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.

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.

Thermodynamic Analysis of the Performance of an Irreversible PEMFC

2018 ◽  
Vol 388 ◽  
pp. 350-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Jie Li ◽  
Ye Liu ◽  
Zhe Shu Ma
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
Controllable Factors ◽  
Temperature Operating ◽  
Exchange Membrane

An irreversible model of proton exchange membrane fuel cells working at steady-state is established, in which the irreversibility resulting from overpotentials, internal currents and leakage currents are taken into account．In this paper, the irreversibility of fuel cell is expounded mainly from electrochemistry. The general performance characteristic curves are generated including output voltage, output power and output efficiency. In addition, the irreversibility of a class of PEMFC is studied by changing the operating conditions (controllable factors) of the fuel cell, including effect of operating temperature, operating pressure and leakage current. The results provide a theoretical basis for both the operation and optimal design of real PEM fuel cells．

scholarly journals Optimal Estimation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Parameter Based on Coyote Optimization Algorithm

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2052
Author(s):  
Amlak Abaza ◽  
Ragab A. El-Sehiemy ◽  
Karar Mahmoud ◽  
Matti Lehtonen ◽  
Mohamed M. F. Darwish
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Optimization Algorithm ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Exchange Membrane

In recent years, the penetration of fuel cells in distribution systems is significantly increased worldwide. The fuel cell is considered an electrochemical energy conversion component. It has the ability to convert chemical to electrical energies as well as heat. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen as fuel. It is a low-temperature type that uses a noble metal catalyst, such as platinum, at reaction sites. The optimal modeling of PEM fuel cells improves the cell performance in different applications of the smart microgrid. Extracting the optimal parameters of the model can be achieved using an efficient optimization technique. In this line, this paper proposes a novel swarm-based algorithm called coyote optimization algorithm (COA) for finding the optimal parameter of PEM fuel cell as well as PEM stack. The sum of square deviation between measured voltages and the optimal estimated voltages obtained from the COA algorithm is minimized. Two practical PEM fuel cells including 250 W stack and Ned Stack PS6 are modeled to validate the capability of the proposed algorithm under different operating conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed COA is demonstrated through the comparison with four optimizers considering the same conditions. The final estimated results and statistical analysis show a significant accuracy of the proposed method. These results emphasize the ability of COA to estimate the parameters of the PEM fuel cell model more precisely.

Active Water Management for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Using an Integrated Electroosmotic Pump

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cullen R. Buie ◽  
Jonathan D. Posner ◽  
Tibor Fabian ◽  
Suk-Won Cha ◽  
Fritz B. Prinz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Exchange Membrane

We have developed proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC’s) with integrated planar electroosmotic pumping structures that actively remove liquid water from cathode flow channels. Recent experimental and numerical investigations on PEMFC’s emphasize water management as a critical factor in the design of robust, high efficiency fuel cells. Although various passive water management strategies have been proposed, water is still typically removed by pumping air into cathode channels at flow rates significantly larger than those required by fuel cell stoichiometry. This method of water removal is thermodynamically unfavorable and constrains cathode flow channel design. EO pumps can relieve cathode design barriers and simplify water management in fuel cells. EO pumps have no moving parts, scale across a wide range of operation, and result in low parasitic power. We demonstrate and quantify the efficacy of EO water pumping using a single-pass fuel cell test channel. Our results show that removing water from the cathode using integrated EO pumping structures improves fuel cell performance and stability. These pumps enable operation with air flow rates of just two to three times stoichiometric requirements.

Computational Modeling of PEM Fuel Cells With PBI Membranes

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denver F. Cheddie ◽  
Norman D. H. Munroe
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Catalyst Activity ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Oxygen Depletion ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Parametric Analyses

A parametric model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operating with a polybenzimidazole (PBI) membrane is presented. The model is three dimensional and applicable for PEMFCs operating at intermediate temperatures (120–150 °C). It accounts for all transport and polarization phenomena, and the results compare well with published experimental data for equivalent operating conditions. Results for oxygen concentration and temperature variations are presented. The model predicts the oxygen depletion, which occurs in the catalyst area under the ribs, and which gives an indication of the catalyst utilization. Results also predict that for an output power density of 1 kW m−2, a cell temperature rise of up to 30 K can be expected for typical laboratory operating conditions. Parametric analyses indicate that significant gain in fuel cell performance can be expected by increasing the conductivity of the PBI membrane. Further, results demonstrate that when the catalyst region is well utilized, increasing the catalyst activity results in only a small improvement in performance.

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.

Highly proton conductive membranes based on carboxylated cellulose nanofibres and their performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Guccini ◽  
Annika Carlson ◽  
Shun Yu ◽  
Göran Lindbergh ◽  
Rakel Wreland Lindström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Surface Charge ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Thickness ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Cellulose Nanofibres ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The performance of thin carboxylated cellulose nanofiber-based (CNF) membranes as proton exchange membranes in fuel cells has been measured in-situ as a function of CNF surface charge density (600 and 1550 µmol g<sup>-1</sup>), counterion (H<sup>+</sup>or Na<sup>+</sup>), membrane thickness and fuel cell relative humidity (RH 55 to 95 %). The structural evolution of the membranes as a function of RH as measured by Small Angle X-ray scattering shows that water channels are formed only above 75 % RH. The amount of absorbed water was shown to depend on the membrane surface charge and counter ions (Na<sup>+</sup>or H<sup>+</sup>). The high affinity of CNF for water and the high aspect ratio of the nanofibers, together with a well-defined and homogenous membrane structure, ensures a proton conductivity exceeding 1 mS cm<sup>-1</sup>at 30 °C between 65 and 95 % RH. This is two orders of magnitude larger than previously reported values for cellulose materials and only one order of magnitude lower than Nafion 212. Moreover, the CNF membranes are characterized by a lower hydrogen crossover than Nafion, despite being ≈ 30 % thinner. Thanks to their environmental compatibility and promising fuel cell performance the CNF membranes should be considered for new generation proton exchange membrane fuel cells.<br>

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.

A Numerical Investigation of Heat and Mass Transfer in Air-Cooled Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Berning
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Air Stream ◽  
Multi Phase ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Abstract A numerical analysis of an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been conducted. The model utilizes the Eulerian multi-phase approach to predict the occurrence and transport of liquid water inside the cell. It is assumed that all the waste heat must be carried out of the fuel cell with the excess air which leads to a strong temperature increase of the air stream. The results suggest that the performance of these fuel cells is limited by membrane overheating which is ultimately caused by the limited heat transfer to the laminar air stream. A proposed remedy is the placement of a turbulence grid before such a fuel cell stack to enhance the heat transfer and increase the fuel cell performance.

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