Fuel cell testing: an MEA manufacturer perspective

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Jonah Townsend
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1 Fuel cell testing: an MEA manufacturer perspective James Keating Test Team Supervisor Technology Centre Blount s Court Sonning Common Reading RG49NH, UK Keatij@matthey.com +44(0)

Refining and Sales) Catalysts and Chemicals Process Technologies (AMOG, DPT, Treacerco/Vertec Gold &

2 Johnson Matthey Plc Johnson Matthey Plc Envcironmental Technologies Division Precious Metal Products Division Fine Chemicals and Catalysts Division Emission Control Technologies (ECT) Platinum (Products, Refining and Sales) Catalysts and Chemicals Process Technologies (AMOG, DPT, Treacerco/Vertec Gold & Silver Macfarlan Smith Fuel Cells Colour Technologies Pharmaceutical Materials and Services Research Chemicals

3 A long history in fuel cells JM supplied platinum electrodes for the first fuel cell demonstration in 1839 JM catalysts have been used in space programmes since the 1960 s JM R&D on PEM fuel cells since 1992

Products and Production Capability HiSPEC Fuel Cell Components Electrodes, 3, 5 and 7 layer MEAs Hydrogen, reformate & direct methanol systems Automotive, stationary & portable applications HiSPEC

4 Products and Production Capability HiSPEC Fuel Cell Components Electrodes, 3, 5 and 7 layer MEAs Hydrogen, reformate & direct methanol systems Automotive, stationary & portable applications HiSPEC Fuel Cell Catalysts Hydrogen, reformate, direct methanol & phosphoric acid systems Supported and unsupported variants Precious Metals Management Refining of MEAs and catalysts Platinum purchasing options

5 JMFC Test Facility Customer focused Diagnostic critical to our work Performance and durability testing conducted on PEM, DMFC and PAFC Accurate and reproducible testing extremely important Automation allows testing to proceed 24 hours a day throughout the year

6 Customer Hardware and Test Protocols Rapid screener testing (50cm 2 ) Mass transport in GDL, microlayer and/or catalyst layer often hardware dependent Wide range of temperature, pressures and humidification required by customer (need accuracy across the range without the need for recalibration) Need to study full MEA behaviour not a simple acceptance test

7 MEA Screening Fast turn around, flexible screening tools used for initial component development Scale-up to large single cell (generic and customer) once basic understanding achieved Short mapping

Portable,automated humidity calibration unit developed in the test facility Dew Point

8 Humidification Diagnostics Wire to probe console and computer Humidity probe Gas input Gas return Heated and lagged, stainless steel cylinder Humidy Sweep Portable,automated humidity calibration unit developed in the test facility Dew Point (oc) New humidifier Set Point Humidity sweep 25 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00 Time

9 3Wayox Performance losses analysis Way-Ox Diagnostic 0.9 Activation overpotential Cell Voltage / V air Helox Oxygen Oxygen corrected Ohmic losses Concentration overpotential Mass transport Current Density / ma cm -2

10 3-Way-Ox Diagnostic Cell Voltage / V 3Wayox Comparison Plots WayOx in action 3 different MEAs with different mass transport properties MEA 1, air Helox Oxygen MEA 2, air Helox Oxygen MEA 3, air Helox Oxygen Current Density / ma cm -2 Cell Voltage Gains / mv Helox and Oxygen Gains MEA 1, Helox Gains Oxygen Gains MEA 2, Helox Gains Oxygen Gains MEA 3, Helox Gains Oxygen Gains WayOx gain analysis Helox Gains=V Helox -V air Current Density / ma cm -2 Oxygen Gains=V O2 -V Helox

11 Compression Diagnostics Gains / mv Helox Gains W TS9 GSC4 80 PSI W TS9 GSC4 100 PSI W TS9 GSC4 120 PSI W TS9 GSC4 140 PSI Example of optimum cell compression testing Current Density / ma.cm -2

12 Anode Diagnostics Reformate sensitivities

13 Cell Resistance Important to use multiple techniques and not to be reliant on one single method Way-Ox : Resistance JM large single cell, standard MEAs, 80 C, low pressure, low h idifi ti Stand C, Cell 5 (3 MEA's), Air Stand F, Cell 2 (2 MEA's), Air Resistance / Ω.cm Stand I, Cell 11 (3 MEA's), Air Current Density / ma.cm -2

14 Reproducibility and Repeatability studies Cell Voltage / V Regular R&R forms the final part of test stand/cell validation 3-Way-Ox R&R JM large single cell, standard MEAs, 80 C, low pressure, low h idifi ti Resistance / Ω.cm Stand C, Cell 5 (3 MEA's), Air 0.01 Helox Oxygen Stand F, Cell 2 (2 MEA's), Air 0.00 Helox Oxygen Stand I, Cell 11 (3 MEA's), Air Helox Oxygen 3-Way-Ox : Resistance JM large single cell, standard MEAs, 80 C, low pressure, low h idifi ti Stand C, Cell 5 (3 MEA's), Air Stand F, Cell 2 (2 MEA's), Air Stand I, Cell 11 (3 MEA's), Air Current Density / ma.cm -2 Once validated cells and stands are kept constant Current Density / ma.cm -2

15 The Importance of Calibration Test stand calibrated annually for following parameters: temperature pressure gas flow coolant flow current voltage hardware trips safety sensors Current Offset / A Current Offset LB Readback SW Readback Clamp Meter Shunt R Set Current / A Actual Flow Cathode M ix Oxygen 0-60slpm Actual Ideal Set Flow

16 Fuel Cell Test Facility PEM Diagnostics 3Wayox Automated Current interrupt resistance Automated AC resistance/ HFR Automated Reformate blending Automated Compression testing Semi automated Humidity sweep Automated Leak current Semi automated Fluoride release rate sampling Automated Water balance measurement Automated Drive cycles Automated AC-Impedance Transient studies Automated Leak rate and short resistance Use as QC tools Cyclic Voltammetry Mass spectrometer and micro GC

17 JM Fuel Cells - MEA Test Facility Reproducibility, Accuracy, Reliability RARE! R&R, E-stop frequency and calibration more critical than utilisation! Smart fully automated, validated, diagnostics need to form the basis of MEA testing In order to troubleshoot problems early important to keep variables to a minimum Smart troubleshooting tools and good support team essential to maintaining quality Continuous improvement program

A Fuel Cell Supply Chain in the UK

A Fuel Cell Supply Chain in the UK Dr James Wilkie Development Director wilkiej@matthey.com Johnson Matthey plc FTSE 100 192.5m profit before tax, Market Cap 2B 7600 employees Profits 44% NA, 39% Europe,