动态工况条件下PEMFC电堆内的水热行为

PEMFC的水热行为直接影响它的性能与寿命。用现场温度测量与流体力学计算(CFD)相结合的方法,研究了kW级PEMFC电堆内部在动态工况条件下的水热行为,发现MEA表面的温度和质子交换膜内水含量分布呈现区域差异性,且随动态工况周期或电流密度的变化而变化。这种水热行为容易造成MEA局部区域水热疲劳损伤,引起裂纹生成,导致催化层结构受到破坏及质子交换膜性能衰减。控制电堆内的水热行为,减少它对MEA的损害,将是提高PEMFC电堆耐久性的有效途径。     

PEMFC直条流场水分布可视化研究

采用大面积(120cm2)透明质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC),研究了阴极直条流场内液态水的传递行为,通过测量不同位置流道进、出口压降,分析了流场内不均匀水分布。本方法可实时、在线、直接观察流道内液滴出现、积累及排出过程,得到实际工况下的实时液态水分布,将非常有助于流场设计和电池操作条件优化。结果表明,液态排水是一间歇过程,只有当液滴达到临界体积才会随反应气体排出。稳定运行状态下,液态水在流场内呈不均匀分布,主要集中于流场中下部区域,其他区域几乎没有液态水。     

膜电极性能的影响因素研究

文章以有机多孔膜为电极支撑体制备了亲水电极,用于质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)。考察了电极在全氟代磺酸离聚物(Nafion)的玻璃化温度处理、催化层中Nafion的含量、以及不同厚度的有机多孔膜等因素对电极性能的影响。测试结果表明亲水电极中Nafion分子的有序排列可以减小电极的极化,减小作为电极支撑体的有机多孔膜的厚度有利于电极性能的提高。采用70%Pt/C制备电极时,Nafion的最佳含量为25%,在1000mA/cm2的电流密度下,电池电压为0.615V。     

自然资源对PEMFC汽车产业化的影响

具有高能量转换效率及环境友好性的质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)被认为是具有潜力的汽车动力装置.然而对燃料电池汽车产业化而言,自然资源储量却是最重要的影响因素.本文在模拟燃料电池汽车产业化的基础上,从自然资源角度出发,讨论了催化剂、双极板以及质子交换膜等关键材料对燃料电池汽车产业化的影响.结果表明,将PEMFC铂载量降...     

On the state and stability of fuel cell catalyst inks

Catalyst layers (CL), as an active component of the catalyst coated membrane (CCM), form the heart of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). For optimum performance of the fuel cell, obtaining suitable structural and functional characteristics for the CL is crucial. Direct tuning of the microstructure and morphology of the CL is non-trivial; hence catalyst inks as CL precursors need to be modulated, which are then applied onto a membrane to form the CCM. Obtaining favorable dispersion characteristics forms an important prerequisite in engineering catalyst inks for large scale manufacturing. In order to facilitate a knowledge-based approach for developing fuel cell inks, this work introduces new tools and methods to study both the dispersion state and stability characteristics, simultaneously. Catalyst inks were prepared using different processing methods, which include stirring and ultrasonication. The proposed tools are used to characterize and elucidate the effects of the processing method. Structural characterization of the dispersed particles and their assemblages was carried out by means of transmission electron microscopy. Analytical centrifugation (AC) was used to study the state and stability of the inks. Herein, we introduce new concepts, S score, and stability trajectory, for a time-resolved assessment of inks in their native state using AC. The findings were validated and rationalized using transmittograms as a direct visualization technique. The flowability of inks was investigated by rheological measurements. It was found that probe sonication only up to an optimum amplitude leads to a highly stable colloidal ink.     

Design of JPEMFC Fabricated with Porous Silicon

A novel material porous silicon is used as diffusion layer in pPEMFC (micro proton eXchange membrane fuel cells) for its loose and porous structure and compatibility with IC process. Study of the formation of porous silicon and metal sputter deposition on the porous silicon is performed. A fabrication process of pPEMFC based on the technology of MEMS and film deposition is presented.     

基于32位微控制器的燃料电池驱动机器人系统控制研究

针对野外作业机器人面临的能源动力问题,设计了基于32位微控制器的燃料电池驱动机器人系统.以32位嵌入式微控制器为核心的机器人控制系统可以实时检测燃料电池的能量状态、机器人本体的状态参数,并基于此对机器人姿态、功率需求进行相应调整.介绍了系统的总体方案设计,阐明了硬件设计与软件实现.     

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.     

Impact of the anode operating conditions on the liquid water distribution in the cathode gas diffusion layer

Previous experimental results indicate that the humidification conditions at the anode have an impact on the liquid water distribution in the cathode gas diffusion layer. Numerical simulations are developed to reproduce and analyze this effect. Results consistent with the experimental results are first obtained by playing with the partition coefficients of an advanced pore network model computing the liquid water formation and transfer in the cathode gas diffusion layer (GDL) for a large range of operating conditions. Then, a model for the full anode – cathode assembly is developed by combining the pore network model of the cathode GDL and a 1D model describing the heat and water transfer in the various components of the anode-cathode assembly. This enables one to generalize the dry – wet regime diagram introduced in a previous work by incorporating the effect of the humidity condition at the anode.     

Effect of Carbon Dioxide and Ammonia on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Stack Performance

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance degrades when impurities are present in the anode fuel gas, referred to as catalyst poisoning. This paper investigates the effect of carbon dioxide and ammonia as impurities in the anode gas of the PEMFC, and found that the presence of CO₂ decreases the performance of the fuel cell by up to 10%. The performance loss depends on the CO₂ concentration and the exposure time. The voltage loss is recoverable on passing pure hydrogen gas, indicating that a permanent poisoning of the catalyst layer has not taken place. Exposure of the fuel cell to ammonia beyond 20 ppm, even for a short duration, causes permanent PEMFC failure, probably due to the deterioration of the membrane.