Experimental and Theoretical Performance Analysis of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Fed With LPG Using a Compact Steam Reformer

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Zuliani ◽  
Rodolfo Taccani ◽  
Robert Radu
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Steam Reformer ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Processor ◽  
Balance Of Plant ◽  
Energy Balances ◽  
High Temperature Pem

High temperature PEM (HTPEM) fuel cell based on polybenzimidazole polymer (PBI) and phosphoric acid, can be operated at temperature between 120°C and 180°C. Reactants humidification is not required and CO content up to 1% in fuel can be tolerated, affecting only marginally performance. This is what makes HTPEM fuel cells very attractive, as low quality reformed hydrogen can be used and water management problems are avoided. This paper aims to present the preliminary experimental results obtained on a HTPEM fuel cell fed with LPG using a compact steam reformer. The analysis focus on the reformer start up transient, on the influence of the steam to carbon ratio on reformate CO content and on the single fuel cell performance at different operating conditions. By analyzing the mass and energy balances of the fuel processor, fuel cell system, and balance-of-plant, a previously developed system simulation model has been used to provide critical assessment on the conversion efficiency for a 1 kWel system. The current study attempts to extend the previously published analyses of integrated HTPEM fuel cell systems.

The Influence of a Novel Bio-Cell Flow Field Pattern on the Performance and Operating Conditions for a PEM Fuel Cell

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang-Bor Weng ◽  
Ay Su ◽  
Kai-Fan Lo ◽  
Cheng-Hsin Tu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Channel Structure ◽  
Field Pattern ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Stable Performance

A novel bio-cell flow field pattern is experimentally investigated by determining fuel cell performance and optimal operating conditions. The cell performance is analyzed by the polarization curve and the long-term stability. The bio-cell flow channel structure has a main feed track, a secondary branch track, and repeats to promote water removal from gas diffusion layer. The performance of the bio-cell flow field pattern is optimal performance when the cell is operated with low humidity gases and low cell temperature. In addition, the bio-cell flow field exhibits stable performance for non-humidified air. The fuel cell with the novel bio-cell flow field has advantages for low relative humidity operations. The results of the bio-cell flow field could potentially simplify fuel cell system design without humidifiers.

scholarly journals Parametric Analysis of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Based Microcogeneration System

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myalelo Nomnqa ◽  
Daniel Ikhu-Omoregbe ◽  
Ademola Rabiu
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Processor ◽  
Processor Performance ◽  
Balance Of Plant ◽  
Synthetic Gas ◽  
Exchange Membrane

This study focuses on performance analysis of a 1 kWemicrocogeneration system based on a high temperature proton exchange membrane (HT-PEM) fuel cell by means of parametric investigation. A mathematical model for a system consisting of a fuel processor (steam reforming reactor and water-gas shift reactor), a HT-PEM fuel cell stack, and the balance-of-plant components was developed. Firstly, the fuel processor performance at different fuel ratios and equivalence ratio was examined. It is shown that high fuel ratios of 0.9–0.95 and equivalence ratios of less than 0.56 are suitable for acceptable carbon monoxide content in the synthetic gas produced. Secondly, a parametric study of the system performance at different fuel and equivalence ratios using key system operating parameters was conducted. Steam-to-carbon ratio, stack operating temperature, and anode stoichiometry were varied to observe the changes in the microcogeneration system. The analysis shows that the system can reach electrical and cogeneration efficiencies of 30% and 84%, respectively.

Experimental Performance Evaluation of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Prototype Under Various Operating Conditions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanta K. Das
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Operating Temperature ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Co Poisoning ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Current Voltage Characteristics ◽  
Fuel Stream ◽  
High Temperature Pem

In this study, we experimentally evaluated our newly designed high temperature PEM fuel cell (HTPEMFC) prototype performance at different operating conditions. In particular, we investigated the effects of operating temperature, pressure, air stoichiometry and CO poisoning in the anode fuel stream on the current-voltage characteristics of the HTPEMFC prototype. Experimental results obtained from the single HTPEM fuel cell show that the performance is quite steady with high CO-level reformate at high operating temperature which makes it possible to feed the reformate gas directly from the reformer to the stack without further CO removal. In order to develop design parameters for fuel reformer, experimental data of this type would be very useful. The results obtained from this study showed significant variations in current-voltage characteristics of HTPEMFC at different temperatures with different CO poisoning rates. The results are promising to understand the overall system performance development strategy of HTPEMFC in terms of current-voltage characteristics while fed with reformate with different CO ratios in the anode fuel stream.

Dependence of high-temperature PEM fuel cell performance on Nafion® content

2006 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Song ◽  
Hui Xu ◽  
Yu Wei ◽  
H. Russell Kunz ◽  
Leonard J. Bonville ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
High Temperature Pem

Experimental Evaluation of CO Poisoning of a 5-Cell Stack High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Prototype

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanta K. Das ◽  
Antonio Reis ◽  
K. Joel Berry
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Co Poisoning ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Current Voltage Characteristics ◽  
High Temperature Pem

In this study, we experimentally studied our newly designed and built 5-cell stack high temperature PEM fuel cell prototype at different operating conditions to investigate the effects of CO poisoning on the cell performance. The effects of temperature variations with different amount of CO poisoning on the current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell stack are investigated. Experimental data of this type would be very useful to develop design parameters for fuel reformer. The high CO tolerance of high temperature PEM fuel cell stack makes it possible to feed the reformate gas directly from the reformer without further CO removal. Thus, upon considering the fact that a steam reformer is a consumer of heat and water, and the fuel cell stacks are a producer of heat and water, the integration of the fuel cell stack and the reformer is expected to improve the entire system performance. The results obtained from our 5-cell stack test showed variations in current-voltage characteristics at different temperatures with different CO poisoning rates. The results are promising to understand the overall system performance development strategy of high temperature PEM fuel cell in terms of current-voltage characteristics while fed with on-site reformate hydrogen gas with different CO concentrations in the anode feed stream.

Investigation of heating and cooling in a stand-alone high temperature PEM fuel cell system

2016 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caizhi Zhang ◽  
Tao Yu ◽  
Jun Yi ◽  
Zhitao Liu ◽  
Kamal Abdul Rasheedj Raj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
High Temperature Pem

On-Board Hydrogen for High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Stack by Methane and Methanol Steam Reforming

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panini Kolavennu ◽  
Susanta K. Das ◽  
K. Joel Berry
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Steam Reforming ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Fuel Processor ◽  
Auxiliary Power Unit ◽  
Auxiliary Power ◽  
High Temperature Pem

In this study, an in-house testing facility was used to examine the effect of CO concentration on the high temperature PEM fuel cells. Using the CO tolerance as a design parameter, a fuel processor based on steam reforming is designed using both methane and methanol as fuel. A simulation analysis based on a kinetic model is performed to investigate both methane and methanol as fuel for a potential source of hydrogen. Using simulation results, an analysis of the fuel processor and fuel cell stack is performed. The effect of steam to carbon ratio and reformer operating temperature on the overall reformer system’s performance is studied. The system was designed for a 5kWe auxiliary power unit (APU) which can be used as a combined heat and power generation system.

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