Stack Operation Using Composite Membrane-Electrodes Assemblies at 120Â °C

Abstract

A 500 W stack operating at medium temperatures was designed, manufactured and tested. Nanocomposite Nafion membranes/electrodes (MEA1-NZr) assemblies, containing a commercial yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) as a filler, were developed to work over 80Â °C. A 100 cm2 cell active area with a parallel serpentine flow field as reactants distributor was used for stack realization. Preliminary electrochemical tests in a single cell and in two-cells short stack were performed at 120Â °C, 3 barabs and fully hydrated gases, reaching a rated power at 50 A of about 30W in single cell and 70W in short stack. Finally, a 20 cells stack was assembled, with composite MEA-NZr, and tested at 120Â °C, 3 barabs and partially humidified gases. In these conditions, a power of 433 W at 50 A was reached. Comparing these results with the short stack performance at the same current (50 A), a 24% of power loss, which corresponds to 7 W/cell, was recorded. This performance reduction could be explained considering the scale up effect passing from 2-cells to 20-cells stack. The obtained results show that the developed composite membrane-electrodes assemblies and the designed stack are suitable for working at higher temperature than traditional polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.