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Modeling the Performance Degradation of a High-Temperature PEM Fuel Cell

Author

Listed:
  • Mengfan Zhou

    (AAU Energy, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Steffen Frensch

    (AAU Energy, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Vincenzo Liso

    (AAU Energy, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Na Li

    (AAU Energy, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Simon Lennart Sahlin

    (AAU Energy, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Giovanni Cinti

    (Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Samuel Simon Araya

    (AAU Energy, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

Abstract

In this paper, the performance of a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) was modeled using literature data. The paper attempted to combine different sources from the literature to find trends in the degradation mechanisms of HT-PEMFCs. The model focused on the activation and ohmic losses. The activation losses were defined as a function of both Pt agglomeration and loss of catalyst material. The simulations revealed that the loss of electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) was a major contributor to the total voltage loss. The ohmic losses were defined as a function of changes of acid doping level in time. The loss of conductivity increased significantly on a percentage basis over time, but its impact on the overall voltage degradation was fairly low. It was found that the evaporation of phosphoric acid caused the ohmic overpotential to increase, especially at temperatures above 180 °C. Therefore, higher temperatures can lead to shorter lifetimes but increase the average power output over the lifetime of the fuel cell owing to a higher performance at higher temperatures. The lifetime prognosis was also made at different operating temperatures. It was shown that while the fuel cell performance increased linearly with increasing temperature at the beginning of its life, the voltage decay rate increased exponentially with an increasing temperature. Based on an analysis of the voltage decay rate and lifetime prognosis, the operating temperature range between 160 °C and 170 °C could be said to be optimal, as there was a significant increase in performance compared to lower operating temperatures without too much penalty in terms of lifetime.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengfan Zhou & Steffen Frensch & Vincenzo Liso & Na Li & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Giovanni Cinti & Samuel Simon Araya, 2022. "Modeling the Performance Degradation of a High-Temperature PEM Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:15:p:5651-:d:880045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuel Simon Araya & Vincenzo Liso & Xiaoti Cui & Na Li & Jimin Zhu & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Søren Højgaard Jensen & Mads Pagh Nielsen & Søren Knudsen Kær, 2020. "A Review of The Methanol Economy: The Fuel Cell Route," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-32, January.
    2. Gabriele Loreti & Andrea Luigi Facci & Stefano Ubertini, 2021. "High-Efficiency Combined Heat and Power through a High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell and Gas Turbine Hybrid System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
    3. Andreas Goldmann & Waldemar Sauter & Marcel Oettinger & Tim Kluge & Uwe Schröder & Joerg R. Seume & Jens Friedrichs & Friedrich Dinkelacker, 2018. "A Study on Electrofuels in Aviation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-23, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruifeng Guo & Dongfang Chen & Yuehua Li & Wenlong Wu & Song Hu & Xiaoming Xu, 2023. "Anode Nitrogen Concentration Estimation Based on Voltage Variation Characteristics for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stacks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, February.

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