WO2011025469A1 - Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature pem fuel cell - Google Patents

Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature pem fuel cell Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2011025469A1
WO2011025469A1 PCT/US2009/004892 US2009004892W WO2011025469A1 WO 2011025469 A1 WO2011025469 A1 WO 2011025469A1 US 2009004892 W US2009004892 W US 2009004892W WO 2011025469 A1 WO2011025469 A1 WO 2011025469A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
stack
voltage
temperature
further characterized
adjusting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2009/004892
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert M. Darling
Paravastu Badrinarayanan
Carl A. Reiser
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
UTC Power Corp
Original Assignee
UTC Power Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by UTC Power Corp filed Critical UTC Power Corp
Priority to DE112009005179T priority Critical patent/DE112009005179T5/en
Priority to JP2012526695A priority patent/JP2013503438A/en
Priority to IN309DEN2012 priority patent/IN2012DN00309A/en
Priority to US13/261,129 priority patent/US9917314B2/en
Priority to KR1020127003495A priority patent/KR20120056818A/en
Priority to PCT/US2009/004892 priority patent/WO2011025469A1/en
Publication of WO2011025469A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011025469A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04544—Voltage
    • H01M8/04559—Voltage of fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04753—Pressure; Flow of fuel cell reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04858—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04865—Voltage
    • H01M8/0488—Voltage of fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04858—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04895—Current
    • H01M8/0491—Current of fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • Corrosion of the catalyst and carbon support of electrodes in a PEM fuel cell operated above 100 0 C is mitigated by ensuring that the stack voltage is regulated as a function of the stack temperature to avoid significant erosion of the electrodes.
  • the cell voltage is held to be the lower of a) that related to avoiding significant corrosion of the electrode support material (carbon or other material) and b) that related to avoiding dissolution of catalyst.
  • PEM fuel cells have attributes that make them attractive for vehicle applications. In order to regulate the temperature of the fuel cell, all of the excess heat in the coolant flowing from the fuel cell must be rejected through the radiator of the vehicle. Continuous rejection of a certain quantity of heat at a lower temperature takes a larger radiator than rejection of the same quantity of heat at a higher temperature. PEM fuel cells typically operate between 65°C and 80 0 C; this relatively low operating temperature requires that unduly large radiators must be used in the vehicles.
  • Membranes which are meant to operate at about 120 0 C are under development.
  • platinum solubility increases with temperature, and the rate of carbon corrosion increases exponentially with temperature. Therefore, degradation of the cathode catalyst and carbon support will occur more quickly at the higher temperatures.
  • a paramount aspect of this disclosure is the discovery of the relationship between cell temperature and cell voltage in controlling the rate of electrode erosion, both of the noble metal catalyst and the carbon support of the electrode.
  • Fig. 1 includes a plot in solid lines of voltages above which carbon corrosion is excessive and voltages above which platinum (for example) dissolution is excessive. The dotted line indicates the lesser of the two which is the s voltage that should not be exceeded in order to promote longer stack life.
  • a specific feature is controlling voltage, such as by operating the power conditioner, battery charger or variable auxiliary load in a manner to adjust the fuel cell voltage to be substantially equal to or below a predetermined safe voltage for the current temperature to avoid dissolving catalyst and a predetermined safe voltage for the current temperature to avoid corrosion of carbon support.
  • This feature can be important in power plants serving vehicles which idle (no or low power demand) frequently, causing high cell voltages.
  • Fig. 1 is a simplified chart of maximum safe voltage, for catalyst and carbon, as a function of temperature.
  • Fig. 2 is a stylized schematic block diagram of a fuel cell power plant which can perform all of the functions relating to controlling cell voltage to reduce electrode erosion, particularly in a PEM fuel cell operating in excess of 100 0 C (212 0 F).
  • a fuel cell power plant 10 includes a stack 11 of PEM fuel cells having membranes 12 capable of operating at temperatures well above 100 0 C, such as temperatures around 120 0 C.
  • Each of the fuel cells have cathodes 15 with air flow fields in fluid communication with an air inlet manifold 17 and an air exhaust manifold 18.
  • Air is provided to a controllable air blower 23, the dotted arrow indicates a control input to the blower from a controller 24.
  • An optional controllable valve 25 may be placed between the pump and the air inlet manifold 17 so as to further control the flow of air to the cathodes.
  • a temperature sensor 27 in the exhaust manifold 18 provides an indication of cell temperature. The temperature may also, or alternatively, be
  • a sensor 28 at the coolant exit; or at the anode exhaust, or internally of the stack, not shown.
  • Each of the fuel cells has an anode 29 which, in this case
