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Sensitivity Analyses on the Impact of Air Contaminants on Automotive Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Misz U.,
Talke A.,
Heinzel A.,
Konrad G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201500159
Subject(s) - proton exchange membrane fuel cell , contamination , automotive industry , environmental science , degradation (telecommunications) , air filter , air pollution , fuel cells , process engineering , chemical engineering , chemistry , computer science , engineering , mechanical engineering , ecology , biology , aerospace engineering , telecommunications , organic chemistry , inlet
Abstract It is known that traffic related air contaminants cause power loss, decreasing lifetime or a complete failure of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Therefore, the present study aims for a better understanding and the development of a data basis for further decisions in dealing with air contaminants for automobile applications. The first section provides an overview of scientific literature about the influence of important air contaminants on proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The second section describes an extensive study of air contaminants at possible automotive operating conditions using a full factorial matrix test. The specific variation of temperature, cell potential and harmful gas concentration resulted in 27 operating points for each used air contaminant. The gases NO, NO 2 , SO 2 , NH 3 , toluene and ethane were used. The results indicate significant degradation but as well the possibility of regeneration. The degradation caused by different harmful gases is both, dependent on temperature and potential. Furthermore, a clear difference of the influence of NO and NO 2 at low concentrations could be shown. The experiments give an overview of the cathode harming potential of relevant air contaminants. Hence, the work provides a basis for the development of cathode air filter and regeneration techniques for automotive applications.