A High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Model for Reformate Gas

Abstract

A one-dimensional model of a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell using polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes is described. The model considers mass transport through a thin film electrolyte covering the catalyst particles as well as through the porous media. The incorporation of a thin film model describing reactant gas mass transport through electrolyte covering the electrocatalyst is shown to be an essential requirement for accurate simulation. The catalyst interface is represented using a macrohomogeneous model. The influence of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane, which would be present in a reformate gas, is considered in terms of the effect on the anode polarisation/kinetics behaviour. The model simulates the influence of operating conditions, cell parameters, and fuel gas compositions on the cell voltage current density characteristics. The model gives good predictions of the effect of oxygen and air pressures on cell behaviour and correctly simulates the mass transport behaviour of the cell. The model with reformate gas shows that additional voltage losses associated with CO poisoning can lead to loss in voltage of tens of mV and thus reduction in power.

An Investigation of Palladium Oxygen Reduction Catalysts for the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

“…The potential loss estimated due to methanol cross-over of 63 mA•cm −2 (considering cathode loading of 2 mg•cm −2 ) can be estimated to ca. 300 mV using the following simplified equation [28]:…”

“…Comparison data from this study are compared with the limited published data on the use of Pd-based cathodes in Table 6. The values for ECSA used in the calculations were obtained from the relevant source [22,24,25] while that for commercial Platinum was obtained from [28]. However, although anode performance improved with an increase in temperature; an increase in temperature also increased methanol crossover to the cathode due to faster diffusion.…”

Application of a Coated Film Catalyst Layer Model to a High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell with Low Catalyst Loading Produced by Reactive Spray Deposition Technology

“…Without the addition of the roughness factor, the calculation of the local concentration of reactants near the catalyst surface through the coated film would be lower than expected. This same correction has also been employed by Mamlouk et al [54]. The geometric parameters in Equation (6) are grouped together as the parameter Γ.…”

Investigation of the Effect of Humidity Level of H2 on Cell Performance of a HT‐PEM Fuel Cell

“…The H 2 in the anode or O 2 in the cathode can diffuse through this thin layer of acid, reaching the platinum particles. The permeability and diffusivity of O 2 and H 2 in the acid increase with the decrease in the acid concentration , . This results in the increasing in the O 2 and H 2 concentration on the catalyst surface and therefore higher exchange current density for O 2 reduction reaction and H 2 oxidation reaction.…”