Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Miniaturized Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Pei-Wen Li ◽  
Qing-Ming Wang ◽  
Laura Schaefer ◽  
Minking K. Chyu
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Free Convection ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Ohmic Loss ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

Two types of miniaturized PEM fuel cells are designed and characterized in comparison with a compact commercial fuel cell device in this paper. One has Nafion® membrane electrolyte sandwiched by two brass bipolar plates with micromachined meander-like gas channels. The cross-sectional area of the gas flow channel is approximately 250 by 250 (μm). The other uses the same Nafion® membrane and anode structure, but in stead of the brass plate, a thin stainless steel plate with perforated round holes is used at cathode side. The new cathode structure is expected to allow oxygen (air) being supplied by free-convection mass transfer. The characteristic curves of the fuel cell devices are measured. The activation loss and ohmic loss of the fuel cells have been estimated using empirical equations. Critical issues such as flow arrangement, water removing and air feeding modes concerning the fuel cell performance are investigated in this research. The experimental results demonstrate that the miniaturized fuel cell with free air convection mode is a simple and reliable way for fuel cell operation that could be employed in potential applications although the maximum achievable current density is less favorable due to limited mass transfer of oxygen (air). The relation between the fuel cell dimensions and the maximum achievable current density is also discussed with respect to free-convection mode of air feeding.

scholarly journals Assembly and Performance Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Zhou ◽  
G. Lin ◽  
A. J. Shih ◽  
S. J. Hu
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Contact Resistance ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are favored in many applications due to their simplicity and relatively high power density. However, there has been a lack of understandings of the fundamental mechanisms of assembly and manufacturing induced phenomena and their influence on performance and durability. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of assembly pressure induced phenomena in PEM fuel cells using multi-physics based modeling. A finite-element-based structural and mass-transfer model was developed by integrating mechanical deformation, mass transfer resistance, and electrical contact resistance to study the effects of assembly pressure and the fuel cell overall performance. Contact resistance, inhomogeneous deformation of membrane and GDL, electrochemical analysis were simulated. The fuel cell performance was predicted and an optimal assembly pressure was identified through this multi-physics model. Results show that PEM fuel cell performance first increases gradually to a maximum and then decreases with further assembly pressure increase. The influence of temperature and humidity on cell performance was also investigated.

Experimental Analysis of PEM Fuel Cells With Biomimetical Mixed Flows as Gas Distributors

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Damian-Ascencio ◽  
A. Herna´ndez-Guerrero ◽  
A. Alatorre-Ordaz ◽  
A. Cuauhtemoc-Rubio ◽  
F. Elizalde-Blancas
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Current Collector ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Anode Side ◽  
Collector Plate ◽  
Mixed Flows

A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy from the gases into electrical energy. The PEMFCs consist of many parts, and the current collector plate is one of the key components among them. Channels in the bipolar plate distribute air on the cathode side and hydrogen on the anode side. Theoretically a fuel cell produces more current as more fuel is supplied. However the way in which the gases are supplied affects dramatically the performance of the cell. The present paper shows how the mixed flows improve the current density produced by fuel cells. Polarization and power density curves are presented. The results suggest that a flow with two levels of bifurcations is preferred for the anode side. This behavior is expected due to the similitude with the performance of the natural world in which geometries with this type of bifurcations transport the nutrients inside the tree leaves and plants.

Effects of CO on Performance of HT-PEM Fuel Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 724-725 ◽  
pp. 723-728
Author(s):  
Xue Nan Zhao ◽  
Hong Sun ◽  
Zhi Jie Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Electrochemical Reaction ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

High temperature proton exchange membrane (HT-PEM) fuel cell is considered as one of the most probable fuel cells to be large-scale applied due to characteristics of high efficiency, friendly to environment, low fuel requirement, ease water and heat management, and so on. However, carbon monoxide (CO) content in fuel plays an important role in the performance of HT-PEM fuel cells. Volt-ampere characteristics and AC impedance of HT-PEM fuel cell are tested experimentally in this paper, and effects of CO in fuel on its performance are analyzed. The experimental results show that CO in fuel increases remarkably the Faraday resistance of HT-PEM fuel cell and decreases the electrochemical reaction at anode; the more CO content in fuel is, the less HT-PEM fuel cell performance is; with the increasing cell temperature, the electrochemical reaction on the surface of catalyst at anode is improved and the poisonous effects on the HT-PEM fuel cell are alleviated.

