Lifetime Prediction of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell under Automotive Load Cycling Using a Physically-Based Catalyst Degradation Model

Manik Mayur, Mathias Gerard, Pascal Schott and Wolfgang G. Bessler
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Manik Mayur: Institute of Energy Systems Technology (INES), Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Badstrasse 24, 77652 Offenburg, Germany
Mathias Gerard: CEA LITEN, University of Grenoble Alpes, F-38054 Grenoble, France
Pascal Schott: CEA LITEN, University of Grenoble Alpes, F-38054 Grenoble, France
Wolfgang G. Bessler: Institute of Energy Systems Technology (INES), Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Badstrasse 24, 77652 Offenburg, Germany

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: One of the bottlenecks hindering the usage of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology in automotive applications is the highly load-sensitive degradation of the cell components. The cell failure cases reported in the literature show localized cell component degradation, mainly caused by flow-field dependent non-uniform distribution of reactants. The existing methodologies for diagnostics of localized cell failure are either invasive or require sophisticated and expensive apparatus. In this study, with the help of a multiscale simulation framework, a single polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) model is exposed to a standardized drive cycle provided by a system model of a fuel cell car. A 2D multiphysics model of the PEMFC is used to investigate catalyst degradation due to spatio-temporal variations in the fuel cell state variables under the highly transient load cycles. A three-step (extraction, oxidation, and dissolution) model of platinum loss in the cathode catalyst layer is used to investigate the cell performance degradation due to the consequent reduction in the electro-chemical active surface area (ECSA). By using a time-upscaling methodology, we present a comparative prediction of cell end-of-life (EOL) under different driving behavior of New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC).

Keywords: polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC); modeling; catalyst degradation; driving cycle; durability estimation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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