Empirical Lifetime Prediction Model for Heavy Duty Bus Fuel Cell Membranes

Load transients in bus fuel cells may induce rapid swings in membrane degradation stressors, such as voltage, temperature, and membrane humidity. During periods of idling, high cathode potentials result in elevated rates of gas crossover through the membrane. Gas crossover is known to accelerate chemical membrane degradation due to elevated hydrogen peroxide formation resulting in radical attack, leading to subsequent membrane failure, mainly in the form of gas leaks through the membrane.