Characteristics of dynamic load response of a fuel cell with a dead-ended anode

Abstract

The dynamic load characteristics of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with a dead-ended anode were studied. In a 70 h experiment, the effects of anode pressure, operating temperature, and relative humidity of the cathode on the performances of the fuel cell were investigated. The obtained results show that, with different relative humidity of the cathode at 65 °C, dynamic loading has little effect on the performances of fuel cell and the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA). However, the fuel cell operating under dynamic load is unstable when the relative humidity is 50%, and at 50 °C with 100% relative humidity, applying a dynamic load has a significant influence on the fuel cell performances. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that both the upstream and middle catalyst layers of the cell were unchanged, whereas the down-stream cathode catalyst layer thinned as a response to dynamic load.

Keywords

proton exchange membrane fuel cell / dead-ended anode / dynamic load

References

[1] Chen B, Wang M, Tu Z, et al. Moisture Dehumidification and Its Application to a 3kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2015, 40(2): 1137-1144.

[2] Tu ZK, Zhang HN, Luo ZP, et al. Evaluation of 5kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack Operated at 95 °C under Ambient Pressure[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2013, 222(222): 277-281.

[3] Ding GQ, Tang HQ, Luo ZP, et al. Water Distribution and Removal along the Flow Channel in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells[J]. Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Materials Science Edition, 2013, 28: 243-248.

[4] Tu ZK, Zhang HL, Luo ZP, et al. Evaluation of 5kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack Operated at 95 °C under Ambient Pressure[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2013, 222: 277-81.

[5] Chen B, Ke W, Luo M, et al. Operation Characteristics and Carbon Corrosion of PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) with Dead-ended Anode for High Hydrogen Utilization[J]. Energy, 2015, 91: 799-806.

[6] Raga C, Barrado A, Lazaro A, et al. Black-box Model and Identification Methodology for PEM Fuel Cell with Overshooted Transient Response//Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition[J]. IEEE, 2012 3168-3174.

[7] Jia F, Guo L, Liu H. A Study on Current Overshoot During Start-ups and Optimal Start-up Strategy of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2015, 40(24): 7754-7761.

[8] Tang Y, Yuan W, Pan M, et al. Experimental Investigation of Dynamic Performance and Transient Responses of a kW-class PEM Fuel Cell Stack Under Various Load Changes[J]. Applied Energy, 2010, 87(4): 1410-1417.

[9] Pei H, Liu Z, Zhang H, et al. In Situ Measurement of Temperature Distribution in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell I a Hydrogen-air Stack[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2013, 227(227): 72-79.

[10] Kang S, Min K. Dynamic Simulation of a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle during the Federal Test Procedure-75 Driving Cycle[J]. Applied Energy, 2016, 161(1): 181-196.

[11] Pathapati PR, Xue X, Tang. A new Dynamic Model for Predicting Transient Phenomena in a PEM Fuel Cell System[J]. Renew Energy, 2005, 30(1): 1-22.

[12] Lin R, Xiong F, Tang WC, et al. Investigation of Dynamic Driving Cycle Effect on the Degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell by Segmented Cell Technology[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2014, 260(16): 150-158.

[13] Chen B, Wang J, Yang T, et al. Carbon Corrosion and Performance Degradation Mechanism in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with Dead-ended Anode and Cathode[J]. Energy, 2016, 106: 54-62.

[14] Chen B, Wang J, Yang T, et al. Mitigation Studies of Carbon Corrosion by Optimizing the Opening Size of the Cathode Outlet in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with Dead-ended Anode[J]. Energy Conversion & Management, 2016, 119: 60-66.

[15] Jang JH, Yan WM, Chiu HC, et al. Dynamic Cell Performance of kWgrade Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack with Dead-ended Anode[J]. Applied Energy, 2015, 142: 108-114.

[16] Matsuura TK, Chen J, Siegel JB, et al. Degradation Phenomena in PEM Fuel Cell with Dead-ended Anode[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013, 38: 11346-11356.

[17] Nara H, Momma T, Osaka T. Impedance Analysis of the Effect of Flooding in the Cathode Catalyst Layer of the Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell[J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2013, 113(4): 720-729.

[18] Chen J, Siegel JB, Stefanopoulou AG, et al. Optimization of Purge Cycle for Dead-ended Anode Fuel Cell Operation[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013, 38: 5092-5105.

[19] Taniguchi A, Akita T, Yasuda. K Analysis of Electrocatalyst Degradation in PEMFC Caused by Cell Reversal during Fuel Starvation[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2004, 130: 42-49.

[20] Taniguchia A, Akitaa T, Yasudaa K, et al. Analysis of Degradation in PEMFC Caused by Cell Reversal during Air Starvation International[J]. Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33: 2323-2329.