Effect of sub-freezing temperatures on a PEM fuel cell performance, startup and fuel cell components

Yan, Qiangu; Toghiani, Hossein; Lee, Young-Whan; Liang, Kaiwen; Causey, Heath

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.02.075

Cited by 226 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

120

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This phenomenon was highlighted in the simulations of [282] where formation of ice lens in the interfacial regions was predicted. Other experimental studies used in-situ optical techniques have also observed this phenomenon [273,281]. Figure 8b shows an image captured in [273] of catalyst layer delamination from both the membrane and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) sides.…”

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Other experimental studies used in-situ optical techniques have also observed this phenomenon [273,281]. Figure 8b shows an image captured in [273] of catalyst layer delamination from both the membrane and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) sides. According to their measurements, this delamination resulted in hydrogen crossover and consequent drop in cell performance.…”

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…This includes scenarios like fuel crossover [273,274], catalytic combustion as a result of pinhole formation [272,273], fuel/oxidant starvation caused by water flooding in cracked regions [132,275], accelerated catalyst erosion due to further exposure of the electrochemical surface area [276,277], and increase in the ohmic resistance of the cell reflecting the increase in bulk resistivity (interfacial contact resistance) of the damaged layers [76,278,279]. Visual evidence of pinhole formation and micro-cracking on the surface of the membrane is provided in Figure 12a .…”

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Visual evidence of pinhole formation and micro-cracking on the surface of the membrane is provided in Figure 12a . Figure 12 Effect of sub-zero temperature on MEA after operation at −30 ˚C (a) pinhole formation on membrane from cathode outlet regions (b) catalyst delamination from GDL (Reproduced from [273] with permission)…”

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impact of purging is not only on the durability of PEMFC but on its performance as well. In [273], the cell failed to operate even at − 5˚C and at a low current density of no more than 200 mA.cm -2 when purging was not employed. The free water, which is expected to be trapped at the catalyst layer, can freeze hindering the access of reactants to the reaction sites of the catalyst and causing a performance drop.…”

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Degradation aspects of water formation and transport in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A review

Ous

Arcoumanis

2013

Journal of Power Sources

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link AbstractThis review paper summarises the key aspects of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) degradation that are associated with water formation, retention, accumulation, and transport mechanisms within the cell. Issues related to loss of active surface area of the catalyst, ionomer dissolution, membrane swelling, ice formation, corrosion, and contamination are also addressed and discussed. The impact of each of these water mechanisms on cell performance and durability was found to be different and to vary according to the design of the cell and its operating conditions. For example, the presence of liquid water within Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), as a result of water accumulation, can be detrimental if the operating temperature of the cell drops to sub-freezing.The volume expansion of liquid water due to ice formation can damage the morphology of different parts of the cell and may shorten its life-time. This can be more serious, for example, during the water transport mechanism where migration of Pt particles from the catalyst may take place after detachment from the carbon support. Furthermore, the effect of transport mechanism could be augmented if humid reactant gases containing impurities poison the membrane, leading to the same outcome as water retention or accumulation.Overall, the impact of water mechanisms can be classified as aging or catastrophic. Aging has a longterm impact over the duration of the PEMFC life-time whereas in the catastrophic mechanism the impact is immediate. The conversion of cell residual water into ice at sub-freezing temperatures by the water retention/ accumulation mechanism and the access of poisoning contaminants through the water transport mechanism are considered to fall into the catastrophic category. The effect of water mechanisms on PEMFC degradation can be reduced or even eliminated by (a) using advanced materials for improving the electrical, chemical and mechanical stability of the cell components against deterioration, and (b) implementing effective strategies for water management in the cell.

show abstract

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ice Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Degradation aspects of water formation and transport in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A review

Ous

Arcoumanis

2013

Journal of Power Sources

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Electron microscopy to study membrane electrode assembly ( MEA ) materials and structure degradation

Chatenet

Guétaz

Maillard

2010

Handbook of Fuel Cells

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The mass production of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for stationary or mobile applications requires long‐term durability and minimization of the voltage loss observed upon operation. The extent of PEMFC performance degradation depends on the type of materials composing the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), their manufacturing technique, their structure, and the operating conditions of the cell. Recently, electron microscopy (EM) has become a technique of choice to achieve a better understanding of the physical/chemical origin of the MEA degradation as a function of operation time. Unlike most other physical, chemical, and electrochemical in situ or ex situ techniques (global techniques), EM enables the identification of local changes to the various components of the MEA. For example, defect formation at the micrometer scale in the proton exchange membrane (PEM) and the active layer (observed by scanning electron microscopy), change of porosity and redistribution of the electrocatalyst at the nanometer scale (observed by field‐emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG‐SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)), or structure/composition degradation of electrocatalyst nanoparticles at the atomic scale (observed by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM)) can be derived from EM. A combination of the conclusions derived from local EM observations with those derived from other global characterization techniques yields the determination of MEA degradation mechanisms and provides some important routes to improve the PEM fuel cell performance and durability.

show abstract

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Specchia

Francia

Spinelli

2011

Electrochemical Technologies for Energy Storage and Conversion

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effect of sub-freezing temperatures on a PEM fuel cell performance, startup and fuel cell components

Cited by 226 publications

References 18 publications

Degradation aspects of water formation and transport in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A review

Degradation aspects of water formation and transport in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A review

Electron microscopy to study membrane electrode assembly ( MEA ) materials and structure degradation

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About