This week, we are trying to finish the EUROP Proposal and find further information.
Here is the goal of our project:
The primary purpose of this research project is to experimentally measure the efficiency of a PEM fuel cell under various conditions and its durability under accelerated stress testing (AST). We will measure the I-V curve (IR corrected) to assess the fuel cell performance. Different temperature and relative humidity operation conditions will be examined. Both commercial and self-assembled fuel cells will be tested at the UCI renewable energy resources lab by taking advantage of the available state-of-the-art fuel cell test station. The AST testing will be performance by deep voltage cycling, plus voltage measurement at constant current. We will also consider option of thermal cycling if time is allowed. We will produce one UROP journal paper (potentially a professional journal paper) based on the testing results.
Here is the further research we did:
Another focus of this design project will be to maintain the water that is discharged from the fuel cell. Preliminary testing will be done on the fuel cells to determine the quantity of the discharged water as well as its temperature under various conditions. There are two cases that will be looked into regarding the temperature of the wastewater: 1) low temperature waste water and 2) medium temperature waste water. Since the fuel cells that will be used are considered low temperature fuel cells, it is highly unlikely that the water will be discharged at a high temperature. Testing will be done to confirm the actual temperature of the waste water. For case 1, the low temperature waste water will be utilized for potential cooling for various systems. As for case 2, the focus of the medium temperature waste water will be on potential heating for smaller systems that do not require high temperatures. Depending on the amount of water discharged from the fuel cell will determine whether or not a third case will be introduced. The possible third case may be investigated will be to use the water to spin a rotor to generate additional electricity if there is a significant amount of discharged water from the fuel cell.