• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 2012

A simple drying process was developed for the preparation of a Pt/Nafion self-humidifying membrane to be used for a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Platinum (II) bis (acetylacetonate), $Pt(acac)_2$ was sublimed, penetrated into the surface of a Nafion film and then reduced to Pt nanoparticles simultaneously without any support of a reducing agent in a glass reactor at $180^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. The process was carried out in $N_2$ atmosphere to prevent the oxidation of Pt nanoparticles at high temperature. The morphology and distribution of the Pt nanoparticles were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and we found that the average Pt particle size was ca. 3.7 nm, the penetration depth was ca. $17{\mu}m$. Almost all Pt nanoparticles were formed just beneath the surface and the number density decreased rapidly as the penetration depth increased. To estimate water absorption characteristics of the Nafion membranes, water uptake at an isothermal condition was measured by dynamic vapor sorption (DVS), and it was found that water uptake of the Pt/Nafion membrane was higher than that of the neat Nafion membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2003

Poly(ether ether ketone)(PEEK) was sulfonated using sulfuric acid and blended with polysulfone with various ratios. The blended polymer electrolyte membranes were characterized in terms of methanol permeability, proton conductivity and ion exchange capacity. As the amount of sulfonated PEEK increased, both methanol permeability and proton conductivity increased. This was due to the increase of ion exchange capacity. The experimental results indicated that the blend membrane with 20% polysulfone was the best choice In terms of the ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.318-323
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• 2015

For commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles, one of the key objectives is to improve durability of MEA and electrocatalysts. Regarding electrocatalysts, the major issue is to reduce carbon corrosion and dissolution of Pt caused by harsh conditions, for example, SU/SD (Start-up/Shut-down). In this research, OER (Oxygen Evolution Reaction) catalyst has been developed improvement of durability. A modified polyol process is developed by controlling the pH of the solvent to synthesize the PtIr nanocatalysts on carbon supports. Each performance of the MEAs applying PtIr and Pt are equivalent because PtIrnanocatalysts have both ORR and OER activity. Breadboard test for catalyst durability in harsh conditions and high potentialsis found that the MEA applying PtIrnanocatalysts durability is improved more than the MEA applying Pt nanocatalysts.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.386-392
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• 2013

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks are constructed by stacking several to hundreds of unit cells depending on their power outputs required. Fuel and oxidant are distributed to each cell of a stack through so-called manifolds during its operation. In designing a stack, if the manifold sizes are too small, the fuel and oxidant would be maldistributed among the cells. On the contrary, the volume of the stack would be too large if the manifolds are oversized. In this study, we present a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with a geometrically simplified flow-field to optimize the size of the manifolds of a stack. The flow-field of the stack was simplified as a straight channel filled with porous media to reduce the number of computational meshes required for CFD simulations. Using the CFD model, we determined the size of the oxidant manifold of a 30 kW-class PEM fuel cell stack that comprises 99 cells. The stack with the optimal manifold size showed a quite uniform distribution of the cell voltages across the entire cells.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.593-601
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• 2011

An analysis program to simulate the operation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system was set up, and system operation with variations in the working conditions of various components (especially the thermal management system) was simulated. The entire system included a PEMFC stack and balance-of-plant components such as an air-supply unit, a fuel-supply unit, and a heat-management unit (cooling system). Thermodynamic models of all components were made to evaluate the design performance of the entire system, and then off-design models were set up to simulate the operation of the entire system under arbitrary working conditions. A parametric study was carried out to examine the effects of varying the operating conditions (especially the ambient conditions and the operating conditions of the cooling system) on the operation and performance of the entire system.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2011

The humidification of reactant gases is crucial for efficiently operating PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell systems and for improving the durability of these systems. The recycle of the energy and water vapor of exhaust gas improves the system performance especially in the case of automotive application. The available humidification methods are steam injection, nozzle spray, humidification by enthalpy wheel, membrane humidifier, etc. However, these methods do not satisfy certain requirements such as compact design, efficient operation and control. In this study, a hybrid humidification system consisting of a membrane humidifier and exhaust-air recirculation units was developed and the humidification performance of this hybrid humidifier was analyzed. Finally, a new practical method for optimal design of PEM-fuel-cell humidification system is proposed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2010

