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Effects of Fuel Cell Operating Conditions on Proton Exchange Membrane Durability at Open‐Circuit Voltage
Author(s) -
Zhao N.,
Chu Y.,
Xie Z.,
Eggen K.,
Girard F.,
Shi Z.
Publication year - 2020
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.201900173
Subject(s) - durability , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , stack (abstract data type) , membrane , open circuit voltage , membrane electrode assembly , materials science , commercialization , relative humidity , operating temperature , fuel cells , chemical engineering , voltage , process engineering , composite material , chemistry , computer science , electrical engineering , engineering , electrode , electrolyte , thermodynamics , biochemistry , physics , law , political science , programming language
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) continue to face cost and durability challenges which need to be addressed before their large scale commercialization. The PEM is an essential component of the fuel cell stack and its durability is thus a critical factor for the overall fuel cell reliability. Significant membrane degradation leads to the development of internal transfer leaks and cell short circuiting irreversibly affecting the fuel cell's functionality. In this study, perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes were investigated for the effects of operating temperature and relative humidity on membrane durability using an open circuit voltage (OCV) accelerated stress test. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate and optimize the effects of the operating temperature and humidity. As a result, the optimum fuel cell operational region was mapped and suggested as an alternative approach to maintain membrane durability without modifying membrane materials. The mapping could provide valuable guidelines for PEMFC designers and system engineers to optimize the operating conditions during idling to achieve a targeted membrane lifetime.