• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.382-388
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• 2009

Recently, hydrogen energy has been anticipated to change the paradigm of conventional power systems because it can expand sustainable energy utilization and conceptually provide remarkable flexibility to power system operation. Since hydrogen energy can be converted to electric energy through fuel cells, fuel cells are expected to play an important role in the future hydrogen economy. In this paper, a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is modeled as an equivalent circuit and its steady-state characteristics investigated using the model. PEMFCs can be connected to power systems through power conditioning systems, which consist of power electronic circuits, and which are operated as distributed generators. This paper analyzes the effects of the characteristics of the PEMFC internal voltages and investigated the dynamic responses of the PEMFC under fault conditions. The results show that the fault current contribution of the PEMFC is different from those of conventional generators and is closely related to its operating point.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.321-325
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• 2005

Bipolar plate is the main part with MEA in automotive PEMFC. It must have a good electrical conductivity and excellent corrosion resistance, be cost effective. Therefore, stainless steels have been studied by many researchers because of its corrosion resistance and cost benefits. But their properties are not sufficient for the application to bipolar plate for automotive PEMFC. In this work, we have performed stamping using various commercial stainless steels to select candidate material for biploar plate and to derive design parameters for stamping simulation. The results showed that a small curvature at the corner of flow field is more favorable due to easier a plastic deformation. Stamping process was simulated by changing surface condition, and the size and angle of channel. The optimum shape and spring back phenomena were evaluated. Surface coating was applied to increase the corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of stainless steel. The electrical interfacial resistance was 10 to $15m{\Omega}cm^2$ under clamping force of 150psi. But corrosion resistance of coating on the stainless steel was not good due to the unstableness of microstructure.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.129-136
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• 2010

The corrosion behaviors of 316L stainless steel were investigated in simulated anodic and cathodic environments for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) by using electrochemical measurement techniques. Interfacial contact resistance(ICR) between the stainless steel and gas diffusion layer(GDL) was also measured. The possibility of 316L was evaluated as a substitute material for the graphite bipolar plate of PEMFC. The value of ICR decreased with an increase in compaction stress(20 N/$cm^2$~220 N/$cm^2$) showing the higher values than the required value in PEMFC condition. Although 316L was spontaneously passivated in simulated cathodic environment, its passive state was unstable in simulated anodic environment. Potentiostatic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement results showed that the corrosion resistance in cathodic condition was higher and more stable than that in anodic condition. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and inductively coupled plasma(ICP) were used to analyze the surface morphology and the metal ion concentration in electrolytes.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance degrades when hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) is present in the fuel hydrogen gas; this is referred to as $H_2S$ poisoning. This paper reveals $H_2S$ poisoning on PEMFC by measuring electrical performance of single cell FC under various operating conditions. The severity of $H_2S$ poisoning depended on $H_2S$ concentration under best operating conditions($65^{\circ}C$ of cell temperature and 100% of anode humidification). $H_2S$ adsorption occured on the surface of catalyst layer on MEA, but not on the gas diffusion layer(GDL) by analyzing SEM/EDX data. In addition, MEA poisoning by $H_2S$ was cumulative but reversible. After poisoning for less than 150 min, performance of PEMFC was recovered up to 80% by just inert nitrogen gas purging.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.11 no.1 s.34
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• pp.51-54
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• 2007

78-cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) stack with an effective electrode area of $295cm^{2}$ were investigated its operational characteristics and effects of CO poisoning. When power output, 5.4 kW, was released at current density of $325mA/cm^{2}$ for 6 hours, stablility of each cell was showed the small deviation of 2.3%. Carbon monoxide is a conventional contaminant in the fuel obtained from reforming processes with an important influence on the performance of the PEMFC. The studies of continuous injection of CO presented (5-20 ppm) with the time gave information about poisoning and recovery processes of the stack.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.191-195
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• 2007

