Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Introduction Course (PEFC)

Background

The PEFC Fuel Cell uses a polymer membrane as an electrolyte. It is used in all applications with dynamic loads, especially in mobile applications but also as combined heat and power units in households. The development of the ionconductivity of the membranes has much increased over the last 30 years. Today nafionbased membranes achieve a power density up to 1 W/cm² active area. In the last 10 years the successful adoption of the PEFC in different prototypes could be demonstrated. For a market introduction a few "teething problem" like life-time and costs have to be solved.

In this context scientists have high expectations in the development of high-temperature membranes.
Cells with these temperatures can be operated over 100°C.

The PEFC-Course gives a detailed introduction in PEFC-Technology, shows the state of the
art of the development and gives hints to present bottlenecks and suggested
research/development directions.

Programm agenda
The training will take place at the Fuel Cell Education and Training Center (WBZU) in Ulm. The training will be splitted in theoretical lectures and practical training units. Training days will provide 4 blocks of lecture time (45 min. each) in the morning. The afternoon will be devoted to practical training (approx. 3 h) and a question and answering session.

First lecture: Monday, 9 a.m. Last lecture: Friday, 15 p.m.

Lecture topics include: · Electrochemical Fundamentals of Fuel Cells · Overview of Fuel Cell Applications · Fundamentals of Electrocatalysis · Properties of ion conducting materials · Polymer Electrolytes · Sealing and Gasketing · Porous Media · Membrane Electrode Assemblies · Coating Technologies · PEFC at elevated temperatures · Lifetime Aspects of PEFC · High Temperature Fuel Cells · Gas Processing
Practical training units
Laboratory sessions will be conducted to reinforce important concepts covered during the presentations. The instructors will select a number of laboratory modules for the course from among the following topics. At WBZU laboratories special test-benches and demonstrationunits are installed to guarantee a practical training.

Laboratory topics include: · Basic tests of characteristics of Fuel Cells · Demonstration of different fuel devices and applications, e. g. a fuel cell driven CHP · Manufacturing of a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) by spray coating · Single cell testing of a air breezing fuel cell · Single cell testing of a SOFC - to variations of temperature and different gas compositions - comparison of PEFC and SOFC technology · Reaction of a PEFC stack to variations in humidification · Reaction of a PEFC stack cell to pressure and temperature · Reaction of a PEFC stack cell to variation in porous media · Reaction of a PEFC stack cell to CO poisoning · Tests on different test stations, e.g. UPS