scholarly journals Investigation of Filtration Phenomena of Air Pollutants on Cathode Air Filters for PEM Fuel Cells

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1339
Author(s):  
Can Özyalcin ◽  
Peter Mauermann ◽  
Steffen Dirkes ◽  
Paul Thiele ◽  
Stefan Sterlepper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Experimental Investigations

Filtration of cathode air is one of the challenges in operating proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The poisoning with air contaminants can lead to rapid performance degradation and initiate an aging process of the fuel cell. Various commercially available cathode filters are being tested in a laboratory gas test bench within the research project X-EMU (03B10502B and 03B10502B2). A literature review of harmful gas contaminants in the air used for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the cathode side was conducted. Experimental investigations took place at 40 °C with synthetic humid air containing low concentration contaminants such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and toluene. Test durations varied from 3 to 24 h depending on the filtration efficiency. Each gas contaminant showed different reactions with the investigated filters. The filters did not let sulfur-containing components pass. However, carbon monoxide could not be filtrated by any of the tested filters. The filtration of nitrogen oxides was not efficient for all tested filters, while additional filter materials were essential for a successful filtration of ammonia. Comparative results lead to a discussion of possible effects on a fuel cell with an outlook on optimization of the filtration behavior.

scholarly journals The Relative Humidity Effect Of The Reactants Flows Into The Cell To Increase PEM Fuel Cell Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 03033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulyazmi ◽  
W.R W Daud ◽  
Silvi Octavia ◽  
Maria Ulfah
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Humidity Effect ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

Design of the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is still developed and improved to achieve performance and efficiency optimal. Improvement of PEM fuel cell performance can be achieved by knowing the effect of system parameters based on thermodynamics on voltage and current density. Many parameters affect the performance of PEM fuel cell, one of which is the relative humidity of the reactants that flow in on the anode and cathode sides. The results of this study show that the increase in relative humidity value on the cathode side (RHC) causes a significant increase in current density value when compared to the increase of relative humidity value on the anode side (RHA). The performance of single cells with high values is found in RHC is from 70% to 90%. The maximum current density generated at RHA is 70% and RHC is 90% with PEM operating temperature of 363 K and pressure of 1 atm

The Effect of Variable Catalyst Loading in Electrodes on PEM Fuel Cell Performance

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Roshandel ◽  
B. Farhanieh
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Catalyst Loading ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Reactant Concentration

Catalyst layers are one the important parts of the PEM fuel cells as they are the main place for electrochemical reaction taking place in anode and cathode of the cells. The amount of catalyst loading of this layer has a large effect on PEM fuel cell performance. Non-uniformity of reactant concentration could lead to a variation of current density in anode and cathode catalyst layer. The main reason for this phenomenon is porosity variation due to two effects: 1. compression of electrode on the solid landing area and 2. Water produced at the cathode side of diffusion layer. In this study the effect of variable current density in anode and cathode electrode on cell performance is investigated. It has shown that better cell performance could be achieved by adding a certain amount of catalyst loading to each electrode, with respect to the reactant concentration.

scholarly journals Crosslinked Sulfonated Polyphenylsulfone-Vinylon (CSPPSU-vinylon) Membranes for PEM Fuel Cells from SPPSU and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Je-Deok Kim ◽  
Satoshi Matsushita ◽  
Kenji Tamura
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Polyvinyl Alcohol ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Polyvinyl Acetate ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