In this study, we estimated the performance of PEMFC's unit cell as changing operating temperature in different inlet humidity condition at cathode side but anode dry, and tried to match experimental results with 1-dimensional simulation. We used $Nafion^{\circledR}112$ membrane and a self-manufactured PEMFC with active area of $25cm^{2}$ was used in this study. The range of operating temperature was $40{\sim}70^{\circ}C$ and oxygen through bubbled humidity chamber was supplied $0{\sim}80$% humidity condition as changing water temperature in humidity chamber. For figuring out governing equations, represent water contents in electrolyte membrane, the linear forward difference method was applied about time progress and quadratic central difference method was used about space progress. It was assumed that pressure terms were linearly changed due to thin electrolyte membrane. In low operating temperature condition, $40{\sim}60^{\circ}C$, increasing temperature rarely effected cell performance but we can see performance drop at $70^{\circ}C$. By modifying Henrry's constant and/or diffusion coefficient, the modified one-dimensional model was accomplished for calculation.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.89-92
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• 2007

The metallic bipolar plate in PEMFC is widely used for automotive driving because of its advantages, i) high strength, ii) high chemical stability, iii) low gas permeability and iv) applicability to mass production. Especially, the metallic bipolar plate which is manufactured with the sheet metal stamping process can be applied in automotive PEMFC with less volume and weight because of its thin thickness but the formability and springback problems arise in real manufacturing process. The assessment for formability and springback of metallic bipolar plate should be performed before making stamping die sets. In this work, the methodology for determining the allowable draft angle of flow passage is introduced by using finite element analysis. In analysis results, as the draft angle of flow passage increase, the major strain and thinning is increase with exponential function. The allowable draft angle without fracture is presented by fitting the results. Additionally, the staking results with manufactured metallic bipolar plates by stamping process is presented.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.93-96
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• 2007

Recently, much attentions have been paid on the commercialization of PEMFC, especially for the applications of residential and portable. In order to achieve the early commercialization of PEMFC, thee are two hurdles to overcome. One is cost down and the other is improvement of durability of the system components. Numerous companies have tried to reduce the production cost and the main research topics have been changed from performance to durability improvement. In this work, acceleration test were performed to find and evaluate the main reason of degradation of the MEA(membrane-electrode assembly) which is one of the core component of the PEMFC system. Based upon the test results, a way to make durable MEA was suggested. Acceleration tests were made by applying high voltage of 1.2V to the several kinds of single cells to increase the growth of catalyst particles. Cell performance, ac-impedance and electrochemically active area measurements were made atfter every 8 hours of acceleration test. Degradations of catalyst and membrane were examined by SEM, TEM and XRD. Obtained results were discussed in terms of structural stability and loss of catalyt and ionomers in the electrode layer. In addition, the way to make highly durable MEA was suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.497-501
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• 2011

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance degrade when sulfur dioxide is present in the fuel hydrogen gas, this is referred as $SO_2$ poisoning. This paper reveals $SO_2$ poisoning on PEMFC cathode part by measuring electrical performance of single cell under 1 ppm and 5 ppm on $SO_2$ gas operating. The security of $SO_2$ poisoning depended on $SO_2$ concentration under the best operating conditions($65^{\circ}C$ of cell temperature and 100% of relative humidity between anode and cathode). $SO_2$ adsorption occured on the surface of catalyst layer on membrane electrode assembly (MEA), In addition, MEA poisoning by $SO_2$ was cumulative but reversible. After poisoning within 5 ppm $SO_2$ for 1hr, the electrical performance of PEMFC was found to recover up to about 93% by cyclic voltametry scan.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2009

Cylinder shaped air-breathing PEMFC has been developed to have small volume, low contact resistance and better air accessibility to the open cathode. This cylinder shaped design consists of an anode cylinder with helical flow channel and a cathode current collector with slits. The pressure distribution measurement according to the shapes was performed. The test result indicated that cylinder shaped fuel cell has better pressure distribution compared with the planar shaped fuel cell. The better pressure distribution was connected to the higher performance. The maximum power density of cylinder shaped fuel cell was about 20% higher than the planar shaped fuel cell. The maximum power density of the developed cylinder shaped air-breathing PEMFC with dry hydrogen was $220\;mW/cm^2$ and with humidified hydrogen was $293\;mW/cm^2$.