Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells use components that are susceptible to contaminants in the fuel stream. To ensure fuel quality, standards are being set to regulate the amount of impurities allowable in fuel. The present study investigates the effect of chlorinated impurities on fuel cell systems using tetrachloroethylene (PCE) as a model compound for cleaning and degreasing agents. Concentrations between 0.05 parts per million (ppm) and 30 ppm were studied. We show how PCE causes rapid drop in cell performances for all concentrations including 0.05 ppm. At concentrations of 1 and 0.05 ppm, PCE poisoned the cell at a rate dependent on the dosage of the contaminant delivered to the cell. PCE appears to affect the cell when the cell potential was over potentials higher than approximately 0.2 V. No effects were observed at voltages around or below 0.2 V and the cells could be recovered from previous poisoning performed at higher potentials. Recoveries at those low voltages could be induced by changing the operating voltage or by purging the system. Poisoning did not appear to affect the membrane conductivity. Measurements with long-path length IR results suggested catalytic decomposition of the PCE by hydrogen over the anode catalyst.Hydrogen used in low temperature fuel cell systems must contain low levels of impurities to minimize performance degradation that can shorten their lifetime. Setting hydrogen fuel standards as a part of the foundation for a hydrogen economy requires balancing fuel cell system degradation with the costs for hydrogen purification and certification. Since hydrogen fuel quality would be enforced at the connection nozzle between the fueling station and the vehicle, station owners must ensure that procedures to alter the station do not introduce contaminants into the fuel. There has been a large focus on the effects of carbon monoxide 1-7 and ammonia 8-14 on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), however little information is available on the effect of less common contaminants such as chlorinated compounds. Halocarbons are proposed to be regulated as part of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) fuel quality standards. The proposed limit for chlorinated compounds in both the ISO and SAE standards is 0.05 ppm of total chlorinated species. 15,16 It is not anticipated that chlorinated compounds will be found in hydrogen produced from natural gas and purified using liquefaction or a pressure swing absorption system, but chlorinated compounds could enter the fuel in cases where a hydrogen station is serviced or during cases of severe component malfunction.Chlorinated compounds have been investigated in fuel cell systems when looking at the operation of fuel cell systems in situations such as a battlefield environment, 17 however these contaminants are significantly different than the automotive environments served by ISO and SAE standards. The effect of chloride ions on fuel cell has been considered when lookin...
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