A crosslinked sulfonated polyphenylsulfone (CSPPSU) polymer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were thermally crosslinked; then, a CSPPSU-vinylon membrane was synthesized using a formalization reaction. Its use as an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells was investigated. PVA was synthesized from polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), using a saponification reaction. The CSPPSU-vinylon membrane was synthesized by the addition of PVA (5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%), and its chemical, mechanical, conductivity, and fuel cell properties were studied. The conductivity of the CSPPSU-10vinylon membrane is higher than that of the CSPPSU membrane, and a conductivity of 66 mS/cm was obtained at 120 °C and 90% RH (relative humidity). From a fuel cell evaluation at 80 °C, the CSPPSU-10vinylon membrane has a higher current density than CSPPSU and Nafion212 membranes, in both high (100% RH) and low humidification (60% RH). By using a CSPPSU-vinylon membrane instead of a CSPPSU membrane, the conductivity and fuel cell performance improved.

scholarly journals Investigation of Power Performance of a PEM Fuel Cell Using MATLAB Simulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-94
Author(s):  
Sarowar Jahan ◽  
Md. Tarikul Islam ◽  
Suman Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Limiting Current ◽  
Ohmic Loss ◽  
Power Performance

Fuel cell based power generation systems have gained remarkable interest in this modern age, due to its high conversion efficiency and reliability. Among the different types of fuel cells, PEM fuel cells are achieving more significance due to its fast start up time and low operating temperature. This paper studies the mathematical model of proton exchange membrane of fuel cell (PEMFC) using Matlab/SIMULINK software. The paper consists of the calculation of cell voltage, stack current, ohmic loss, activation loss. This model is used to research the fuel cell behavior and the characteristic of output values at different parameters. The model consists of the cathode gas channel, gas diffuser, catalyst layer, and the membrane. In order to composite shape of the gas diffuser and for its gradient in liquid water content, the gas diffuser is modeled as a series of parallel layers with different porosity. It represents in terms of the physical and thermodynamic parameters of the fuel cell. The curve of polarization is expressed parametrically as a function of the surface over potential. This paper expresses for cathode internal as well as overall effectiveness factors, active fraction of the catalyst layer resistance, catalyst layer, limiting current density, and the slope of the polarization curve.

SWNT Enhanced PEM Fuel Cells

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Ruf ◽  
B. J. Landi ◽  
R. P. Raffaelle
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Weight Percent ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Solid Polymer ◽  
Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

Considerable interest exists in the application of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Proposed applications include use as anode materials in both hydrogen and direct methanol fuel cells, solid polymer electrolyte additives, active cathode materials, and bipolar plate interconnects. SWNTs have extremely high electrical conductivity and catalytic surface areas which make them potentially outstanding active materials for PEMFC electrodes. Additionally the enhanced mechanical properties may play a roll in developing new fuel cell designs such as thin-film microelectronic fuel cells. In a previous study SWNTs were combined with commercially obtained E-TEK Vulcan XC-72 and Nafion® to produce composite cathode membranes. The addition of nanotubes resulted in enhanced fuel cell performance over an equivalent weight percent doping of E-TEK alone. This increased performance was achieved with a 50% reduction in the quantity of platinum present in the cathode. In the present study we investigate fuel cell performance when both the anode and cathode membranes contain graphite, platinum and SWNTs. The SWNTs were characterized by use of thermogravimetric analysis, Raman and UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopes as well as high resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy. Fuel cell performance was determined by comparison of the IV characteristics.

scholarly journals Technical and Commercial Challenges of Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Abed Alaswad ◽  
Abdelnasir Omran ◽  
Jose Ricardo Sodre ◽  
Tabbi Wilberforce ◽  
Gianmichelle Pignatelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Research Activities

This review critically evaluates the latest trends in fuel cell development for portable and stationary fuel cell applications and their integration into the automotive industry. Fast start-up, high efficiency, no toxic emissions into the atmosphere and good modularity are the key advantages of fuel cell applications. Despite the merits associated with fuel cells, the high cost of the technology remains a key factor impeding its widespread commercialization. Therefore, this review presents detailed information into the best operating conditions that yield maximum fuel cell performance. The paper recommends future research geared towards robust fuel cell geometry designs, as this determines the cell losses, and material characterization of the various cell components. When this is done properly, it will support a total reduction in the cost of the cell which in effect will reduce the total cost of the system. Despite the strides made by the fuel cell research community, there is a need for public sensitization as some people have reservations regarding the safety of the technology. This hurdle can be overcome if there is a well-documented risk assessment, which also needs to be considered in future research activities.

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