G115 Effect of Freezing Phenomena in Cold Start of PEFC on Normal Operation

Abstract

In PEM 釦 el cell belQw zero ， 廿 eezlng under the cold start sometimes causes a deterioration of ccll perfomiance in normal operation ． ］ nparticular ， this phenomenon is especialiy prominent a 負er the − 10 °C s觚 than aner the − 20 °C that． This is because the ice forrned at the interface between the cathode catalyst layer and GDL at the −10 °C start． This paper fbcused on the effect of current density and tightening pressure ofthe cell， and investigated the mechanism of the − 10 °C start effect on norma ［operation ． The results showed that the perfbrmanGe deterioration is large as current density at the −1 ゜ C start is small ． This phenomenon became prorninent in caso of smaU tightening pressure of the cell because ofwide ice fbrmation on the catalyst layer surface ． Key Mords ： PEM Fuel Cell ， Cold Start ， Microscope Observation ， Water Management