Identification of Critical Parameters and Resulting Control Strategies for Comparable PEMFC Performance Characterization

Kurzfassung

Up to the present date, PEMFC performance analysis as well as the electrochemical in-situ characterization has not been standardized leading to non-comparable results in industry and academia. This incomparability is clearly recognizable in single cells, but has an even higher effect on the stack level. Therefore, it is mandatory to identify critical parameters and the required control strategy for these parameters to assure comparable measurements at different testing facilities. In this presentation, the influence of the sensor position, the parameter control as well as the direction of parameter adjustment is pointed out and test protocols are presented with clear definitions of these critical parameters. Based on these protocols comparable stacks have been analyzed in different testing facilities across Europe. This validation clearly shows the consistency of the protocols and the reproducibility of the testing results even by the use of different test benches and locations. Regarding the adaption of such testing protocols to industry requirements, the test duration is a further crucial parameter. It should be minimized without endanger the result accuracy and reproducibility. This important aspect for acceptance in industry will be demonstrated and presented on polarization curve studies, the most frequently used tool for PEMFC assessment. All procedures and validation results are part of the Stack-Test project funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) for the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative under grant n° 303445. We gratefully acknowledge the members of the Stack-Test consortium who prepared, improved and validated the test procedures. All presented test procedures are acquirable at stacktest.zsw-bw.de.