  • a source of hydrogen 31 may comprise a tank of industrial grade hydrogen (or better) or it may comprise a reformer with suitable gas cleansing apparatus to provide hydrogen in the form of a reformate gas, which may contain traces of CO and CO2, along with small quantities of innocuous gases.
  • the hydrogen source 31 may provide hydrogen to a remote-sense pressure regulator 32 which controls the pressure of hydrogen flowing in a fuel inlet conduit 33 to the inlet side 34 of a fuel inlet/outlet manifold 35. If the electrical load on the stack 11 is increased, the pressure of hydrogen in the anodes and therefore at the pressure regulator 32 will go down so that the pressure regulator 32 will open and provide additional hydrogen to the fuel cells. On the other hand, if the load is decreased, an excess of hydrogen will be present so that the pressure regulator 32 will decrease the amount of hydrogen being provided to the fuel cells.
  • the fuel After flowing through the first pass portions of the fuel flow fields, the fuel turns around in a fuel turn manifold 38 and flows through the second pass portions of the fuel cells to a fuel outlet portion 39 of the fuel inlet/outlet manifold 35.
  • the outlet fuel is passed to a controllable fuel pump 41 to provide fuel recycle gas to the fuel inlet conduit 33.
  • the exhausting fuel is also connected to a purge valve 43 which vents fuel exhaust to reduce the amount of nitrogen and other gases in the recycle gas.
  • Coolant passages 48 are provided in the stack 11 so as to control the temperature of the fuel cells and, in some configurations, assist in regulating the coolant inventory of the fuel cell power plant 10.
  • the coolant passages may be in cooler plates disposed between groups of fuel cells.
  • the coolant passages may be in or between the back sides of the reactant gas flow field plates.
  • a controllable coolant pump 51 Interconnected between the outlets and the inlets of the coolant passages 48 are a controllable coolant pump 51 , a radiator 53 having a controllable fan 54 and a controllable bypass valve 55, a deionizer 57 with a flow restrictor 58 to limit the flow through the deionizer, an accumulator 60, and a coolant pressure control valve 61.
  • Stack coolant water could be in heat exchange with glycol, which in turn would be cooled in a radiator.
  • the electric power output of the fuel cell stack is conducted from the cathode 65 over a line 66 and from the anode 68 over a line 67 to a pair of switches 69, 70 that, when set in the position shown, connect the stack to a power conditioner 72 which in turn feeds an electrical load 73.
  • the power conditioner converts DC to three-phase AC in phase relationship with that which is required by the load 73.
  • the power conditioner can be controlled by the controller 24 so as to otherwise control the load on the stack.
  • auxiliary load 75 which is adjustable by the controller to assist in the processes of shutting down and starting up the fuel cell power plant, and to control voltage as a function of temperature, as described elsewhere herein.
  • auxiliary loads for start-up, shut-down, and voltage control.
  • a voltage sensor 77 is connected between the output lines 66, 68.
  • the voltage is paramount in determining and controlling the voltage/temperature relationships which alter the rate of dissolving catalysts and corroding carbon, or other catalyst support material, such as that described hereinafter.
  • the coolant temperature and coolant flow are controlled either to be substantially constant, or varied as a function of cell voltage (the higher the voltage, the cooler the water).
  • the controller can adjust the amount of coolant that is not passed through the radiator 53 by opening the bypass valve 55. This will allow the coolant to become warmer.
  • the controller can cause the fan 54 to be cooling the coolant in the radiator 53 or it may shut the fan off. In this way, coolant temperature is controlled by the controller 24.
  • the controller can also control the rate of coolant flow by controlling the speed of the coolant pump 51.
  • the controller seeks a mode in which it will cause the temperature and flow of the coolant to be varied as a function of cell voltage, it will respond to the voltage sensor 77 to adjust one or more of the parameters just now described so that the amount of cooling provided by the coolant to the cells will be a function of cell temperature as determined by the temperature sensor 27. However, it is more likely to control voltage, rather than controlling temperature (other than for proper stack operation).
  • the cell voltage is adjusted during normal operation so as to be substantially equal to or less than a predetermined maximum cell voltage for the temperature indicated by one or more of the cell temperature sensors.
  • the adjustment of the voltage is achieved by adjusting the electrical load, or by adjusting the volume of air flow through the cathode flow fields, to set the current density at a point along the performance curve that results in the desired voltage for the present temperature of the stack.
  • the controller may achieve the desired cell voltage by adjusting the variable auxiliary load 75, which may typically be dynamic, utilizing circuitry, such as amplifiers, to adjust the current and control the cell voltage. Or, the variable auxiliary load may simply be resistive.
  • the voltage may also be controlled by charging batteries (or supercapacitors) at a suitable rate.
  • the method herein may be used with fuel cells having catalyst layers supported on catalyst support material other than carbon.
  • catalyst support materials include oxides of titanium, tantalum, niobium, yttrium, molybdenum, indium and tin, as well as phosphates of yttrium, molybdenum, indium, tin, iron, titanium and tantalum.

