Stack-Test Work Package 2: Functional and Performance Testing on PEMFC stacks

Kurzfassung

The EU-funded research project Stack-Test has developed different test procedures for the functional and performance characterization of PEMFC stacks. The test procedures are based on test modules related to the variation of one test input parameter and the determination of the influence on the stack performance. These test modules are suitable for all stack applications and have a general nature. The procedure for parameter variation, the critical parameters and the test parameters of interest for the performance characterization have been defined. The following test modules are available: - Humidity, temperature, and lambda sensitivity - Pressure sensitivity (exemplarily presented) - Fuel/oxidant composition - Freeze start - Continuous operation at constant load - Polarization curve - Impact of ambient conditions - Electrochemical methods - Dead end operation The objective and scope of the test modules will be presented and the nature of the test modules will be demonstrated using an exemplary module. Furthermore, application specific test programs have been developed in the project. These test programs are focusing automotive, stationary and portable applications. Different test modules are combined to a test program and parameter sets are suggested for each application. Five test programs have been created so far: - Stack performance assessment - Stack performance mapping - Stack tolerance to ambient conditions - Dead end performance - Stack performance characterization