• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.28-38
• /
• 2014

The organic-inorganic composite membrane in polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have several fascinating technological advantages such as a proton conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical properties. As the inorganic filler, silicon carbide (SiC) fiber have been used in various fields due to its unique properties such as thermal stability, conductivity, and tensile strength. In this study, composite membrane was successfully fabricated by modified-silicon carbide fiber. Modified process, as a novel process in SiC, takes reaction by phosphoric acid after oxidation process (generated homogeniusly $SiO_2$ layer on SiC fiber). The mechanical property which was conducted by tensile test of the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was better than that of Aquivion casting membrane as well as ion cxchange capacity(IEC) and proton conductivity. In addition, the single cell performance was observed that the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was approximately $0.2A/cm^2$ higher than that of a Aquivion casting electrolyte membrane and electrochemical impedance was improved with the charge transfer resistance and membrane resistance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.556-560
• /
• 2013

Recently, there are many efforts focused on development of more economical non-fluorinated membranes for use in PEMFCs (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells). In this study, characteristics of poly(arylene ether sulfone)(PAES) were compared with fluorinated membrane at PEMFC operation condition. I-V polarization curve, hydrogen crossover, electrochemical surface area, membrane resistance and charge transfer resistance were measured. PAES membrane showed similar performance compared with fluorinated membrane at 100% relative humidity, but the performance of PAES membrane decreased largely due to low ionic conductivity at low relative humidity.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.540-544
• /
• 2013

During start up and shut down of a proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), the performance and lifetime of PEMFC were reduced. In this study, effect of startup and shutdown were investigated in dead-end type PEMFC using oxygen as a cathode gas with polarization curve, impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Dummy load which eliminates residual hydrogen and oxygen during startup and shutdown operation should be applied to mitigated the degradation of PEMFC performance. At 50% relative humidity (RH) under the repetitive on/off cycling, the cell performance decayed faster than at 100% RH because of corrosion of the cathode carbon support. Water suppling into cell reduced the degradation rate of dead-end type PEMFC during start up and shut down cycling at 50% RH.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.345-350
• /
• 2007

During PEMFC operation, OCV(open circuit voltage) and low humidity conditions accelerate the degradation of perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. There have been no studies that clearly explain why these conditions accelerate the membrane degradation. In this study, the hydrogen permeability through the membrane, I-V polarization of MEA, fluoride emission rate(FER) and $H_2O_2$ concentration in condensed water were measured during cell operation under OCV and low relative humidity(RH). The experimental results were evaluated with oxygen radical mechanism the most commonly known for membrane degradation. It seems that low RH of anode is a good condition for $H{\cdot}$ radical formation on the Pt catalyst and the OCV condition accelerate the $H{\cdot}$ to form $HO_2{\cdot}$ radical attacking the polymer membrane.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 2016

Recently, there are many efforts focused on development of more economical non-fluorinated membranes for use in PEMFCs (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells). In this study, characteristics of sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) were compared according to degrees of sulfonation (DS), relative humidity, cell temperatures at PEMFC operation condition. I-V polarization curve, hydrogen crossover, electrochemical surface area, membrane resistance and charge transfer resistance were measured. sPEEK membrane showed high performance at high DS, high temperature and high relative humidity, in particular, performance of sPEEK membrane decreased largely due to low ionic conductivity at low DS and low relative humidity.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.172-181
• /
• 2015

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) continue to be among the most promising alternative energy devices. This paper addresses i-V characteristics of SOFC with a focus on air flow rate along the planar anode electrodes. To address this, detailed Butler-Volmer kinetics are implemented in a general-purpose CFD code FLUENT. The numerical results were validated against experimental data from the literature showing excellent match with i-V polarization data ranging 1V-0.4V. Numerical calculations of fuel cell operation under different flow rare conditions were performed in three-dimensional geometries. Results are presented in terms of concentration distribution of hydrogen, oxygen, and water. The simulations and results indicate that advanced CFD with UDF(User-Defined Function) of Butler-Volmer kinetics can be used to identify the conditions leading to air flow rate and specific surface area and guide development of operating conditions and improve the fuel cell system performance.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.58-63
• /
• 2009

Two kinds of welding methods are used for austenitic 304 stainless steel: laser welding and TIG welding. The difference in the corrosion characteristics of the welded zone between these two welding methods was investigated using electrochemical methods, such as corrosion potential measurements, polarization curves, cyclic voltammograms, etc. The Vickers hardnesses of all the welded zones (WM: Weld Metal, HAZ: Heat Affected Zone, BM: Base Metal) showed relatively higher values in the case of laser welding than for TIG welding. Furthermore, the corrosion current densities of all the welding zones showed lower values compared to TIG welding. In particular, the corrosion current density of the HAZ with TIG welding had the highest value of all the welding zones, which suggests that chromium depletion due to the formation of chromium carbide appears in the HAZ, which is in the range of the sensitization temperature. Thus, it can easily be corroded with a more active anode. Consequently, we found that the corrosion resistance of all of the welding zones for austenitic 304 stainless steel could apparently be improved by using Laser welding.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.9 no.11
• /
• pp.285-290
• /
• 2018

The steel has been used in modern industry, car maker and electric appliance. The steel have some problem, specially corrosion problem. To solve corrosion problem, Zn electrodeposit on steel have been adapted. Recently, The modern industry asks to increase corrosion resistance. Naturally, Increasing corrosion resistance increases the thickness of Zn electrodeposit. But increasing thickness of Zn electrodeposit has some problems. In making part, There are some crack. This crack cause to decrease corrosion resistance. To solve this problem, it is interested in Zn Based alloy electrodeposit such as Zn-Cr. Here, the influence of the electrolytic conditions on the composition of the alloy plating in the chloride bath was investigated. The results are explained by the cathode overvoltage curve of Cr and Zn. As the current density of the cathode increases, Zn content of electrodeposit decrease and Cr content of electrodeposit increase. As the temperature of the electrolyte increases, Zn content of electrodeposit decrease and Cr content of electrodeposit increase.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.442-448
• /
• 2021

Flow field is an important parameter for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance to have an effect on the reactant supply, heat and water diffusion, and contact resistance. In this study, PEMFC performance was investigated using Cu foam flow field at the cathode of 25 cm² unit cell. Polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed at different pressure and relative humidity conditions. The Cu foam showed lower cell performance than that of serpentine type due to its high ohmic resistance, but lower activation and concentration loss due to the even reactant distribution of porous structure. Cu foam has the advantage of effective water transport because of its hydrophobicity. However, it showed low membrane hydration at low humidity condition. The metal foam flow field could improve fuel cell performance with a uniform pressure distribution and effective water management, so future research on the properties of metal foam should be conducted to reduce electrical resistance of bipolar plate.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2021

Gas diffusion layer (GDL) compression is important parameter of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance to have an effect on contact resistance, reactants transfer to electrode, water content in membrane and electrode assembly (MEA). In this study, the effect of GDL compression on fuel cell performance was investigated for commercial products, JNT20-A3. Polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed at different relative humidity and compression ratio using electrode area of 25 ㎠ unit cell. The contact resistance was reduced to 8, 30 mΩ·㎠ and membrane hydration was increased as GDL compression increase from 18.6% to 38.1% at relative humidity of 100 and 25%, respectively. It was identified through ohmic resistance change at relative humidity conditions that as GDL compression increased, water back-diffusion from cathode and electrolyte membrane hydration was increased because GDL porosity was decreased.