Landscapes

  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Inert Electrodes (AREA)

Abstract

A method of operating a fuel cell power plant (10) including a stack (11) of fuel cells having an anode catalyst layer and a cathode electrode (15) including a catalyst layer disposed on catalyst support material is characterized by, during normal operation of said power plant, adjusting the voltage of the stack to be substantially equal to or less than a predetermined maximum voltage for the temperature of the stack. Further, said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the stack voltage to the lesser of: a) a predetermined voltage above which corrosion of catalyst support material is significant and below which corrosion of catalyst support material is insignificant at the temperature of the stack; and b) a predetermined voltage above which dissolution of catalyst is significant and below which dissolution of the catalyst is insignificant at the temperature of the stack.

Description

Mitigating Electrode Erosion in High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell
Technical Field
[0001] Corrosion of the catalyst and carbon support of electrodes in a PEM fuel cell operated above 1000C is mitigated by ensuring that the stack voltage is regulated as a function of the stack temperature to avoid significant erosion of the electrodes. The cell voltage is held to be the lower of a) that related to avoiding significant corrosion of the electrode support material (carbon or other material) and b) that related to avoiding dissolution of catalyst.
Background Art
[0002] Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have attributes that make them attractive for vehicle applications. In order to regulate the temperature of the fuel cell, all of the excess heat in the coolant flowing from the fuel cell must be rejected through the radiator of the vehicle. Continuous rejection of a certain quantity of heat at a lower temperature takes a larger radiator than rejection of the same quantity of heat at a higher temperature. PEM fuel cells typically operate between 65°C and 800C; this relatively low operating temperature requires that unduly large radiators must be used in the vehicles.
[0003] Membranes which are meant to operate at about 1200C are under development. However, platinum solubility increases with temperature, and the rate of carbon corrosion increases exponentially with temperature. Therefore, degradation of the cathode catalyst and carbon support will occur more quickly at the higher temperatures.
Summary
[0004] A paramount aspect of this disclosure is the discovery of the relationship between cell temperature and cell voltage in controlling the rate of electrode erosion, both of the noble metal catalyst and the carbon support of the electrode. The current through the electrode that promotes the inception of dissolution, and the current that promotes the inception of corrosion, both occur at lower voltages when temperature is higher and higher voltages when temperature is lower, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 includes a plot in solid lines of voltages above which carbon corrosion is excessive and voltages above which platinum (for example) dissolution is excessive. The dotted line indicates the lesser of the two which is the s voltage that should not be exceeded in order to promote longer stack life.
[0005] Accordingly, if the voltage of an electrode is high (for instance above about 0.85 volts, with respect to a hydrogen reference electrode, or more), concurrently with a high cell temperature (for instance 1000C {212° F} or above), erosion of the electrode will be significant. But if the voltage is high when the temperature is low (for instance on the order of 65°C {150° F}) then the electrode erosion will be less. In other words, if either the cell voltage or the cell temperature is high, then, erosion will be significant unless the cell temperature or the cell voltage is concurrently low, respectively.
[0006] During normal operation of a fuel cell power plant, maximum cell voltage is regulated as a function of temperature.
