• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
• /
• 제22권6호
• /
• pp.827-834
• /
• 2011

Epoxy/graphite/expanded graphite composites have been prepared in various weight ratios and thermal degradation and electrical properties were estimated in order to use for the bipolar plate materials in PEMFC. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the epoxy/graphite system cured by a curing agent GX-533 was most proper because its weight loss until $80^{\circ}C$ at which PEMFC would be operated was 0.3 wt%, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed its cure temperature would be sufficient at $80^{\circ}C$. The activation energy for the cure reaction was 132.0 kJ/mol and the pre-exponential factor was $1.76{\times}10^{17}min^{-1}$. Electrical conductivity on the surface of the bipolar plate prepared under a pressure of 200 $kgf/cm^2$ was increased from 4 to 25 $S/cm^2$ by increasing expanded graphite (EG) content from 50 phr to 90 phr. The percolation threshold was initiated around 75 phr and the corrosion rate at 80 phr was 1.903 $uA/cm^2$.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.585-591
• /
• 2011

This study has focused on the development of high performance membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) fabricated by decal method for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). To study the effect of ionomer contents on performance, we fabricated MEAs with several electrodes which were prepared by varying the quantity of ionomer from 20 wt.% to 45 wt.% in catalyst layer. The MEA performance was obtained through single cell test. The MEA prepared from electrode with 25wt.% of ionomer showed the best performance. We evaluated the surface area and pore volume of electrode with BET. We found that the surface area and pore volume in electrode decreased rapidly at the electrode with 40wt.% of ionomer in catalyst layer. MEA was fabricated by roll laminator machine and the roll laminating conditions for the preparation of MEA, such as laminating press, temperature and speed, were optimized. The MEA performance is not affected by laminating temperature and speed, but roll laminating press have a great effect on MEA performance.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.42-48
• /
• 2016

This study presents an experiment investigation on natural convection heat transfer of air-cooling Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in a enclosure system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Considered are replacing fuel cell stack with Aluminum block for heat generating inside a enclosure chamber. The volume ratio of fuel cell stack and chamber for simulation to the actual size of aerial vehicle is 1 to 15. The parameters considered for experimental study are the environmental temperature range from $25^{\circ}C$ to $-60^{\circ}C$ and the block heat input of 10 W, 20 W and 30 W. Effect of the thermal conductivity of the block and power level on heat transfer in the chamber are investigated. Experimental results illustrate the temperature rise at various locations inside the chamber as dependent upon heat input of fuel cell stack and environmental temperature. From the results, dimensionless correlation in natural convection was proposed with Nusselt number and Rayleigh number for designing air-cooling PEMFC powered high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAV.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.364-374
• /
• 2010

Design of a reformer consisting of combustion chamber and reforming chamber was investigated for a 1 kW and a 5 kW polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), respectively, using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD). First, the 1kW reformer was considered to obtain the reliability of the numerical study. It was modeled, calculated and compared with experimental data. Second, the 5kW reformer was considered for a geometric study. Three tip sizes (35, 40, and 45 mm) and five aspect ratios was selected. It was found that the optimum was at tip sizes of 40 and 45 mm, at aspect ratios of -10% and -20% of the standard length.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국신재생에너지학회 2006년도 춘계학술대회
• /
• pp.96-98
• /
• 2006

Proper water management is vital to achieve high performance and durability of PEFC (Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell). The effects of the residual water from PEFC after purge in shut-down processes on GDL/MEAs were investigated with freeze/thaw cycles Freeze/thaw cycle tests were conducted with single cells which were designed from transparent acryl plates. Single cells which contain several amount of residual water were cycles from $80^{\circ}C$ to $-28^{\circ}C$. The resistance changes of the single cells which have various amount of residual water were evaluated by ac-impedance analysis with 24 times of freeze/thaw cycles. Also, after the freeze/thaw cycles, the property changes were characterized by visual methods such as SEM, EPMA. Though it was difficult to observe noticeable property changes in the visual characterizations, the resistance of cells dramatically increased with the amount of remained water.

