Can harmonized test protocols accelerate PEM fuel cell developments?
The test methodology includes a set of representative operating conditions and seeks the agreement of European industry and research stakeholders.
A lack of standards for testing PEM fuel cells has hampered objective comparative assessment of their performance and durability under operating conditions. The harmonized test protocols will allow the evaluation of the performance and durability of PEM fuel cells by focusing on the membrane-electrode assemblies (MEA), which constitute the heart of a fuel cell.
Fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen fuel and an oxidant (oxygen or air) electrochemically in a more energy-efficient and environment-friendly way than today´s modern combustion-based power technologies. Technological progress to enhance performance and durability and reduce costs is still required. Among all fuel cell types the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are the most promising for powering vehicles due to their high energy density, low operating temperature and high efficiency.
The protocols have been established through a sustained cooperation with industry and research organisations participating in R&I projects for automotive applications, funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU). The latter is an industry-led public private partnership (PPP) supporting the technological development of fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe. The report specifies reference operating conditions and boundaries within which a cell is expected to operate. The harmonized test methodology enables investigating the influence of individual operating parameters on MEA performance, including when subjected to more challenging boundary conditions also called ‘stressor conditions’. The latter cover load cycling, mechanical effects, fuel and air contaminants (impurities) and environmental conditions.
The use of the protocols will facilitate a factual assessment of the technology status achieved by the relevant FCH-JU funded projects, thereby allowing improved target-setting, monitoring of progress, and evaluating the return-on-investment of public funding of R&I activities on automotive fuel cells. The US Department of Energy (DoE) Fuel Cell Technology Office and Asian car component manufacturers have expressed interest for the protocols.
Related articles and links:
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-facility/fuel-cell-test-facility
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/new-harmonised-test-protocols-pem-fuel-cells-hydrogen-vehicles
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