[0007] Additionally, a specific feature is controlling voltage, such as by operating the power conditioner, battery charger or variable auxiliary load in a manner to adjust the fuel cell voltage to be substantially equal to or below a predetermined safe voltage for the current temperature to avoid dissolving catalyst and a predetermined safe voltage for the current temperature to avoid corrosion of carbon support. This feature can be important in power plants serving vehicles which idle (no or low power demand) frequently, causing high cell voltages.
[0008] Other variations will become more apparent in the light of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0009] Fig. 1 is a simplified chart of maximum safe voltage, for catalyst and carbon, as a function of temperature.
[0010] Fig. 2 is a stylized schematic block diagram of a fuel cell power plant which can perform all of the functions relating to controlling cell voltage to reduce electrode erosion, particularly in a PEM fuel cell operating in excess of 1000C (2120F).
Mode(s) of Implementation
[0011] A fuel cell power plant 10 includes a stack 11 of PEM fuel cells having membranes 12 capable of operating at temperatures well above 1000C, such as temperatures around 1200C. Each of the fuel cells have cathodes 15 with air flow fields in fluid communication with an air inlet manifold 17 and an air exhaust manifold 18.
[0012] Air is provided to a controllable air blower 23, the dotted arrow indicates a control input to the blower from a controller 24. An optional controllable valve 25 may be placed between the pump and the air inlet manifold 17 so as to further control the flow of air to the cathodes. A temperature sensor 27 in the exhaust manifold 18 provides an indication of cell temperature. The temperature may also, or alternatively, be
monitored by a sensor 28 at the coolant exit; or at the anode exhaust, or internally of the stack, not shown.
[0013] Each of the fuel cells has an anode 29 which, in this
embodiment, are shown as having a dual pass configuration. A source of hydrogen 31 may comprise a tank of industrial grade hydrogen (or better) or it may comprise a reformer with suitable gas cleansing apparatus to provide hydrogen in the form of a reformate gas, which may contain traces of CO and CO2, along with small quantities of innocuous gases. The hydrogen source 31 may provide hydrogen to a remote-sense pressure regulator 32 which controls the pressure of hydrogen flowing in a fuel inlet conduit 33 to the inlet side 34 of a fuel inlet/outlet manifold 35. If the electrical load on the stack 11 is increased, the pressure of hydrogen in the anodes and therefore at the pressure regulator 32 will go down so that the pressure regulator 32 will open and provide additional hydrogen to the fuel cells. On the other hand, if the load is decreased, an excess of hydrogen will be present so that the pressure regulator 32 will decrease the amount of hydrogen being provided to the fuel cells.
[0014] After flowing through the first pass portions of the fuel flow fields, the fuel turns around in a fuel turn manifold 38 and flows through the second pass portions of the fuel cells to a fuel outlet portion 39 of the fuel inlet/outlet manifold 35. The outlet fuel is passed to a controllable fuel pump 41 to provide fuel recycle gas to the fuel inlet conduit 33. The exhausting fuel is also connected to a purge valve 43 which vents fuel exhaust to reduce the amount of nitrogen and other gases in the recycle gas.
[0015] Coolant passages 48 are provided in the stack 11 so as to control the temperature of the fuel cells and, in some configurations, assist in regulating the coolant inventory of the fuel cell power plant 10.
[0016] In cases where the air flow field plates and fuel flow field plates are solid, the coolant passages may be in cooler plates disposed between groups of fuel cells. In configurations which utilize porous, hydrophilic water transport plates, the coolant passages may be in or between the back sides of the reactant gas flow field plates.
[0017] Interconnected between the outlets and the inlets of the coolant passages 48 are a controllable coolant pump 51 , a radiator 53 having a controllable fan 54 and a controllable bypass valve 55, a deionizer 57 with a flow restrictor 58 to limit the flow through the deionizer, an accumulator 60, and a coolant pressure control valve 61. Stack coolant water could be in heat exchange with glycol, which in turn would be cooled in a radiator.
