Effect of System Contaminants on the Performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Mehrabadi, Bahareh Alsadat Tavakoli; Dinh, Huyen N.; Bender, Guido; Weidner, John W.

doi:10.1149/2.0761614jes

Title: Effect of System Contaminants on the Performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Journal Article · Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0761614jes· OSTI ID:1336559

Mehrabadi, Bahareh Alsadat Tavakoli ^[1]; Dinh, Huyen N. ^[2]; Bender, Guido ^[2]; Weidner, John W. ^[1]

Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

The performance loss and recovery of the fuel cell due to Balance of Plant (BOP) contaminants was identified via a combination of experimental data and a mathematical model. The experiments were designed to study the influence of organic contaminants (e.g. those from BOP materials) on the resistance of the catalyst, ionomer and membrane, and a mathematical model was developed that allowed us to separate these competing resistances from the data collected on an operating fuel cell. For this reason, based on the functional groups, four organic contaminants found in BOP materials, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DGMEE), diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate (DGMEA), benzyl alcohol (BzOH) and 2,6-diaminotoluene (2,6-DAT) were infused separately to the cathode side of the fuel cell. The cell voltage and high frequency impedance resistance was measured as a function of time. The contaminant feed was then discontinued and voltage recovery was measured. It was determined that compounds with ion exchange properties like 2,6-DAT can cause voltage loss with non-reversible recovery, so this compound was studied in more detail. Finally, the degree of voltage loss increased with an increase in concentration, and/or infusion time, and increased with a decrease in catalyst loadings.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1336559

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5900-67582

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 163, Issue 14; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 10 works

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