PEMFCs.     

Transport phenomena effect on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

The aim of this work is to present a two-dimensional transient model, of heat and mass transfer in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The model includes various conservation equations such as mass (hydrogen, oxygen, water concentration), Momentum and energy equations this model is combined with the electrochemical model.     

Investigating the effects of operational factors on PEMFC performance based on CFD simulations using a three-level full-factorial design

This study uses the 3³ full-factorial design, a factorial arrangement with three factors at three-levels, to investigate the main and interaction effects of design parameters on the performance of a single 25 cm² PEMFC cell. The factors considered in this study include the flow channel design, the operational temperature, and the relative humidity of the cathode gas mixture. The gas flow channel patterns for both the anode side and the cathode side are the same as a straight parallel channel design and two modified parallel channel designs. The operational temperatures are selected as 333 K, 343 K, and 353 K. The relative humidity of the cathode gas mixture varies from 50% to 100% at 25% intervals, while the relative humidity of the anode gas mixture remains fixed at 100%. All runs are conducted with a three-dimensional, non-isothermal steady-state fuel cell computational fluid dynamic model (FCFD) with specified boundary conditions. The FCFD model can not only output the polarization curve, but also predict complex multi-physics flow, thermal, mass and ion transport phenomena inside the tiny fuel cell multi-layer structures. This full-factorial design of experimental method reveals that it is possible to not only explore the main effects of this complex multi-physics problem, but also investigate the effects of two-factor interactions for generating maximum power density. Results show that the flow channel design has the most significant effect on the polarization curve; the next is the cell temperature, while the relative humidity of the cathode gas mixture plays only a minor role.