Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell During Cyclic Activation Process. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Irmawati, Yuyun; Indriyati,
• Is Part Of: Energy procedia. Volume 68(2015)
• Page Start: 311
• Page End: 317
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: PEMFC -- Activation process -- Polarization curve; Power resources -- Congresses; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power resources; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2015.03.261
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1876-6102

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, we report a new approach in the activation process and analyse its effects on the performance of PEMFC. An activation process was set-up considering four loading cycles performance at room temperature. Each cycle consisted of one hour loading period at 0.6 volt followed by fully voltage scanning at open-end and backpressure condition. This cycle was repeated until saturated polarisation curve was reached. A commercial catalyst coated membrane was used in this purpose. During the activation process, MEA performance showed an effective increase, with the maximum power density rose from 128 to 200 mW/cm 2 and 220 mW/cm 2, for open-end and back pressure condition, respectively. Moreover, significant decrease in the Tafel slope and increase in the exchange current density could indicate that there was a reduction in the dead region at the catalyst layer along the process. Cyclic activation process also benefit to slow water content recovery in the Nafion membrane in order to prevent the membrane from over swelling.