Design, Development and Testing of a Monitoring System for the Study of Proton Exchange Fuel Cells and Stacks

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Systems

Background:

• Proton exchange fuel cells (PEFCs) are crucial for clean energy, but their performance analysis requires precise monitoring.
• Existing monitoring systems may lack the granularity or ease of use for detailed cell and stack characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, develop, and validate a novel monitoring architecture for individual cells and stacks within PEFC systems.
• To create an indispensable tool for the comprehensive study and characterization of PEFC performance.

Main Methods:

• The architecture comprises input signals, signal processing boards, analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) using digital acquisition units (DAQs), and a master terminal unit (MTU).
• A graphical user interface (GUI) developed in National Instruments LABVIEW was integrated for data visualization.
• Validation involved static and dynamic operation tests on a Ballard Nexa 1.2 kW fuel cell with an electronic load.

Main Results:

• The system successfully measured voltage distributions across individual cells.
• Accurate temperature measurements at various points within the stack were achieved.
• The monitoring system demonstrated reliability under both static and dynamic operating conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed monitoring architecture provides a robust and versatile solution for studying PEFCs.
• It enables detailed analysis of cell and stack behavior, crucial for advancing fuel cell technology.
• The system's validation confirms its utility as an essential tool for researchers and engineers in the field.