PEM Fuel Cell Failure Mode Analysis

PEM Fuel Cell Failure Mode Analysis presents a systematic analysis of PEM fuel cell durability and failure modes. It provides readers with a fundamental understanding of insufficient fuel cell durability, identification of failure modes and failure mechanisms of PEM fuel cells, fuel cell component degradation testing, and mitigation strategies against degradation. The first several chapters of the book examine the degradation of various fuel cell components, including degradation mechanisms, the effects of operating conditions, mitigation strategies, and testing protocols. The book then discusses the effects of different contamination sources on the degradation of fuel cell components and explores the relationship between external environment and the degradation of fuel cell components and systems. It also reviews the correlation between operational mode, such as start-up and shut-down, and the degradation of fuel cell components and systems. The last chapter explains how the design of fuel cell hardware relates to failure modes. Written by international scientists active in PEM fuel cell research, this volume is enriched with practical information on various failure modes analysis for diagnosing cell performance and identifying failure modes of degradation. This in turn helps in the development of mitigation strategies and the increasing commercialization of PEM fuel cells.

Haijiang Wang is a senior research officer, manager of multiprojects, and the core competency leader of the Unit Fuel Cell Team in the National Research Council Canada Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI). He is also an adjunct professor at five universities, including the University of British Columbia and the University of Waterloo. With 25 years of experience in electrochemistry and fuel cell technology, Dr. Wang has published more than 100 journal and conference papers and has been issued three patents. His research focuses on novel fuel cell design and materials as well as fuel cell diagnosis and durability. Hui Li is a research council officer and technical leader for the PEM Fuel Cell Failure Mode Analysis project and PEM Fuel Cell Contamination Consortium in the National Research Council Canada Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI). Dr. Li has coauthored more than 30 journal papers and has technology licensed to the Mantra Energy Group. Her research focuses on PEM fuel cell contamination and durability testing, the preparation and development of electrochemical catalysts with long-term stability, catalyst layer/cathode structure, and catalyst layer characterization and electrochemical evaluation. Xiao-Zi Yuan is a research officer and project leader of the Unit Fuel Cell Team in the National Research Council Canada Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI). Dr. Yuan has published more than 80 journal and conference papers and holds five patents in China. Her research focuses on PEM fuel cell design, testing, diagnosis, and durability.

Introduction. Catalyst Degradation. Catalyst Support Degradation. Membrane Degradation. Porous Transport Layer Degradation. Degradation of Bipolar Plates and Its Effect on PEM Fuel Cells. Degradation of Other Components. Contaminant-Induced Degradation. Environment-Induced Degradation. Operation-Induced Degradation. Design-Related Durability Issues. Index.