• 세라미스트
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.331-348
• /
• 2018

With the expectation to overcome the problem of increasing energy consumption, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are getting more attention as a promising environmentally friendly and sustainable next-generation energy conversion system. In spite of the rapid improvement of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs), there are several critical issues still need to be resolved for practical commercialization. Out of the many issues, the main hurdle comes from oxygen reduction reaction(ORR), thus development of efficient ORR electrocatalysts is the main key for enhancing PEMFC performance. Among various catalysts, 1D nanostructured catalyst is a promising candidate because it holds many advantages that come from nanostructuring while supplementing the disadvantages of other nanostructures such as nanoparticles(0D) or gyroids(3D). This review focused on diverse 1D nanostructures and talks about their advantages as catalyst for ORR. Different 1D nanostructures will be introduced while applying the structures to different materials system showing the prospects of 1D nanostructures for improving PEMFC.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• 제20권6호
• /
• pp.435-450
• /
• 2021

The interest in eco-friendly energy is increasing, and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is attracting attention as alternative power sources. Research on metallic bipolar plates, a fuel cell component, is being actively conducted. However, since the operating conditions of PEMFC, in which sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) are mixed, are strong acidity, the durability of the metallic bipolar plate is very important. In this research, the electrochemical characteristics and corrosion damage behavior of 316L stainless steel, a material for metallic bipolar plates, were analyzed through potentiostatic corrosion tests with test times and chloride concentrations. As the test times and chloride concentrations increased, the current density and corrosion damage increased. As a result of observation with scanning electron microscope(SEM) and 3D microscope, both the depth and width of pitting corrosion increased with increases in test times and chloride concentrations. In particular, the pitting corrosion damage depth at test conditions of 6 hours and 1000 ppm chloride increased the most. The growth of the pitting corrosion damage was not directly proportional to time and increased significantly after a certain period.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• 제20권6호
• /
• pp.347-360
• /
• 2021

Currently, the demand for eco-friendly energy sources is high, which has prompted research on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Both aluminum alloys and nickel alloys, which are commonly considered as materials of bipolar plates in fuel cells, oxide layers formed on the metal surface have excellent corrosion resistance. In this research, the electrochemical characteristics of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 were investigated with chloride concentrations in an acid environment that simulated the cathode condition of the PEMFC. After potentiodynamic polarization experiments, Tafel analysis and surface analysis were performed. Inconel 600 presented remarkably good corrosion resistance under all test conditions. The corrosion current density of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy was significantly higher than that of Inconel 600 under all test conditions. Also, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 presented uniform corrosion and intergranular corrosion, respectively. The Ni, Cr, and Fe, which are the main chemical compositions of Inconel 600, are higher than Al in the electromotive force series. And a double oxide film of NiO-Cr₂O₃, which is more stable than Al₂O₃, is formed. Thus, the corrosion resistance of Inconel 600 is better.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.340-347
• /
• 2022

In this research, mixed metal oxide (TiO₂, RuO₂) coating was applied to grade 1 titanium as a bipolar plate for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Electrochemical experiments were carried out in an aqueous solution of pH 3 (H₂SO₄ + 0.1 ppm HF, 80 ℃) determined by DoE. The air was bubbled to simulate a cathode environment. Potentiodynamic polarization test revealed that corrosion current densities of the titanium substrate and MMO-coated specimen were 0.180 µA/cm² and 4.381 µA/cm², respectively. There was no active peak. After potentiostatic experiment, current densities of the titanium substrate and the MMO-coated specimen were 0.19 µA/cm² and 1.05 µA/cm², respectively. As a result of observing the surface before and after the potentiostatic experiment, cracked dried clay structures were observed without corrosion damage. Both the titanium substrate and the MMO-coated specimen could not satisfy the interfacial contact resistance suggested by the DoE. Thus, further research is needed before they could be applied as bipolar plates.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
• /
• 제35권2호
• /
• pp.205-215
• /
• 2024

This study introduced a direct contact heat exchanger to enhance the efficiency of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) systems. According to previous research, 28% of the operating costs of fuel cell systems are attributed to heat exchanger devices, prompting the design of a direct contact heat exchanger to address this issue. Optimal configurations were determined through computational fluid dynamics analysis and experimental device fabrication, and the enhanced heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger was experimentally confirmed. Through this, the contribution of the direct contact heat exchanger to the heat management and efficiency enhancement of PEMFC systems was established.