Experimental Investigation of the Influence of NO on a PEM Fuel Cell System and Voltage Recovery Strategies

Peter Reithuber (), Florian Poimer, Stefan Brandstätter, Eberhard Schutting, Simon Buchberger, Alexander Trattner and Helmut Eichlseder
Additional contact information
Peter Reithuber: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria
Florian Poimer: HyCentA Research GmbH, Inffeldgasse 15, 8010 Graz, Austria
Stefan Brandstätter: HyCentA Research GmbH, Inffeldgasse 15, 8010 Graz, Austria
Eberhard Schutting: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria
Simon Buchberger: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria
Alexander Trattner: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria
Helmut Eichlseder: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Air contaminants can have detrimental effects on the performance and durability of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell vehicles. This research focuses on the experimental investigation of the effect of nitrogen monoxide (NO) in the cathode gas stream, which provokes a cell voltage decrease due to the partially reversible adsorption of NO on the platinum catalyst. The concentration and exposure time of NO in the cathode gas stream are varied at selected constant current densities and load ramps to assess the effects throughout the fuel cell system operating range. The results show the cell voltage loss in the presence of NO and reveal a near-catalyst saturation with increased injected NO mass. Additionally, several voltage recovery and mitigation strategies are introduced and discussed by presenting conclusions about the general effect of NO on a fuel cell system in operation. The most promising recovery strategy for fuel cell systems is identified, and the overall system degradation is discussed. All experiments are performed in a test bed environment on a 25 kW low-temperature fuel cell system via controlled injection of NO into the cathode gas stream.

Keywords: PEM fuel cell; hydrogen; NO; voltage loss; catalyst poisoning; voltage recovery; critical operating conditions; reversible degradation; mitigation strategies; irreversible degradation (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/9/3720/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/9/3720/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:9:p:3720-:d:1133699

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().