Investigating Failure in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Project Summary
| Full Title: |
Investigating Failure in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells |
| Project ID: |
175 |
| Principal Investigator: |
John Newman |
| Brief Description: |
The goal of this project is to understand and mitigate fuel cell failure mechanisms. |
| Keywords: |
Fuel cell, modeling |
Purpose
This project is conducting fundamental studies of fuel cell failure mechanisms. This includes experiments aimed at meeting the DOE operation and survivability targets at low and subzero temperatures, as well as development of mathematical models and fundamental experiments to improve performance and design against failure phenomena.
Performer
| Principal Investigator: |
John Newman |
| Organization: | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) |
|---|
| Address: | 306 Gilman Hall, Department of Chemical Engineering
Berkeley, CA 94720-1462 |
|---|
| Telephone: | 510-642-4063 |
|---|
| Email: | newman@newman.cchem.berkeley.edu |
|---|
| Additional Performers: |
Thomas Fuller, Georgia Institute of Technology
|
Period of Performance
| Start: |
December 2004
|
| End: |
September 2009
|
Project Description
| Type of Project: |
Model |
| Category: |
Hydrogen Fuel Pathways |
| Objectives: |
Experimentally characterize membrane properties as a function of temperature to understand operation and survivability at subzero temperatures;
Experimentally correlate membrane degradation to relative humidity and oxygen crossover rates;
Develop advanced mathematical models to predict fuel cell performance and failure through thermal-and-water management issues;
Optimize material properties and operating conditions to increase lifetime and durability. |
| Methodology/Approach: |
The overall approach is a combination of advanced mathematical model development and necessary fundamental experimentation. This approach allows one to study the relevant issues by developing physically-based macroscopic mathematical models. Using these models, simulations are run to identify those conditions that lead to fuel cell failure and to provide management schemes and design criteria that minimize failure. |
Products/Deliverables
| |
Description: FY 2006 Progress Report
Publication Title: FY 2006 DOE Hydrogen Program Progress Report
Article/Abstract Title: V.G.8 Investigation Failure in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Page number(s): 899
Publisher: U.S. Department of Energy
Author Name(s): Newman, John
(PDF 365 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Publication Date:
November 2006
Description: FY 2006 Merit Review Presentation
Article/Abstract Title: Investigating Failure in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Author Name(s): Newman, John
(PDF 358 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Publication Date:
May 2006
Description: FY 2005 Progress Report
Publication Title: FY 2005 DOE Hydrogen Program Progress Report
Article/Abstract Title: VII.I.8 Investigating Failure in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Page number(s): 1062
Publisher: U.S. Department of Energy
Author Name(s): Newman, John
(PDF 259 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Publication Date:
November 2005
Description: FY 2005 Merit Review Presentation
Article/Abstract Title: Investigating Failure in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Author Name(s): Newman, John
(PDF 399 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Publication Date:
May 2005
|
Date Last Updated: 03/18/2008
