• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.44-51
• /
• 2011

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) operate in wide-range changes in temperature, humidity, and electric current for automotive applications. In order to operate automotive PEFC efficiently, optimal air supply is required to adjust to these changes. This paper presents an air-supply optimization process that consists of experiments, modeling of the PEFC system, and optimization. The objective is to establish an air supply suitable for the required power for PEFC system and optimized with a Lagrange multiplier. Our simplified PEFC system model is used as a constraint for optimization problem. The result of this paper presents that efficient operation of PEFC system can be achieved by air-supply optimization.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2008.05a
• /
• pp.17-20
• /
• 2008

HYOSUNG manufactured and tested 1kW class PEFC systems to generate electrical and thermal energy for each residential usage. In particular, HYOSUNG developed power conditioning system that performs over 91% electrical conversion ratio specified in 1kW class PEFC systems. Prior to system integration, we tested each performances of components to derive control issues from it. In addition, we have been developing the adequate simulator to describe and predict system performance. In this paper, we verified HYOSUNG's 1kW class PEFC systems are valid for residential energy sources by testing the characteristics of systems and performances of main components.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.155-158
• /
• 2007

Water management for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) has been receiving large attention as an important issue in practical applications. Proper water management is vital to achieve high performance and durability of PEFC. In this study, an X-ray imaging technique was employed to visualize the water distribution in a PEFC quantitatively. X-ray images of the PEFC components with and without water are distinguished clearly. From the visualized X-ray images, we could confirm the water distribution in the region between separator and gas diffusion layer (GDL). In addition, the contact angle of water in the micro-channels was also clearly visualized..

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.134-138
• /
• 2004

The discrepancies between theoretical values and measured data of PEFC(Proton Exchange Fuel Cell) is carried out for the machine tool power generation. Rudimental approach of theoretical fuel cell open circuit potential using Gibbs free energy is employed for the examination of PEFC module. The stack temperature, stack voltage and stack current are measured during the operation of PEFC module. It is found that stack voltage and current values show the pronounced discrepancy with the results calculated by Gibbs free energy approach. It is analysed that the discrepancy is due to activation polarization, concentration overvoltage and ohmic overvoltage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2007

Water management in polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) has been receiving large attention as an important issue in practical applications. Proper water management is vital to achieve high performance and durability of PEFC. In this study, an X-ray imaging technique was employed to visualize the water distribution in a PEFC quantitatively. X-ray images of the PEFC components with and without water were distinguished clearly. From the visualized X-ray images, we could evaluate the water distribution in the region between separator and gas diffusion layer (GDL) quantitatively. In addition, the contact angle of water in the micro-channels was also clearly visualized.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2008.10c
• /
• pp.174-176
• /
• 2008

HYOSUNG manufactured and tested 1kw class PEFC systems to generate electrical and thermal energy for each residential usage. In particular, HYOSUNG developed Power conditioning system that performs about 91% electrical conversion ratio specified in 1kW class PEFC systems. Prior to system integration, we tested each performances of components to derive control issues from it. In addition, we have been developing the adequate simulator to describe and predict system performance. In this paper, we verified HYOSUNG's 1kW class PEFC systems are valid for residential energy sureces by testing the characteristics of systems and performances of main component.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
• /
• 2005.05a
• /
• pp.180-184
• /
• 2005

An experimental study is performed to evaluate the performance and the efficiency by humidifying MEA and by making the double-tied catalyst layers in a fuel cell system which is taken into account the physical and thermal concept. An electrical output produced by PEFC(polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell) is measured to assess the performance of the stack and the efficiency is also evaluated according to the different situation in which is placed with and without the humidification of MEA (Membrane Electrolyte Assembly). Subsequently, It is found that the measured values of stack voltage and current are influenced by the stack temperature, humidification, and the double-tied catalyst layers which gives more enhanced values to apply for electric units.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 1999.07d
• /
• pp.1824-1826
• /
• 1999

In order to develop key technologies for a kW class for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), various membranes (Nafion(112, 115, 117), Dow, Flemion, Gore, and Hanwha), and electrocatalysts (Pt/C, PtNi/C PtNiCo/C and PtRu/C) were used in the fabrication of the MEAs by using transfer printing technique. The effects of the thickness of Nafion membranes, electrocatalysts and the operating conditions (e.g. temperature, reactant gas pressure, and composition) on the performance of the MEA were investigated in the PEFC single cell($O_2/H_2$, and Air/$H_2$ cell). The performances of the MEAs for $O_2/H_2$ and Air/$H_2$ cells has been evaluated.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.279-285
• /
• 2006

Recirculation for the unreacted fuel is necessary to improve the overall efficiency of the fuel cell system and to prevent fuel starvation since the fuel cell for a vehicle application is a closed system. In case of the automotive fuel cell, the ejector which does not require any parasitic power is good for the performance improvement and easy operation. It is essential to design the customized ejector due to the lack of the commercial ejector corresponding to the operating conditions of the fuel cell systems. In this study, the design methodology for the ejector customized to an automotive fuel cell is proposed. The model based sensitivity analysis prevents the time-consuming redesign and reduces the cost of developing ejector. As a result, the customized ejector to meet the desired performance within overall operating range has developed for the PEMFC automotive system.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.8-18
• /
• 2012

This paper presents a three-dimensional, transient cold-start polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) model to numerically evaluate the effects of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) design and cell location in a PEFC stack on PEFC cold start behaviors. The cold-start simulations show that the end cell experiences significant heat loss to the sub-freezing ambient and thus finally cold-start failure due to considerable ice filling in the cathode catalyst layer. On the other hand, the middle cells in the stack successfully start from $-30^{\circ}C$ sub-freezing temperature due to rapid cell temperature rise owing to the efficient use of waste heat generated during the cold-start. In addition, the simulation results clearly indicate that the cathode catalyst layer (CL) composition and thickness have an substantial influence on PEFC cold-start behaviors while membrane thickness has limited effect mainly due to inefficient water absorption and transport capability at subzero temperatures.