Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T07:32:23.742Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of Trace Contaminants on PEM Fuel Cell Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Tony Thampan
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Hawaii, 1680 East-West Rd POST 109, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
Rick Rocheleau
Affiliation:
[email protected], United States
Keith Bethune
Affiliation:
[email protected], United States
Douglas Wheeler
Affiliation:
[email protected], United States
Get access

Abstract

At the Hawaii Fuel Cell Test Facility a systematic evaluation of the impact of impurities in hydrogen is underway to evaluate the effects on the performance of PEM fuel cells. Initial tests are being conducted using carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon contaminants. The effects of carbon monoxide poisons at atmospheric and pressurized operating conditions have shown a strong dependence on concentration of the impurity over the range 6.7 µmole/mole to 29.3 µmole/mole. Additionally, benzene and toluene were tested at 20 µmole/mole. Although both benzene and toluene showed no evidence of fuel cell degradation, on-line gas analysis of the exit anode stream showed that toluene hydrogenation occurs in the anode resulting in 90% conversion of the toluene to methyl-cyclohexane.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Virji, M.B.V. and Thring, R.H., Proc. IMechE (219) Part D; J. Auto. Eng., 219 937 (2005).Google Scholar
2. Costamagna, P. and Srinivasan, S., J. Power Sources, 102 253 (2001)Google Scholar
3. Ralph, T. R. and Hogarth, M. P., Platinum Met. Rev., 46 117 (2002)Google Scholar
4. Fahey, J., FORBES, April 25, 2005 Google Scholar
5. SAE J2719 Draft, Surface Vehicle Information Report 06/2005Google Scholar
6. “Proposed Hydrogen Fuel Standard Road Map” Joint Hydrogen Quality Task Force, USFCC 05–146 July 26 2005 www.usfcc.com Google Scholar
7. Watanabe, S., Tatsumi, M., Akai, M., presented at the 2004 Fuel Cell Seminar, San Antonio TX. Nov. 2004;Google Scholar
Akai, M., Watanabe, S. presented at the ISO/TC197/WG12 N 24 Meeting January 24th -26th 2005 Google Scholar
8. Poondi, D. and Vannice, M. A., J. Catal. 161, 742 (1996)Google Scholar
22. Baschuk, J.J. and Li, X., Int. J. Energy Res., 25 695 (2001)Google Scholar
10. Ralph, T.R., Platinum Met. Rev., 41 102 (1997)Google Scholar
11. Ralph, T.R., Hards, G.A., Keatings, J.E., Campell, S.A., Wilkinson, D. P., Davis, M., St-Pierre, J. and Johnson, M.C., J. Electrochem. Soc. 144 3845 (1997)Google Scholar
12. Kolde, J., presented at the 2003 Fuel Cell Seminar, Miami Beach, FL. Nov. 2003 Google Scholar
13. Uribe, F., Zawodzinski, T., Electrochemica Acta 47 3799 (2002)Google Scholar
14. Springer, T.E., Rockward, T., Zawodzinski, T.A. and Gottesfeld, S., J. Electrochem. Soc., 148 A11 (2001)Google Scholar
15. Zhang, J.X., Thampan, T., Datta, R., J. Electrochem. Soc., 149 A765 (2002)Google Scholar
16. Knights, S. D., Wilkinson, D. P., Campbell, S. A., Taylor, J. L., Gascoyne, J. M. and Ralph, T. R., World Appl. 01/15247; 2001 Google Scholar
17. Zhang, J.X., Thampan, T., Datta, R., J. Electrochem. Soc., 149 A1423 (2002)Google Scholar