• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2022

The study on electrode degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) was mainly studied on the particle growth and active area reduction of Pt on the electrode. The degradation of the electrode catalyst Pt in contact with the membrane affects the deterioration of the polymer membrane, but there are not many studies related to this. In this study, the phenomenon of the deposition of deteriorated Pt inside the polymer membrane during the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test and its effects were studied. The voltage change (0.6 V ↔ 0.9 V) was repeated up to 30,000 cycles to accelerate the platinum degradation rate. When the voltage change cycle was repeated while oxygen was introduced into the cathode, the amount of Pt deposited inside the film was larger than when nitrogen was introduced. As the number of voltage change cycles increased, the amount of Pt deposited inside the membrane increased, and Pt dissolved in the cathode moved toward the anode, showing a uniform distribution throughout the membrane at 20,000 cycles. In the process of the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test, the hydrogen crossover current density of the membrane did not change, and it was confirmed that the deposited Pt did not affect the durability of the membrane.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.403-409
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• 2008

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is very interesting power source due to high power density, simple construction and operation at low temperature. But it has problems such as high cost, improvement of performance, effect of temperature and initial start at low temperature. These problems can be approached to be solved by using experiment and mathematical method which are general principles for analysis and optimization of control system for heat and hydrogen detecting management. In this paper, insulation vessel and control system for stable operation of fuel cell at low temperature were developed for experiment. The constant temperature capability and the heating time at sub-zero temperatures with insulation control system were studied by using a heating bar of 60W class. PEMFC stack which was made by 4 cells with $50\;mc^2$ active area in each cell is a thermal source. Times which take to reach constant temperature by the state of insulation vacuum were measured at variable environment temperatures. The test was performed at two conditions: heating mode and cooling mode. Constant temperature capability was better at lower environment temperature and vacuum pressure. The results of this experiment could be used as basis data about stable operation of fuel cell stack in low temperature zone.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2012

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) stack power output is needed to be approximately 100 kW to meet the requirements of automotive applications. In order to secure the electric safety for drivers, passengers and mechanics, it is very important to understand phenomena of an electric insulation in a fuel cell vehicle. In this study, we studied the electric insulation properties and the insulation resistance of stack, system and vehicle in the field of fuel cell was estimated at the applied voltage of 500 V, respectively. Also we discussed the insulation factors such as the conductivity of coolant, the element of vehicle design and the intrinsic resistance of the vehicle components.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2013

Pt/carbon Electrode catalysts for PEMFC were synthesized using colloidal method. PSA (platinum sulfite acid) was used as a Pt precursor and CPA (chloroplatinic acid) was also used to replace relatively expensive PSA. Electrode catalysts prepared using PSA showed Pt particle size less than 3.5 nm and Pt yield higher than 90% in 10~40 wt% Pt loading. Electrode catalysts prepared using CPA also showed Pt particle size less than 4.4 nm and Pt yield higher than 80% in 10~40 wt% Pt loading. The MEA (membrane electrode assembly) using 20 wt% Pt/VXC72 showed equivalent I-V curve comparing with commercial electrode catalyst in single cell test.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.48-56
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• 2009

This paper presents the power conversion system for TIG-welder using the fuel cell stack Generally, power supply for TIG-welder uses the front-ended diode bridge rectifier by common AC power source. In this case, power supply of TIG-welder increases in volume because of using bulky capacitor and diode-rectifier. Also, input current includes ripple and harmonics. Moreover, TIG-welder will be demand the power supply with lightweight and easy movement in the areas like as the islands and mountainous areas or the special environment are not use common AC power source. Thus, input power of the power conversion system for TIG-welder is used PEMFC(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell), and the power conversion system is comprised of full-bridge converter with function of boost converter and inverter welding source, in this paper. The proposed power conversion system which is power supply for TIG-welder was verified by computer simulations and experiments.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2014

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)-cerium composite membranes with improved oxidative stability were prepared for proton exchange membrane fuel cell application. Oxidative stability of the composite membranes changed depending on the amount of incorporated metal. Their water uptake, IEC and proton conductivity were also affected. ICP analysis confirmed trace of cerium ion in the composite membranes and $^1H$-NMR indicated successful coordination of sulfonic acid groups with the metal ions. Increasing amount of the cerium ion resulted in decrease in proton conductivities and water uptake, but enhanced oxidative stabilities. A hydrogen peroxide exposure equipment was used for the test of oxidative stability of the composite membranes, which enabled to mimic fuel cell operating condition compared with conventional Fenton's test.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2010

This paper proposed lightweight aluminum bipolar plates as an alternative for conventional graphite bipolar plates in fuel cell systems used as a power source for small reconnaissance UAVs. Since bipolar plates occupy more than 80% of the total weight of the fuel cell system, lightweight aluminum bipolar plates can improve the overall payload and flight time of the fuel cell UAV. The aluminum and graphite bipolar plates were fabricated to compare the performance of each of them. A 15% higher performance per weight was obtained from aluminum bipolar plates than the graphite bipolar plates. Also, the performance of a single cell using aluminum bipolar plates was evaluated under various operating conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2011

To enhance the performance of a MEA (membrane electrode assembly) in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), optimum contents of Nafion ionomer as electrolyte in the 20 and 40 wt% Pt/C used in electrodes were examined. Variety characterization techniques were applied to examine optimum Nafion contents: cell performance test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). According to Pt wt% supported on carbon support, it has been observed that polarization, ohmic, and mass transfer resistances were changed so that the cell performance was significantly dependent on the content of Nafion ionomer. Optimum Nafion ionomer contents in the 20 wt% Pt/C and 40 wt% Pt/C were showed 35 wt% and 20 wt%, respectively. This is due to different surface area of the Pt/C catalyst, and formation of triple phase boundary seems to be affected by the Nafion contents.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.817-822
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• 2008

Metal matrix composite (MMC) materials having low electrical contact resistance based on 316L stainless steel (STS) matrix alloy with $ZrB_2$ particles were fabricated for PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) separator by powder metallurgy (PM). The effects of the boride particle addition into the matrix alloy on microstructure, surface morphology, and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the samples and gas diffusion layer (GDL) were investigated. Both conventional and PM 316L STS samples showed high ICR due to the existence of non-conductive passive film on the alloy surface. The addition of the boride particles, however, remarkably reduced ICR of the samples. SEM observation revealed that the boride particles were protruded out of the matrix surface and particle density existing on the surface increased with increasing the boride content, causing increase of the total contact area between the conductive particles and GDL. ICR of the samples also decreased with increasing the boride content resulted from the increased contact area.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2011

The effect of an increase in the temperature of inlet air on the performance of a membrane humidifier for a PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) vehicle was investigated both experimentally and numerically. A shell-and-tube type gas-to-gas humidifier with Nafion membrane was tested. The experimental result showed that water transfer varies nonlinearly with the temperature elevation. Numerical analysis based on detailed modeling was also conducted in simplified geometry of a single tube to explain this nonlinear behavior. The simulation revealed that the local water flux varies nonlinearly and dramatically along the tube. The analysis was based on the inverse relationship between the increase in temperature and decrease in relative humidity, both of which seriously affect the water conductivity of the membrane.