Characterization of pem fuel cell system HP 600, produced bay heliocentris

Abstract

Consulta en la Biblioteca ETSI Industriales (Riunet)

[EN] The aim of this work is to investigate the behaviour of Fuel Cell System with a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane. The studies enable to learn about principles of fuel cell operation, construction of the stack, characteristics and short and long term operation of fuel cells. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, also known as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells (PEMFC), are a type of fuel cell being developed for transport, stationary and portable applications. Their distinguishing features are low temperature/pressure ranges (50 to 100 °C/ambient pressure) and a special polymer electrolyte membrane. They are a leading candidate to replace the aging alkaline fuel cell technology, which was used in the Space Shuttle. In order to accomplish these objectives, HP 600 PEM Fuel Cell System was used in various experiments. The system was fed with pure H2 and automatically controlled by an internal computer. The data obtained were analyzed and conclusions regarding operation of the system were withdrawn. Similar experiments were performed also with Homemade 360W fuel cell stack in the system of auxiliary devices constructed in AGH-University of Science and Technology in Krakow. This way, the performances of two various fuel cells stack could be compared. It is necessary to know the operating performance in different workings conditions. So, it is important to know the stabilization time, how the cell responses to changes in the H2 flow, how the system works in open circuit and under load, how the changes in the temperature can influence the operation of the fuel cell (¿). Finally, the sources of losses in performance of the fuel cells were identified and explained. The respective results of measurements and graphs are shown for a HP 600 and Homemade 360W fuel cell systems. They illustrate the global working performance and operation the cells in different conditions. The conclusions indicate how to improve PEM FC working performance and how to get the best results in the long term operation.