PEM Fuel Cell performance at sub-zero temperatures

• Author(s): Rangel, C. M. ; Paiva, T. I. ; Fernandes, Vitor R.
• Date: 2010
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.9/1129
• Origin: Repositório do LNEG
• Subject(s): PEM fuel cells; Sub-zero temperatures; Degradation; Electrodeposition; Thin films
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

In this work a study of the performance of a low power fuel cell at sub-freezing temperatures has been undertaken. Knowledge in this area is still scarce. After global characterization of the stack on a wide range of temperatures and relative humidity’s the behaviour at negative temperatures (-5ºC -10ºC, -15ºC) has been established. Furthermore, performance was evaluated after the cell was submitted to cycles from -25ºC to + 25ºC. At the end of 10 cycles only marginal loss in performance was registered, when testing at + 2.5ºC and + 25ºC. On the basis of the obtained results a strategy for start-up and shut-down has been designed in order to be implemented for operation at low temperatures. A failure analysis of the membrane and catalyst layers and GDLs is under way in order to evaluate material degradation