[0018] The above phrases defining interconnection of coolant components between coolant passage outlets and coolant passage inlets are defined herein to encompass the interconnection of coolant
components in different relative order than the express order recited in any expression herein.
[0019] The electric power output of the fuel cell stack is conducted from the cathode 65 over a line 66 and from the anode 68 over a line 67 to a pair of switches 69, 70 that, when set in the position shown, connect the stack to a power conditioner 72 which in turn feeds an electrical load 73. In general, the power conditioner converts DC to three-phase AC in phase relationship with that which is required by the load 73. However, the power conditioner can be controlled by the controller 24 so as to otherwise control the load on the stack. [0020] Adjusting the switches 69, 70 to positions opposite to those shown in the figure will connect the stack to a variable auxiliary load 75 which is adjustable by the controller to assist in the processes of shutting down and starting up the fuel cell power plant, and to control voltage as a function of temperature, as described elsewhere herein. There could be separate auxiliary loads for start-up, shut-down, and voltage control.
[0021] A voltage sensor 77 is connected between the output lines 66, 68. The voltage is paramount in determining and controlling the voltage/temperature relationships which alter the rate of dissolving catalysts and corroding carbon, or other catalyst support material, such as that described hereinafter. In one embodiment, during normal operation of the power plant under a significant load, the coolant temperature and coolant flow are controlled either to be substantially constant, or varied as a function of cell voltage (the higher the voltage, the cooler the water). The controller can adjust the amount of coolant that is not passed through the radiator 53 by opening the bypass valve 55. This will allow the coolant to become warmer. On the other hand, the controller can cause the fan 54 to be cooling the coolant in the radiator 53 or it may shut the fan off. In this way, coolant temperature is controlled by the controller 24. The controller can also control the rate of coolant flow by controlling the speed of the coolant pump 51.
[0022] If the controller seeks a mode in which it will cause the temperature and flow of the coolant to be varied as a function of cell voltage, it will respond to the voltage sensor 77 to adjust one or more of the parameters just now described so that the amount of cooling provided by the coolant to the cells will be a function of cell temperature as determined by the temperature sensor 27. However, it is more likely to control voltage, rather than controlling temperature (other than for proper stack operation).
[0023] To reduce the amount of electrode erosion as a function of cell voltage and temperature, in the present embodiment, the cell voltage is adjusted during normal operation so as to be substantially equal to or less than a predetermined maximum cell voltage for the temperature indicated by one or more of the cell temperature sensors. The adjustment of the voltage is achieved by adjusting the electrical load, or by adjusting the volume of air flow through the cathode flow fields, to set the current density at a point along the performance curve that results in the desired voltage for the present temperature of the stack. The controller may achieve the desired cell voltage by adjusting the variable auxiliary load 75, which may typically be dynamic, utilizing circuitry, such as amplifiers, to adjust the current and control the cell voltage. Or, the variable auxiliary load may simply be resistive. The voltage may also be controlled by charging batteries (or supercapacitors) at a suitable rate.
[0024] The method herein may be used with fuel cells having catalyst layers supported on catalyst support material other than carbon. These catalyst support materials include oxides of titanium, tantalum, niobium, yttrium, molybdenum, indium and tin, as well as phosphates of yttrium, molybdenum, indium, tin, iron, titanium and tantalum.

