Experimental Results of a PEM System Operated on Hydrogen and Reformate

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Minutillo ◽  
E. Jannelli ◽  
F. Tunzio
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Pure Hydrogen ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell generator operating for residential applications. The fuel cell performance has been evaluated using the test bed of the University of Cassino. The experimental activity has been focused to evaluate the performance in different operating conditions: stack temperature, feeding mode, and fuel composition. In order to use PEM fuel cell technology on a large scale, for an electric power distributed generation, it could be necessary to feed fuel cells with conventional fuel, such as natural gas, to generate hydrogen in situ because currently the infrastructure for the distribution of hydrogen is almost nonexistent. Therefore, the fuel cell performance has been evaluated both using pure hydrogen and reformate gas produced by a natural gas reforming system.

Numerical Study on the Influence of Cathode Flow Channel Baffles on PEM Fuel Cell Performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 853 ◽  
pp. 410-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Shen ◽  
Jin Zhu Tan ◽  
Yun Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Electrochemical Performance ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Flow Channel ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Flow Channels

A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is an electrochemical device that directly converts chemical energy of hydrogen into electric energy.The structure of the flow channel is critical to the PEM fuel cell performance. In this paper, the effect of the cathode flow channel baffles on PEM fuel cell performance was investigated numerically. A three-dimensional model was established for the PEM fuel cell which consisted of bipolar plates with three serpentine flow channels, gas diffusion layers, catalyst layers and PEM. Baffles were added in the cathode flow channels to study the effect of the cathode flow channel baffle on the PEM fuel cell performance. And then, numerical simulation for the PEM fuel cell with various cathode channel baffle heights ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm was conducted.The simulated results show that there existed an optimal cathode flow channel baffle height in terms of the electrochemical performance as all other parameters of the PEM fuel cell were kept constant. It is found that the PEM fuel cell had the good electrochemical performance as the flow channel baffle heights was 0.4mm in this work.

Multiphysics Modeling of Assembly Pressure Effects on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Performance

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Zhou ◽  
G. Lin ◽  
A. J. Shih ◽  
S. J. Hu
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Contact Resistance ◽  
Electrical Contact ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Pressure Effects ◽  
Electrical Contact Resistance ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

The clamping pressure used in assembling a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack can have significant effects on the overall cell performance. The pressure causes stack deformation, particularly in the gas diffusion layer (GDL), and impacts gas mass transfer and electrical contact resistance. Existing research for analyzing the assembly pressure effects is mostly experimental. This paper develops a sequential approach to study the pressure effects by combining the mechanical and electrochemical phenomena in fuel cells. The model integrates gas mass transfer analysis based on the deformed GDL geometry and modified parameters with the microscale electrical contact resistance analysis. The modeling results reveal that higher assembly pressure increases cell resistance to gas mass transfer, causes an uneven current density distribution, and reduces electrical contact resistance. These combined effects show that as the assembly pressure increases, the PEM fuel cell power output increases first to a maximum and then decreases over a wide range of pressures. An optimum assembly pressure is observed. The model is validated against published experimental data with good agreements. This study provides a basis for determining the assembly pressure required for optimizing PEM fuel cell performance.

Water Balance Experiments in PEM Fuel Cell for Measurements of Water Transport Properties Through Membrane

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiangu Yan ◽  
Qingyun Liu ◽  
Junxiao Wu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Transport Parameters ◽  
Validation Data ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Current Loading

Water balance in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was investigated by measurements of the net drag coefficient under various conditions. The effects of water balance in the PEM fuel cell on the cell performance were also investigated at different operating conditions. Experimental results reveal that the net drag coefficient of water through the membrane depends on current density and humidification of feed gases. It is found that the net drag coefficient (net number of water molecules transported per proton) has values between 0.93 and −0.015 depending on operating condition, current loading and level of humidification. It was also found that the humidity of both anode and cathode inlet gases had significant effect on fuel cell performance. The results will be used to define conditions of optimal hydration of the membrane. Based on the performance and resistance measurements, optimal humidification can be achieved. The resistance of working fuel cell shows that the membrane resistance increases with the feed gas relative humidity (RH) decreased. Data obtained will be used to evaluate the transport parameters such as net flux of water through the membrane and the effective drag under various operating conditions, and further provide validation data for the fuel cell modeling and simulation efforts.

