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Hydrogen–Air Fuel Cells with Open Cathode for High-Rate Electric Energy Systems

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Abstract

The results of R&D of electrochemical components of an energy system based on hydrogen–air open cathode fuel cells with proton-exchange membrane are presented. The scheme is shown being capable of realizing electrical power system with high specific energies (up to 700 W h/kg) on the condition that it contains no humidifiers and heaters, light metals are used as the material of bipolar plates, and the fuel cell operates in the mode of self-humidification of the membrane using only the reaction water therefor. Under these conditions, at operating temperatures up to 50°C, the air consumption is 50–100 times higher than the stoichiometric value; there appears a danger of the membrane drying-out. To improve the current–voltage characteristics, a combined method of manufacturing membrane–electrode assembles is used, according to which the catalytic layer was applied by screen printing, and the membrane is formed by direct application of an ionomer to the electrode. The properties of C–Pt- and TiN-based protective coatings on the surface of a titanium bipolar plate are also investigated. The dynamics of changes in the potentials of the electrodes is investigated at “critical” modes of the fuel cell operation and the process stabilization at the nominal mode. Using the experimental data for a fuel cell stack with a power of 1.2 kW and the specific enthalpy–temperature–air humidity diagram, the fuel-cell-operating temperature limits are calculated, at which the process of the membrane self-humidification with reaction water is maintained. The improving of electrochemical components of an open-cathode fuel cell stack is shown to allow achieving a specific power of the power modulus as high as 1 kW/kg.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank М.Yu. Chaika for assistance in experimental studies and V.Е. Guterman and Prometheus R&D Ltd for the granted catalyst.

Funding

This study obtained financial support from the BMPower Company investors, as well as Skolkovo Innovation Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BMPоwer Company, Skolkovo Innovation Center, Moscow, Russia

    S. I. Nefedkin, A. V. Ivanenko, V. I. Pavlov, S. V. Panov, S. V. Shubenkov, M. A. Klimova & A. V. Ryabukhin

  2. National Research University MPEI, Moscow, Russia

    S. I. Nefedkin, M. A. Klimova & A. V. Ryabukhin

Authors
  1. S. I. Nefedkin
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  2. A. V. Ivanenko
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  3. V. I. Pavlov
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  4. S. V. Panov
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  5. S. V. Shubenkov
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  6. M. A. Klimova
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  7. A. V. Ryabukhin
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Contributions

S.I. Nefedkin made theoretical calculations, designed experiment, and processed experimental results; he also wrote the text. А.V. Ivanenko and S.V. Panov designed and organized experimental studies and the testing. S.V. Shubenkov designed experiment and processed experimental results, made theoretical calculations. V.I. Pavlov and М.А. Klimova carried out experimental studies. А.V. Ryabukhin took place in the depositing of coatings.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. Klimova.

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

SUPPLEMENTED MATERIALS

Additional information on the energy system based on hydrogen–air open-cathode fuel cells with proton-exchange membrane and its operation in real devices is provided in the site of the BMPower Company.

Additional information

Translated by Yu. Pleskov

Presented at the VII All-Russian Conference “Fuel Cells and Power Plants on Their Basis,” Chernogolovka, 2020.

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Nefedkin, S.I., Ivanenko, A.V., Pavlov, V.I. et al. Hydrogen–Air Fuel Cells with Open Cathode for High-Rate Electric Energy Systems. Russ J Electrochem 58, 151–162 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1023193522020082

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1023193522020082

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