Applications of proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have recently passed the test or demonstration phase and have partially reached the commercialization stage due to the impressive worldwide research effort. Despite the currently promising achievements and the plausible prospects of PEMFCs, there are many challenges remaining that need to be overcome before PEMFCs can successfully and economically substitute for the various traditional energy systems. With the many promising research efforts in overcoming these challenges, the most important tools for the commercialization of PEMFCs will be the technical data and information from a real PEMFC application test. For these reasons, this paper introduces and discusses the remaining challenges and some of the latest research on the application test of PEMFC to real systems such as transportation, residential power generation and portable computers. In addition, this paper describes and summarizes the relative prospects and the competitive force of PEMFCs in these fields. These prospects primarily depend on stable and economical high-purity hydrogen supplies, the scale of application, the existence of more efficient competitive power sources and the social viewpoints such as the health and environment benefits as well as infrastructural aspects associated with traditional power supply and demand. The review shows that PEMFC have the most promising applications to buses, recreation vehicles, and lightweight vehicles. Without doubt, the technology for a stable supply of high-purity hydrogen along with the corresponding infrastructure is essential for the success of PEMFC in various application fields.

[1]  Kimihiko Sugiura,et al.  MCFC performance diagnosis by using the current-pulse method , 2005 .

[2]  A. John Appleby,et al.  Recent progress in performance improvement of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) , 2002 .

[3]  Paola Costamagna,et al.  Quantum jumps in the PEMFC science and technology from the 1960s to the year 2000 ☆: Part II. Engineering, technology development and application aspects , 2001 .

[4]  Robert J. Kee,et al.  Gas-phase reactions of methane and natural-gas with air and steam in non-catalytic regions of a solid-oxide fuel cell , 2006 .

[5]  S. A. Sherif,et al.  Wind energy and the hydrogen economy—review of the technology , 2005 .

[6]  Hubert A. Gasteiger,et al.  Dependence of PEM fuel cell performance on catalyst loading , 2004 .

[7]  Andreas Docter,et al.  Gasoline fuel cell systems , 1999 .

[8]  D. Stolten,et al.  Ten years of operational experience with a hydrogen-based renewable energy supply system , 2003 .

[9]  Christopher Hebling,et al.  A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system for powering portable computers , 2003 .

[10]  Shigeyuki Kawatsu,et al.  Advanced PEFC development for fuel cell powered vehicles , 1998 .

[11]  M. Balasubramanian,et al.  ULTRA-LOW PLATINUM CONTENT FUEL CELL ANODE ELECTROCATALYST WITH A LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE STABILITY , 2004 .

[12]  A. Ghenciu,et al.  Review of fuel processing catalysts for hydrogen production in PEM fuel cell systems , 2002 .

[13]  F. Prinz,et al.  A sharp peak in the performance of sputtered platinum fuel cells at ultra-low platinum loading , 2002 .

[14]  Kenji Kikuchi,et al.  Dissolution of hydrogen and the ratio of the dissolved hydrogen content to the produced hydrogen in electrolyzed water using SPE water electrolyzer , 2003 .

[15]  M. Lin,et al.  Evaluation of PEMFC power systems for UPS base station applications , 2005 .

[16]  A. Heinzel,et al.  Reforming of natural gas—hydrogen generation for small scale stationary fuel cell systems , 2002 .

[17]  M. A. Haldane,et al.  Fabrication of composite SOFC anodes , 2005 .

[18]  V. I. Ugursal,et al.  Residential cogeneration systems: Review of the current technology , 2006 .

[19]  Tadashi Dohi,et al.  A structural approximation method to generate the optimal auto-sleep schedule for computer systems , 2003 .

[20]  S. Srinivasan,et al.  Quantum jumps in the PEMFC science and technology from the 1960s to the year 2000 Part I. Fundamental scientific aspects , 2001 .

[21]  Jenn-Jiang Hwang,et al.  Development of a lightweight fuel cell vehicle , 2005 .

[22]  Jenn-Jiang Hwang,et al.  Development of fuel-cell-powered electric bicycle , 2004 .

[23]  Xianguo Li,et al.  Review of bipolar plates in PEM fuel cells: Flow-field designs , 2005 .

[24]  V. Antonucci,et al.  Technology up date and new strategies on fuel cells , 2001 .

[25]  F. Barbir,et al.  Efficiency and economics of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells , 1997 .

