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Experimental Study on Critical Membrane Water Content of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells for Cold Storage at −50 °C

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  • Xiaokang Yang

    (Fuel Cell System and Engineering Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Fuel Cells & Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
    University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China)

  • Jiaqi Sun

    (Fuel Cell System and Engineering Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Fuel Cells & Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
    University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China)

  • Guang Jiang

    (Fuel Cell System and Engineering Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Fuel Cells & Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
    University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China)

  • Shucheng Sun

    (Fuel Cell System and Engineering Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Fuel Cells & Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China)

  • Zhigang Shao

    (Fuel Cell System and Engineering Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Fuel Cells & Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China)

  • Hongmei Yu

    (Fuel Cell System and Engineering Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Fuel Cells & Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China)

  • Fangwei Duan

    (Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Liaoning Electric Power Supply Co. Ltd., Shenyang 110055, China)

  • Yingxuan Yang

    (Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Liaoning Electric Power Supply Co. Ltd., Shenyang 110055, China)

Abstract

Membrane water content is of vital importance to the freezing durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Excessive water freezing could cause irreversible degradation to the cell components and deteriorate the cell performance and lifetime. However, there are few studies on the critical membrane water content, a threshold beyond which freezing damage occurs, for cold storage of PEMFCs. In this work, we first proposed a method for measuring membrane water content using membrane resistance extracted from measured high frequency resistance (HFR) based on the finding that the non-membrane resistance part of the measured HFR is constant within the range of membrane water content of 2.98 to 14.0. Then, freeze/thaw cycles were performed from −50 °C to 30 °C with well controlled membrane water content. After 30 cycles, cells with a membrane water content of 8.2 and 7.7 exhibited no performance degradation, while those higher than 8.2 showed significant performance decay. Electrochemical tests revealed that electrochemical surface area (ECSA) reduction and charge transfer resistance increase are the main reasons for the degradation. These results indicate that the critical membrane water content for successful cold storage at −50 °C is 8.2.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaokang Yang & Jiaqi Sun & Guang Jiang & Shucheng Sun & Zhigang Shao & Hongmei Yu & Fangwei Duan & Yingxuan Yang, 2021. "Experimental Study on Critical Membrane Water Content of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells for Cold Storage at −50 °C," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:15:p:4520-:d:601987
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Zhongmin Wan & Huawei Chang & Shuiming Shu & Yongxiang Wang & Haolin Tang, 2014. "A Review on Cold Start of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-25, May.
    3. Mark K. Debe, 2012. "Electrocatalyst approaches and challenges for automotive fuel cells," Nature, Nature, vol. 486(7401), pages 43-51, June.
    4. Lei Yao & Fangfang Ma & Jie Peng & Jianbo Zhang & Yangjun Zhang & Jianpeng Shi, 2020. "Analysis of the Failure Modes in the Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Cold-Start Process—Anode Dehydration or Cathode Pore Blockage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Huo, Sen & Jiao, Kui & Park, Jae Wan, 2019. "On the water transport behavior and phase transition mechanisms in cold start operation of PEM fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 776-788.
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    Cited by:

    1. Haibo Huo & Jiajie Chen & Ke Wang & Fang Wang & Guangzhe Jin & Fengxiang Chen, 2023. "State Estimation of Membrane Water Content of PEMFC Based on GA-BP Neural Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, June.

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