PERFORMANCE TESTING OF A
LIQUID COOLED 5KW
HIGH TEMPERATURE PEM FUEL CELL STACK
S Ø R E N J U H L A N D R E A S E N , A S S O C I AT E P R O F E S S O R
D E PA RT M E N T O F E N E R G Y T E C H N O L O G Y
AALBORG UNIVERSITY
DENMARK
sja@et.aau.dk
Presentation Outline
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Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University
High temperature PEM fuel cells
Reformer system topologies
Fuel cell stack testing methodology
Experimental results
Conclusions
Future work
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High Temperature PEM Fuel Cells
Advantages
• PBI-based MEAs have a high tolerance to CO
• A liquid fuel, such as methanol is accessible and storable
• Heat can be utilized in fuel conversion
• System energy density increase is ”cheap”
Challenges
• System size and complexity increases
• Impurities are introduced
• System heat-up
Different reformer system topologies using methanol reformers
Reformer system topologies using liquid cooling
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Parallell thermal connection
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Low temperature fuel cell stack
cooling/heating system
(160-180oC)
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High temperature reformer
cooling/heating system
(230-300oC)
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Burner running on anode waste gas
adds heat to reforming process
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Fuel cell stack cathode air exhaust
utilized for fuel evaporation
Reformer system topologies using liquid cooling
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Seriel thermal connection
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Cooler inserted to reduce
temperature to stack level
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Burner increases temperature
from fuel cell stack level to
reformer level.
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Special fuel evaporator needed in
order to properly exchange heat
between various incoming flows.
Fuel cell stack
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5kW Serenergy fuel cell stack
120 cells, 165 cm2
Trial using Danish Power Systems MEAs
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Challenges:
• New MEA type
• Gaskets
• Coolant leaks
• Customized assembly
Experimental setup
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Greenlight G400 fuel cell test station
12 kW electronic load 500V,1000A
Gas concentration, pressure,
temperature, flow, dew point control of all
inlets
Water balance measurement
External cooling cart for thermal oil
temperature heating/cooling
Integrated CVM (3rd party)
Electrochemical characterization using
EIS (under development for high voltage
stack)
Automation of reference performance test
under various operating conditions.
verified on 18 cell short stack.
Initial CVM
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Pure Hydrogen, ~165oC
Stack performance
81,6V - 16,3A – 1335W
75,5V – 33,0A – 2493W
70,2V – 49,5A – 3473W
65,8V – 66,8A – 4347W
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Slightly high variance in cell
voltage:
Max spread 56mV@49,5A
Several tests, storage time later
3 cells, critical cell reversal -1000mV
75,4V - 18A – 1358W
69,3V - 36A – 2496W
Several tests, storage time later
3 cells removed, thus 0V
76,8V - 18A – 1382W
70,5V - 36A – 2539W
Increased performance even with 3 cells missing
Stack start-up
Start-up procedure:
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Avoid too high inlet collant pressure (viscosity of oil)
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Avoid too high temperature difference on stack
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Avoid too much liquid water in stack
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Avoid high potentials on stack to reduced CC
Stack operation
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Limited operation untill 160 degrees
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Enables additional ”electrochemical heating”
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Very stable stack voltage (only excursions are due
to dynamic thermal test)
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Fast response to load changes
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Current limited by cooling system
Conclusions
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Successful trial of new MEA type in 5kW stack in fuel cell test station
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Load changes and thermal dynamics examined
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Many initial challenges overcome regarding implementation of new MEAs
• Stack assembly with new MEA thickness
• Leak proofing, gasket choice
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Cell reversal identified, cell removed and processed to further analysis in order to
evaluate cause of failure: collant leak, membrane crack, gasket failure, stack
assembly, internal short
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Automated testing procedure verified on short stack and ready for trial with full stack
Future work
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Rapid start-up
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Evaluation of shutdown proceedures, evaluating carbon corrosion on stack
level
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System control strategy development
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Model based prediction of anode hydrogen availability
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Fuel cell stack and system diagnostics
Recent publications from the group
Comparative study of the break in process of post doped and sol–gel high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Vang, Jakob Rabjerg; Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Araya, Samuel Simon; Kær, Søren Knudsen
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, No. 27, 09.2014, p. 14959–14968
Parametric Sensitivity Tests—European Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Stack Test Procedures
Araya, Samuel Simon; Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Kær, Søren Knudsen
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology Vol. 11, No. 6, FC-14-1067, 12.2014
Performance and endurance of a high temperature PEM fuel cell operated on methanol reformate
Araya, Samuel Simon; Grigoras, Ionela; Zhou, Fan; Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Kær, Søren Knudsen
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy Vol. 39, No. 32, 31.10.2014, p. 18343–18350
Test of hybrid power system for electrical vehicles using a lithium-ion battery pack and a reformed methanol fuel cell range extender
Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Ashworth, Leanne; Sahlin, Simon Lennart; Jensen, Hans-Christian Becker; Kær, Søren Knudsen
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy Vol. 39, No. 4, 22.01.2014, p. 1856-1863.Research - peer-review › Journal article
Thermal modeling and temperature control of a PEM fuel cell system for forklift applications
Liso, Vincenzo; Nielsen, Mads Pagh; Kær, Søren Knudsen; Mortensen, Henrik H.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, No. 16, 27.05.2014, p. 8410–8420.
Control and experimental characterization of a methanol reformer for a 350 W high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system
Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Kær, Søren Knudsen; Sahlin, Simon Lennart.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, No. 3, 06.02.2013, p. 1676-1684.
Dynamic Modeling of a Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell System using Empirical Data and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System Models
Justesen, Kristian Kjær; Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Shaker, Hamid Reza.
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2, 04.12.2013.
Evaluation of Fuel-Cell Range Extender Impact on Hybrid Electrical Vehicle Performance
Jensen, Hans-Christian Becker; Schaltz, Erik; Koustrup, Per Sune; Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Kær, Søren Knudsen
I E E E Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Vol. 62, No. 1, 01.2013, p. 50-60
Gas composition modeling in a reformed Methanol Fuel Cell system using adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems
Justesen, Kristian Kjær; Andreasen, Søren Juhl; Shaker, Hamid Reza; Ehmsen, Mikkel Præstholm; Andersen, John.
In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, No. 25, 21.08.2013, p. 10577-10584
Acknowledgements
The authours would like to acknowledge the financial support from the EUDP
program and the Danish Energy Agency
Thank you for your attention!