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Analysis for Performance Deviation of Individual Cells in a Multi-Cell Test System for Rapid-Screening of Electrode Materials in PEMFCs

고분자전해질 연료전지용 전극물질의 빠른 스크리닝을 위한 멀티셀 테스트 시스템에서 개별셀의 성능편차에 대한 분석

  • Zhang, Yan (Department of Nano & Chemical Engineering, Kunsan National University) ;
  • Lee, Ji-Jung (Fuel Cell Regional Innovation Center, Woosuk University) ;
  • Park, Gyung-Se (Department of Chemistry, Kunsan National University) ;
  • Lee, Hong-Ki (Fuel Cell Regional Innovation Center, Woosuk University) ;
  • Shim, Joong-Pyo (Department of Nano & Chemical Engineering, Kunsan National University)
  • 장언 (군산대학교 나노화학공학과) ;
  • 이지정 (우석대학교 수소연료전지 부품응용기술 지역혁신센터) ;
  • 박경세 (군산대학교 화학과) ;
  • 이홍기 (우석대학교 수소연료전지 부품응용기술 지역혁신센터) ;
  • 심중표 (군산대학교 나노화학공학과)
  • Received : 2011.11.28
  • Accepted : 2011.12.27
  • Published : 2011.12.31

Abstract

A multi-cell test system with 25 independent cells is used to test different electrode materials simultaneously for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Twenty-five segmented membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) having the same or different Pt-loading are prepared to analyze the performance deviation of cells in the multi-cell test system. Improvements in the multi-cell test system are made by ensuring that the system performs voltage sensing for the cells individually and inserting optimum gaskets between the MEAs and the graphite plates. The cell performances are improved and their deviations are significantly decreased by these modifications. The performance deviations changed according to various cell configurations because the operating conditions of the cells, such as the gas flow and concentration, differed. This cell system can be used to test multiple electrodes simultaneously because it shows relatively uniform performance under the same conditions as well as linear correlation with various catalyst loadings.

Keywords

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