A parametric analysis on PEFCs for high-temperature applications

System Administrator,Giorge Gemisis,James Mitchell,Christopher Parker,Filip Bojko

doi:10.5130/pamr.v7i0.1594

System Administrator, Giorge Gemisis + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.5130/pamr.v7i0.1594

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Abstract

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) are an increasingly significant facet of modern renewable energy and transportation, providing an electrochemical method of energy generation with high power density, thermal properties, and efficiency. PEFCs tend to increase in efficiency as temperature increases but detrimental effects begin to occur, including membrane degradation and dehydration. These effects are unfavourable in the design of optimised fuel cells as they can result in reduced efficiency and lifetime. Current PEFCs are in a state where they are commercially viable but have a very limited temperature operation region (<80°C). This meta-study analysis presents research around expanding the operational temperatures of PEFCs through a parametric analysis of active cell area, phosphonic acid content, and organic/inorganic fillers. This analysis finds an increase in proton conductivity for PEFCs at higher temperature by using phosphonic acid functionalised membranes with maximised degree of phosphonation (up to 1.5 DP). It was also found that using ionic liquid functionalised carbon materials as fillers was an effective strategy to enhance the proton conductivity of PEFCs in a higher temperature environment while also providing increased thermal stability of the membrane. Additionally, higher thermal efficiency and power density may be achieved by increasing temperature and humidity to maximise proton conductivity towards theoretical maxima dictated by the active cell area, which was found to peak at 36 cm2.

Highlights

High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (HT-PEFCs) are a major subset of current fuel cell technology, representing an active field of research and development over the past two decades. [1,2,3,5,7] This is because they provide an original form of electromechanical energy generation, with higher efficiency, power density, and less demanding fuel purity requirements than low temperature variants [1,2]
This paper provides a meta-study into the current research surrounding HT-PEFC development, and provides evidence indicating that the manipulation of phosphonic acid content, active cell area, and the addition of filler materials can achieve higher efficiency in PEFCs with similar polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) composition
The meta-analysis conducted in this paper has observed promising avenues to explore in the ongoing realm of HT-PEFC research and development

Summary

Introduction

High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (HT-PEFCs) are a major subset of current fuel cell technology, representing an active field of research and development over the past two decades. [1,2,3,5,7] This is because they provide an original form of electromechanical energy generation, with higher efficiency, power density, and less demanding fuel purity requirements than low temperature variants [1,2]. High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (HT-PEFCs) are a major subset of current fuel cell technology, representing an active field of research and development over the past two decades. This paper provides a meta-study into the current research surrounding HT-PEFC development, and provides evidence indicating that the manipulation of phosphonic acid content, active cell area, and the addition of filler materials can achieve higher efficiency in PEFCs with similar polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) composition. A major constituent of a PEFC is the proton conducting PEM, a semipermeable membrane commonly composed of ionomers, that simultaneously acts as a proton conductor and electrical insulator. This PEM operates between an anodic and cathodic layer, which are bridged through output lines to form a complete electrode. The PEM is encased alongside an electrolyte, catalyst, and gas diffusion layer to form an assembled stack known as the membrane electrode assembly (Fig. 1)

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