Claims

Claims
1. A method of operating a fuel cell power plant (10) including a stack (1 1) of fuel cells having an electric output (65, 67) and coolant passages (48) having inlets and outlets, each fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly including a polymer proton exchange membrane (12) disposed between an anode catalyst layer and a cathode electrode including a catalyst layer disposed on catalyst support material, an anode fuel flow field plate on the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly and a cathode air flow field plate on the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly, the power plant also having:
a stack voltage sensor (77),
a stack temperature sensor (27, 28),
a source (31) providing hydrogen-containing fuel to the anode flow field plate,
an oxidant source (23) providing oxidant to the cathode flow field plate, a power conditioner (72) connected between the electric output and a load (73),
a power plant controller (24);
said method characterized by:
during normal operation of said power plant, adjusting the voltage of the stack to be substantially equal to or less than a predetermined maximum voltage for the temperature of the stack.
2. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the stack voltage to be substantially equal to or less than a predetermined voltage above which electrode erosion is significant and below which electrode erosion is insignificant at the temperature of the stack.
3. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the stack voltage to the lessor of: a) a predetermined voltage above which corrosion of catalyst support material is significant and below which corrosion of catalyst support material is insignificant at the temperature of the stack; and
b) a predetermined voltage above which dissolution of catalyst is significant and below which dissolution of the catalyst is insignificant at the temperature of the stack.
4. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the electrical load (75) on the stack.
5. A method according to claim 4 further characterized in that a controller (24) responds to the stack temperature sensor (27, 28) to regulate the load (75) to cause the voltage of the stack indicated by the stack voltage sensor (77) to be substantially equal to or less than the predetermined maximum voltage.
6. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said step of adjusting comprises adjusting current flow through an auxiliary load (77).
7. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the current flow through a variable resistance (77).
8. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said step of adjusting comprises adjusting current flow into an electric storage device.
9. A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: the oxidant source (23) is controllable; and
the step of adjusting comprises regulating the oxidant flow to the cathode flow field to control the voltage of the stack.
10. A method according to claim 9 further characterized in that: a controller (24) responds to the stack temperature sensor (27, 28) to regulate oxidant flow (23) to cause the voltage of the stack indicated by the stack voltage sensor (77) to be substantially equal to or less than the predetermined maximum voltage.
11. A method according to claim 1 further characterized by:
said power plant including a power conditioner (72) connected between the electric output and a load (73); and in that
said step of adjusting comprises operating (24) the power conditioner (72) so as to adjust the load on the stack (11 ).
PCT/US2009/004892 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature pem fuel cell Ceased WO2011025469A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE112009005179T DE112009005179T5 (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Electrode wear reduction on high temperature PEM fuel cell
JP2012526695A JP2013503438A (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Reduction of electrode erosion in high temperature PEM fuel cells
IN309DEN2012 IN2012DN00309A (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28
US13/261,129 US9917314B2 (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature PEM fuel cell
KR1020127003495A KR20120056818A (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature pem fuel cell
PCT/US2009/004892 WO2011025469A1 (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature pem fuel cell

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2009/004892 WO2011025469A1 (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature pem fuel cell

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011025469A1 true WO2011025469A1 (en) 2011-03-03

Family

ID=43628269

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/004892 Ceased WO2011025469A1 (en) 2009-08-28 2009-08-28 Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature pem fuel cell

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US9917314B2 (en)
JP (1) JP2013503438A (en)
KR (1) KR20120056818A (en)
DE (1) DE112009005179T5 (en)
IN (1) IN2012DN00309A (en)
WO (1) WO2011025469A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104185920B (en) 2012-03-15 2016-10-12 丰田自动车株式会社 Fuel cell system
JP6332120B2 (en) * 2015-04-10 2018-05-30 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell system and control method thereof
JP6420801B2 (en) * 2015-09-25 2018-11-07 本田技研工業株式会社 Fuel cell stack
US10115981B2 (en) 2015-09-25 2018-10-30 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Fuel cell stack

