Pulsenics and Plug Power will present on new innovations in fuel cell monitoring at ECS Chicago
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) supports more intelligent fuel cell design, operation, and management as hydrogen-powered engines move into the mainstream.
Plug Power, a US-based hydrogen systems maker, is building the global hydrogen economy with a fully integrated ecosystem spanning production, storage, delivery, and power generation. Plug has deployed over 72,000 fuel cell systems and 275 fueling stations and is the largest user of liquid hydrogen.
Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a leading alternative to combustion engines. With their high-power density and low operating temperatures, PEMFCs have lots of potential in both the grid-balancing and heavy-duty vehicle segments. However, like many electrochemical devices, PEMFCs struggle to optimize efficiency and durability.
Plug Power engaged Pulsenics to run real-time diagnostics on one of their cutting-edge PEMFC stacks in order to gain a deeper understanding of how individual cells behave under various operating conditions. The goal of the study was to monitor real-world performance by mapping variable interactions and their influence on electrochemical behavior for intelligent stack design.
Key facts about the study:
- Operated at high current densities (up to 1 A/cm²).
- 27 operating conditions tested.
- Variables included: current density, temperature, fuel ratio, cathode/anode humidity, and cathode/anode pressure.
- Measurements taken simultaneously from all 20 cells in the stack.
The use of operando Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in this study captured real-time impedance signatures, allowing direct observation of performance-limiting mechanisms as they occurred, and detailed insights into how each operating condition affected the performance of the system.
At the Electrochemical Society meeting in Chicago on October 14th at 4pm, Pulsenics will share details on this research, sharing the value of operando EIS as a high-resolution tool for fuel cell diagnostics. Fuel cell makers can gain important insights on their pathway to commercialization of this revolutionary technology.
Check out the abstract here. If you’re not able to join us in person, contact a consultant today and we’ll get you all the info!