[26]  Jung-Ho Wee,et al.  Performance of a unit cell equipped with a modified catalytic reformer in direct internal reforming-molten carbonate fuel cell , 2006 .

[27]  Egil Rasten.  Electrocatalysis in water electrolysis with solid polymerelectrolyte , 2003 .

[28]  Otmar Bitsche,et al.  Systems for hybrid cars , 2004 .

[29]  G. A. Hards,et al.  Electrocatalysts for fuel cells , 1996, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

[30]  James Stephens,et al.  Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells for communication applications , 2001 .

[31]  Terry DuBois,et al.  The US Army Foreign Comparative Test fuel cell program , 2004 .

[32]  Hannes Wolf,et al.  Electrically conductive LCP–carbon composite with low carbon content for bipolar plate application in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell , 2006 .

[33]  D. Gruber,et al.  Sputter-deposited ultra-low catalyst loadings for PEM fuel cells , 2005 .

[34]  Yan-Kuin Su,et al.  Organic thin-film Transistors with N2 Doping , 2005 .

[35]  F. Barbir.  PEM electrolysis for production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources , 2005 .

[36]  David A. J. Rand,et al.  Fuel cells for road transportation purposes — yes or no? , 2001 .

[37]  Osamu Kobayashi,et al.  Mass production cost of PEM fuel cell by learning curve , 2004 .

[38]  Christopher K. Dyer,et al.  Fuel cells for portable applications , 2002 .

[39]  D. Bernache-Assollant,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of oxide ions conductors with the apatite structure for intermediate temperature SOFC , 2006 .

[40]  EunAe Cho,et al.  Characteristics of composite bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells , 2004 .

[41]  Scott A Weiner.  Fuel cell stationary power business development , 1998 .

[42]  N. Demirdöven,et al.  Hybrid Cars Now, Fuel Cell Cars Later , 2004, Science.

[43]  EunAe Cho,et al.  Performance of a 1 kW-class PEMFC stack using TiN-coated 316 stainless steel bipolar plates , 2005 .

[44]  Ferdinand Panik,et al.  Fuel cells for vehicle applications in cars - bringing the future closer , 1998 .

[45]  Lars Overgaard,et al.  Real life testing of a hybrid PEM fuel cell bus , 2003 .

[46]  Z. Li,et al.  Development of the direct borohydride fuel cell , 2005 .

[47]  Christian Gruber,et al.  Fuel cell drive and high dynamic energy storage systems — Opportunities for the future city bus , 2000 .

[48]  W. Colella,et al.  Cleaning the Air and Improving Health with Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles , 2005, Science.

[49]  Omar S. Elkeelany,et al.  Direct connect device core: design and applications , 2004, Integr..

[50]  Nigel M. Sammes,et al.  Novel carbon aerogel-supported catalysts for PEM fuel cell application , 2005 .

[51]  Zongqiang Mao,et al.  Development and performance of 5 kw proton exchange membrane fuel cell stationary power system , 2005 .

[52]  Joyce Smith Cooper,et al.  Design analysis of PEMFC bipolar plates considering stack manufacturing and environment impact , 2004 .

[53]  James F. Miller,et al.  Challenges for fuel cells in transport applications , 2000 .

[54]  J. C. Frost,et al.  Impact of Catalysis on Clean Energy in Road Transportation , 1998 .

[55]  M. Dokupil,et al.  On-board fuel cell power supply for sailing yachts , 2005 .

[56]  Vinay Ananthachar,et al.  Efficiencies of hydrogen storage systems onboard fuel cell vehicles , 2005 .

[57]  Elena Bergaglio,et al.  Research and development on porous components for MCFC applications , 2005 .

[58]  S. Grigoriev,et al.  Pure hydrogen production by PEM electrolysis for hydrogen energy , 2006 .

[59]  Michael Kimble,et al.  Solar-powered regenerative PEM electrolyzer/fuel cell system , 2005 .

[60]  Viral S. Mehta,et al.  Review and analysis of PEM fuel cell design and manufacturing , 2003 .

[61]  Branko N. Popov,et al.  Preparation of PEM fuel cell electrodes using pulse electrodeposition , 2004 .

[62]  Alan C Lloyd,et al.  The California fuel cell partnership: an avenue to clean air , 2000 .

[63]  Arumugam Manthiram,et al.  High performance membrane-electrode assemblies with ultra-low Pt loading for proton exchange membrane fuel cells , 2005 .