In this study, high porous PVdF flat sheet membranes were prepared to obtain reinforced membrane support for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. Nano-size laponite was randomly dispersed in the membranes to improve mechanical property which lowered by the high porosity. The morphology and porosity of prepared PVdF/Laponite composite membranes were examined using the SEM analysis and the weight method and all membranes showed over 60% porosity. The membrane thermal stability depending on the laponite contents in the composite membranes was evaluated by membrane heat shrinkage at $105^{\circ}C$ and $135^{\circ}C$. MD and TD heat shrinkage of the PVdF composite membrane containing 5 wt% laponite was 2~3% and 2~3.5% at $135^{\circ}C$, respectively. The mechanical strength was enhanced after incorporating laponite particles and 30% increase in the modulus compared to pure PVdF membrane was obtained.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.373-373
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• 2009

Relative humidity, membrane conductivity and water activity are critical parameters of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) for high performance and reliability. These parameters are closely related with temperature. Moreover, the ideal values of these parameters are not always identical along the channels. Therefore, the cooling channel design and its operating condition should be well optimized along the all location of the channels. In the present study, we have performed a numerical investigation on the effects of cooling channels on performance of a PEMFC. Three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved with the energy equation including heat generated by the electrochemical reactions in the fuel cell. The present numerical model includes the gas diffusion layers (GDL) and serpentine channels for both anode and cathode gas flows, as well as cooling channels. To accurately predict the water transport across the membrane, the distribution of water content in the membrane is calculated by solving a nonlinear differential equation with a nonlinear coefficient, i.e., the water diffusivity which is a function of water content as well as temperature. Main emphasis is placed on the heat transfer between the solid bipolar plate and coolant flow. The present results show that local current density is affected by cooling channels due to the change of the oxygen concentration and the membrane conductivity as well as the water content. It is also found that the relative humidity is influenced by the generated water and the gas temperature and thus it affects the distribution of fuel concentration and the conductivity of the membrane, ultimately fuel cell performance. Unit-cell experiments are also carried out to validate the numerical models. The performance curves between the models and experiments show reasonable results.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2009

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a promising technology for short-term power generation required in residential and automobile applications. Proper management of water has been found to be essential for improving the performance and durability of PEM fuel cells. This study investigated the liquid water exhaust capabilities of various flow channels having different geometries and surface properties. Three-pass serpentine flow fields were prepared by patterning channels of 1 mm or 2 mm width onto hydrophilic Acrylic plates or hydrophobic Teflon plates, and the behaviors of liquid water in those flow channels were experimentally visualized. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were also conducted to quantitatively assess the liquid water exhaust capabilities of flow channels for PEM fuel cells. Numerical results showed that hydrophobic flow channels have better liquid water exhaust capabilities than hydrophilic flow channels. Flow channels with curved corners showed less droplet stagnation than the channels with sharp corners. It was also found that a smaller width is desirable for hydrophobic flow channels while a larger width is desirable for hydrophilic ones. The above results were explained as being due to the different droplet morphologies in hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2003

As an alternative bipolar plate material for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), TiN-coated 316 stainless was evaluated in terms of electrical contact resistance and water contact angle. Performance and lifetime of the TiN-coated 316 bipolar plates were measured in comparison with those of graphite and bare 316 bipolar plates. At a cell voltage of 0.6 V, current density of the single cells using graphite, AISI 316, and TiN/316 bipolar plates was 996, 796, and $896mA/cm^2$, respectively. By coating 316 stainless steel with TiN layer, performance degradation rate determined to be the voltage degradation rate at a cell voltage of 0.6 V was reduced from 2.3 to 0.43 mV/h.