Key parameters of active layers affecting proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance

Energy ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 1794-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarupuk Thepkaew ◽  
Apichai Therdthianwong ◽  
Supaporn Therdthianwong
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Active Layers ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Modelling and Testing a PEM Fuel Cell Fuelled by a Steam Reforming System

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariagiovanna Minutillo ◽  
Elio Jannelli
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Steam Reforming ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pure Hydrogen ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Reformate Gas ◽  
Oxidation Reactor ◽  
Semi Empirical

In this paper the performance of a natural gas power system has been discussed. The power generation unit is composed by a fuel cell and a fuel processor integrated in a compact system. The hydrogen generator uses the steam reforming technology. A CO shift converter and a preferential oxidation reactor are used to minimize the CO concentration in the reformate gas. The hydrogen dilution in the reformate gas calls for a modification of the fuel cell feeding system. The dead-end mode is not practicable for the fuel cell operation, but it is necessary to open the anode flow channels. In order to increase the efficiency of the integrated system, the anode off gas mass flow is burned to supply heat for the reforming reaction. The fuel cell performance has been evaluated using the test bed of the University of Cassino. The experimental activity has been focused to evaluate the performance in different operating conditions. A semi-empirical model of the fuel cell has been employed to forecast the fuel cell behaviour with pure hydrogen and reformate gas feeding. The semi-empirical coefficients of the model have been fitted by using the experimental data. The target of the fuel cell modelling has been to develop a tool capable of predicting the performance in different operating conditions. The same tool can be used to identify the areas for design improvements.

Effects of Flow Field and Diffusion Layer Properties on Water Accumulation in a PEM Fuel Cell

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Owejan ◽  
T. A. Trabold ◽  
D. L. Jacobson ◽  
M. Arif ◽  
S. G. Kandlikar
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Diffusion Media ◽  
And Diffusion

Water is the main product of the electrochemical reaction in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Where the water is produced over the active area of the cell, and how it accumulates within the flow fields and gas diffusion layers, strongly affects the performance of the device and influences operational considerations such as freeze and durability. In this work, the neutron radiography method was used to obtain two-dimensional distributions of liquid water in operating 50 cm2 fuel cells. Variations were made of flow field channel and diffusion media properties, to assess the effects on the overall volume and spatial distribution of accumulated water. Flow field channels with hydrophobic coating retain more water, but the distribution of a greater number of smaller slugs in the channel area improves fuel cell performance at high current density. Channels with triangular geometry retain less water than rectangular channels of the same cross-sectional area, and the water is mostly trapped in the two corners adjacent to the diffusion media. Also, it was found that cells constructed using diffusion media with lower in-plane gas permeability tended to retain less water. In some cases, large differences in fuel cell performance were observed with very small changes in accumulated water volume, suggesting that flooding within the electrode layer or at the electrode-diffusion media interface is the primary cause of the significant mass transport voltage loss.

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.

Review on Serpentine Flow Field Design for PEM Fuel Cell System

2010 ◽  
Vol 447-448 ◽  
pp. 559-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Misran Erni ◽  
Wan Ramli Wan Daud ◽  
Edy Herianto Majlan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Serpentine Flow Field ◽  
Flow Field Design

Flow field design has several functions that should perform simultaneously. Therefore, specific plate materials and channel designs are needed to enhance the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Serpentine flow field design is one of the most popular channel configurations for PEM fuel cell system. Some configurations have been developed to improve the cell performance. This paper presents a review on serpentine flow field (SFF) design and its influence to PEM fuel cell performance based on some indicators of performance. The comparisons of SFF with other flow field designs are summarized. The results of some experimental and numerical investigations are also presented.

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