What Is a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell?
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell is a kind of fuel cell, which is equivalent to the "inverse" device of water electrolysis in principle. The single cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and a proton exchange membrane. The anode is the place where the hydrogen fuel is oxidized, and the cathode is the place where the oxidant is reduced. Both poles contain a catalyst that accelerates the electrochemical reaction of the electrode. The proton exchange membrane serves as a medium for transmitting H +. H + is allowed to pass, while H2 s lost electrons are passed through the wire. When working, it is equivalent to a direct current power supply. The anode is the negative electrode of the power supply and the cathode is the positive electrode of the power supply.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
(Proton exchange membrane fuel cell)
- Chinese name
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
- Foreign name
- proton exchange membrane fuel cell
- English abbreviation
- PEMFC
- Definition
- Fuel cell
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cell is a kind of fuel cell, which is equivalent to the "inverse" device of water electrolysis in principle. The single cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and a proton exchange membrane. The anode is the place where the hydrogen fuel is oxidized, and the cathode is the place where the oxidant is reduced. Both poles contain a catalyst that accelerates the electrochemical reaction of the electrode. The proton exchange membrane serves as a medium for transmitting H +. H + is allowed to pass, while H2 s lost electrons are passed through the wire. When working, it is equivalent to a direct current power supply. The anode is the negative electrode of the power supply and the cathode is the positive electrode of the power supply.
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cells have the advantages of low operating temperature, fast startup, high specific power, simple structure, and convenient operation. They are widely recognized as the preferred energy sources for electric vehicles and stationary power stations. Inside the fuel cell, the proton exchange membrane provides a channel for the migration and transport of protons, so that the protons pass from the anode to the cathode through the membrane, form a loop with the electron transfer of the external circuit, and provide current to the outside.
- In the 1960s, the United States first used PEMFC for Gemini space flight. With the application and development of key materials such as perfluorosulfonic acid type proton exchange membrane carbon-supported platinum catalysts, in the 1980s, the research on PEMFC has made breakthrough progress. The performance and life of batteries have been greatly improved. The specific powers reach 1000W / L and 700W / kg respectively, exceeding the electric vehicle targets set by DOE and PNGV. Since the 1990s, based on the rapid progress of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, various electric vehicles powered by them have come out one after another. So far, hundreds of PEMFC-powered cars, submarines, and power stations have been demonstrated at home and abroad. Table 4-4-1 lists the main performance indicators of several fuel cell vehicles developed at home and abroad. The performance is comparable to that of internal combustion engines.
- Table 4-4-1 Main performance indicators of several fuel cell vehicles developed at home and abroad
| Power | Motor Power | Top speed | acceleration time | Climb | mileage | Fuel consumption | |
| ChaoYue3 | 50kW + 15Ah | 65kW (max) |
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| 230km | 1.12kg / 100km |
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- Due to the outstanding advantages of proton exchange membrane fuel cells such as high efficiency and environmental protection, it has attracted great attention from developed countries and major companies around the world, and has invested heavily in developing this technology. The U.S. government lists it as one of the 27 key technology areas that are critical to U.S. economic development and national security; the Canadian government develops the fuel cell industry as one of the pillar industries of the nation's knowledge economy; the three major US auto companies (GM , Ford, Chryster), Germany's Dajmier-Benz, Japan's Toytomotor and other car companies have invested heavily in the development of PEMFC cars.
- The leading Canadian company Ballard has begun to sell commercial PEMFC units of various power series.
- In our country, many institutes such as Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Wuhan University of Technology, Shanghai Space Power Research Institute, Shanghai Shenli, etc. are conducting PEMFC research, and have made great progress, which is close to the advanced level abroad. In terms of technology, the kilowatt-level PEMFC technology has basically matured. The main reason hindering its large-scale commercialization is that the price of fuel cells has not yet reached the requirements of practical applications. The two major factors affecting the cost of fuel cells are the expensive materials. There are no breakthroughs in assembly processes, such as the use of precious metal platinum as a catalyst; the cost of processing expensive proton exchange membranes and graphite bipolar plates, etc., resulting in PEMFC costs of about 10-20 times the cost of gasoline and diesel engines (50 $ / kW). In order for PEMFC to enter the market as a commodity, costs must be significantly reduced, which depends on the reduction in the price of key materials for fuel cells and the further improvement of performance.