Real-time monitoring of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack failure
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Uneven pressure drops in a 75-cell 9.5-kWe proton
exchange membrane fuel cell stack with a U-shaped flow
configuration have been shown to cause localised flooding.
Condensed water then leads to localised cell heating, resulting
in reduced membrane durability. Upon purging of the anode
manifold, the resulting mechanical strain on the membrane
can lead to the formation of a pin-hole/membrane crack and a
rapid decrease in open circuit voltage due to gas crossover.
This failure has the potential to cascade to neighbouring cells
due to the bipolar plate coupling and the current density
heterogeneities arising from the pin-hole/membrane crack.
Reintroduction of hydrogen after failure results in cell voltage
loss propagating from the pin-hole/membrane crack location
due to reactant crossover from the anode to the cathode, given
that the anode pressure is higher than the cathode pressure.
Through these observations, it is recommended that purging is
avoided when the onset of flooding is observed to prevent
irreparable damage to the stack.
exchange membrane fuel cell stack with a U-shaped flow
configuration have been shown to cause localised flooding.
Condensed water then leads to localised cell heating, resulting
in reduced membrane durability. Upon purging of the anode
manifold, the resulting mechanical strain on the membrane
can lead to the formation of a pin-hole/membrane crack and a
rapid decrease in open circuit voltage due to gas crossover.
This failure has the potential to cascade to neighbouring cells
due to the bipolar plate coupling and the current density
heterogeneities arising from the pin-hole/membrane crack.
Reintroduction of hydrogen after failure results in cell voltage
loss propagating from the pin-hole/membrane crack location
due to reactant crossover from the anode to the cathode, given
that the anode pressure is higher than the cathode pressure.
Through these observations, it is recommended that purging is
avoided when the onset of flooding is observed to prevent
irreparable damage to the stack.
Date Issued
2016-08-02
Date Acceptance
2016-07-25
Citation
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2016, 46 (11), pp.1157-1162
ISSN
1572-8838
Publisher
Springer Verlag (Germany)
Start Page
1157
End Page
1162
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry
Volume
46
Issue
11
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2016. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/I00422X/1
Subjects
Energy
0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)
0904 Chemical Engineering
Publication Status
Published