Voltage degradation of high-temperature PEM fuel cells operating at 200 °C under constant load and start-stop conditions. (19th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leader, J.O.; Yue, Y.; Walluk, M.R.; Trabold, T.A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 47:Number 43(2022)
• Page Start: 18820
• Page End: 18830
• Publication Date: 2022-05-19
• Subjects: Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell -- Phosphoric acid -- Polybenzimidazole (PBI) -- Voltage degradation -- Start-stop cycling; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.04.067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: High temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEM) offer significant advantages over conventional low temperature fuel cells (LT-PEM), including improved fuel impurity tolerance and increased electrode kinetics. These advantages enable use of reformate fuels with potentially lower costs and simplified handling versus ultra-pure hydrogen fuel required for LT-PEM. Although HT-PEM fuel cell operation has been demonstrated at temperatures above 120 °C, relatively few studies have focused on operation at 200 °C or higher where fuel impurity tolerance is maximized, but at the cost of accelerated performance degradation. To help address this research gap, the present study investigated the voltage degradation of HT-PEM fuel cells operating at 200 °C and 0.4 A/cm 2 under continuous load conditions, and at 200 °C and 0.6 A/cm 2 during start-stop cycling. Results based on triplicate measurements show an average constant load degradation rate of 102 μV/h, as compared to literature values of 10 μV/h or less at lower temperature and current density. The start-stop experiments showed relatively high degradation rates per cycle up to 50 cycles, with decreasing average degradation rates over 80 and 100 cycles. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: HT-PEM offers tolerance to fuel impurities at high temp, but durability suffers. Data at 200C needed to understand performance vs. durability with reformate fuels. Mean voltage degradation rate with pure H2 at 0.4 A/cm 2 was 102 μV/h. High start-stop voltage loss over 50 cycles, lower loss over 100 cycles. Data provide a baseline for testing integrated HT-PEM & reformer systems.