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08171921A (en) * 1994-12-19 1996-07-02 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Fuel cell and its operation method
US20030180590A1 (en) * 2001-04-03 2003-09-25 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and method for operation thereof
JP2004179003A (en) * 2002-11-27 2004-06-24 Toyota Motor Corp Diagnostic device and diagnostic method for fuel cell
JP2009070574A (en) * 2007-09-10 2009-04-02 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Fuel cell system and control method thereof

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3564742B2 (en) * 1994-07-13 2004-09-15 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell power generator
US6093500A (en) * 1998-07-28 2000-07-25 International Fuel Cells Corporation Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell system
US6821658B2 (en) * 2001-03-02 2004-11-23 Mti Microfuel Cells Inc. Cold start and temperature control method and apparatus for fuel cell system
JP4289653B2 (en) * 2002-09-19 2009-07-01 株式会社豊田中央研究所 Method and system for operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell
JP3832417B2 (en) * 2002-10-22 2006-10-11 日産自動車株式会社 Fuel cell system
US8765314B2 (en) * 2003-08-25 2014-07-01 Panasonic Corporation Fuel cell system and method for stopping operation of fuel cell system
JP4742495B2 (en) * 2003-12-04 2011-08-10 日産自動車株式会社 Fuel cell system
US20080032163A1 (en) * 2006-06-23 2008-02-07 Usborne John D Preventing corrosion during start up and shut down of a fuel cell
US20080085430A1 (en) * 2006-10-10 2008-04-10 Macbain John A Battery integration and control in an auxiliary power unit powered by a solid oxide fuel cell system
JP2008282611A (en) * 2007-05-09 2008-11-20 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell system and fuel cell system operating method

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08171921A (en) * 1994-12-19 1996-07-02 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Fuel cell and its operation method
US20030180590A1 (en) * 2001-04-03 2003-09-25 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and method for operation thereof
JP2004179003A (en) * 2002-11-27 2004-06-24 Toyota Motor Corp Diagnostic device and diagnostic method for fuel cell
JP2009070574A (en) * 2007-09-10 2009-04-02 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Fuel cell system and control method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US9917314B2 (en) 2018-03-13
JP2013503438A (en) 2013-01-31
DE112009005179T5 (en) 2012-08-09
IN2012DN00309A (en) 2015-05-08
KR20120056818A (en) 2012-06-04
US20120115058A1 (en) 2012-05-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8088527B2 (en) Fuel cell system
US8048580B2 (en) Fuel cell system with an oxidation gas flow controller
CN102244282B (en) fuel cell system
JP4524804B2 (en) Fuel cell system
KR101099739B1 (en) Fuel cell system
JP4424419B2 (en) Fuel cell system
KR20100132542A (en) System and method for starting a fuel cell system
WO2007119688A1 (en) Temperature control system for fuel cell
JP5282397B2 (en) Fuel cell system
JP2005228637A (en) Fuel cell system
US9917314B2 (en) Mitigating electrode erosion in high temperature PEM fuel cell
JP2007250374A (en) Fuel cell system
JP2011216483A (en) Method of operating fuel cell system, and fuel cell system
JP2004146240A (en) Fuel cell system
JP7567825B2 (en) Fuel Cell Systems
JP4828078B2 (en) Method for controlling oxidant flow rate in fuel cell system
JP5725423B2 (en) Fuel cell system
JP2007220538A (en) Fuel cell system
JP4973138B2 (en) Fuel cell system
JP5229523B2 (en) Fuel cell system
JP2012129081A (en) Operational method of fuel cell system
JP2008300065A (en) Fuel cell system
WO2026087571A1 (en) Shut down method for an electrolyser system
CN121816437A (en) Electrolytic cell load switching method
JP2008257932A (en) Fuel cell system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 09848825

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 13261129

Country of ref document: US

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 309/DELNP/2012

Country of ref document: IN

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 20127003495

Country of ref document: KR

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2012526695

Country of ref document: JP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 112009005179

Country of ref document: DE

Ref document number: 1120090051790

Country of ref document: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 09848825

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1