New & Renewable Energy (신재생에너지)

Korean Society for New and Renewable Energy (한국신·재생에너지학회)
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Optimization Method for MEA Performance Considering the Non-Uniformity of Operating Condition in a Large-area Bipolar Plate

대면적 분리판의 운전 환경 불균일성을 고려한 MEA 성능최적화 방법

  • Kim, Sungmin (Fuel Cell Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research) ;
  • Sohn, Young-Jun (Fuel Cell Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research) ;
  • Woo, Seunghee (Fuel Cell Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research) ;
  • Park, Seok-Hee (Fuel Cell Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research) ;
  • Jung, Namgee (Graduate School of Energy Science and Technology, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Yim, Sung-Dae (Fuel Cell Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research)
  • Received : 2021.04.07
  • Accepted : 2021.04.22
  • Published : 2021.06.25
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Abstract

We proposed an MEA development methodology that accurately measures intrinsic MEA performance while considering the uneven reaction environments formed inside a large-area BP. To facilitate measurement of the inherent MEA performance, we miniaturized the active area of the MEA to 3 cm2, and prepared two MEAs with different ionomer contents of 0.65 and 0.80 (I/C). By simulating the operating conditions of a 100 cm2 BP at the inlet (I), center (C), and outlet (O), the oxygen concentration and relative humidity were determined to be 20.7, 13.8, 11.7%, and 50, 66.1, and 70.1% respectively. We measured the performance and electrochemical analysis of the prepared MEAs under the three simulated conditions. Based on the results of statistical analysis of the evaluated MEA performance data, I/C 0.65 MEA had a higher average performance and lower performance deviation than I/C 0.80 MEA. Hence, it can be concluded that an I/C 0.65 MEA is a more effective MEA for large-area BP. Based on the above research process, we confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed MEA development methodology.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 한국에너지기술연구원의 주요사업(C1-2417), 한국연구재단의 방사선고부가신소재개발사업(NRF-2020M2D8A2064728), 기후변화대응기술개발사업(NRF-2020M1A2A2080802)의 지원으로 수행되었습니다.

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