Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy (한국수소및신에너지학회논문집)

The Korean Hydrogen and New Energy Society (한국수소및신에너지학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Durability Evaluation of Air-Cooled Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Stacks by Repeated Start-Up/Shut-Down

시동/정지반복에 의한 공랭식 고분자연료전지 스택 내구성 평가

  • YOO, DONGGEUN (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • KIM, HYEONSUCK (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • OH, SOHYEONG (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • PARK, KWON-PIL (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
  • 유동근 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 김현석 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 오소형 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 박권필 (순천대학교 화학공학과)
  • Received : 2021.09.03
  • Accepted : 2021.10.18
  • Published : 2021.10.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) stacks, which is widely used in small-sized PEMFC, have a problem in that durability is weaker than that of the water-cooled type. Because the cathode is open to the atmosphere and the structural problem of the air-cooled stack, which is difficult to maintain airtightness, is highly likely to form a hydrogen/air boundary during start-up/shut-down (SU/SD). Through the accelerated durability evaluation of the 20 W air-cooled PEMFC stack, the purpose of this study was to find out the cause of the degradation of the stack and to contribute to the improvement of the durability of the air-cooled PEMFC stack. In this study, it was possible to evaluate durability in a relatively short time by reducing 20-30% of initial performance by repeating SU/SD 1,000 to 1,200 times on an air-cooled PEMFC stack. After disassembling the stack, each cell was divided into two and the performance analysis showed that the electrode degradation was more severe in the anode outlet membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which facilitates air inflow as a whole, than in the inlet MEA. It was shown that the cathode Pt was dissolved/precipitated to deteriorate the polymer ionomer inside the membrane.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 순천대학교 교연비 사업에 의하여 연구되었습니다.

References

  1. W. Vielstich, H. A. Gasteiger, and A. Lamm, "Handbook of fuel cells: fundamentals technology and applications", John Wiley & Sons, Vol. 3, 2003, pp. 611-612, Retrieved from https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/biblio/20480552.
  2. S. J. Peighambardoust, S. Rowshanzamir, and M. Amjadi, "Review of the proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications", Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 35, No. 17, 2010, pp. 9349-9384, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.05.017.
  3. P. Ren, p. Pei, Y. Li, Z. Wu, D, Chen, and S. Huang, "Degradation mechanisms of proton exchange membrane fuel cell under typical automotive operating conditions", Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Vol. 80, 2020, pp. 100859, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2020.100859.
  4. C. Y. Chen, K. P. Huang, W. M. Yan, L. P. Lai, and C. C. Yang, "Development and performance diagnosis of a high power air-cooled PEMFC stack", Inter. J. of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 41, No. 27, 2016, pp. 11784-11793, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.12.202.
  5. B. S. Kim, Y. T. Lee, A. Y. Woo, and Y. C. Kim, "Effects of cathode channel size and operating conditions on the performance of air-blowing PEMFCs", Applied Energy, Vol. 111, 2013, pp. 441-448, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.04.091.
  6. T. Zeng, C. Zhang, Z. Huang, M. Li, S. H. Chan, Q. Li, and X. Wu, "Experimental investigation on the mechanism of variable fan speed control in Open cathode PEM fuel cell", Inter. J. of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 44, 2019, pp. 24017-24027, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.07.119.
  7. S. Strahl and R. Costa-Castello, "Model-based analysis for the thermal management of open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems concerning efficiency and stability", Journal of Process Control, Vol. 47, 2016, pp. 201-212, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprocont.2016.09.004.
  8. S. Strahl, N. Gasamans, J. Llorca, and A. Husar, "Experimental analysis of a degraded open-cathode PEM fuel cell stack", Inter. J. of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, 2014, pp. 5378-5387, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.115.
  9. R. A. Silva, T. Hashimoto, G. E. Thompson, and C. M. Rangel, "Characterization of MEA degradation for an open air cathode PEM fuel cell", Inter. J. of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 37, No. 8, 2012, pp. 7299-7308, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.12.110.
  10. M. Inaba, T. Kinumoto, M. Kiriake, R. Umebayashi, A. Tasaka, and Z. Ogumi, "Gas crossover and membrane degradation in polymer electrolyte fuel cells", Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 51, No. 26, 2006, pp. 5746-5753, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2006.03.008.
  11. Y. Yu, H. Li, H. Wang, X. Z. Yuan, G. Wang, and M. Pan, "A review on performance degradation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells during startup and shutdown processes: causes, consequencese, and mitigation strategies", J. of Power Sources, Vol. 205, 2012, pp. 10-23, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.01.059.
  12. T. T. Akira, K. Akita, and Y. Y. Miyazak, "Analysis of electro-catalyst degradation in PEMFC causedby cell reversal during fuel starvation", J. of Power Sources, Vol. 130, No. 1-2, 2004, pp, 42-49, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.12.035.
  13. K. H. Lim, W. H. Lee, Y. J. Jeong, and H. S. Kim, "Analysis of carbon corrosion in anode under fuel starvation using on-line mass spectrometry in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells", J. of Electrochem. Soc, Vol. 164, No. 14, 2017, pp. F1580-F1586, doi: https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0731714jes.
  14. D. H. Lim, S. H. Oh, Jung, J. H. Jeong, and K. P. Park, "Durability test of PEMFC membrane by the combination of chemical/mechanical degradation", Korean Chem. Eng. Res, Vol. 59, No. 3, 2021, pp. 339-344, doi: https://doi.org/10.9713/kcer.2021.59.3.339.
  15. H. Lee, T. H. Kim, W. J. Sim, S. H. Kim, B. K. Ahn, Y. W. Lim, and K. P. Park, "Pinhole formation in PEMFC membrane after electrochemical degradation and wet/dry cycling test", Korean J. Chem. Eng, Vol. 28, 2011, pp. 487-491, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0381-6.