Effect of cyclic compression on PEM electrolysis cell performance
1.Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan， Hubei 430070, China; 2. Hubei Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; 3. Clean Energy Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada
摘要 针对质子交换膜电解池（proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell，PEMEC）组件在使用过程中可能会发生损坏，需要重复装配和拆卸电解池进行更换或维修操作等问题，研究了循环加载压力对PEM电解池性能的影响，对循环试验前后的多孔扩散层（porous transport layer，PTL）表面形貌进行了SEM（scanning electron microscope）电镜表征.结果表明：循环压缩后，PTL的结构发生不可逆的变化，从而影响电解池的性能；在高电流密度区间，电解池性能受循环压缩影响幅度呈现缓慢下降趋势；在较高夹紧压力下，循环压缩次数的增加对电解池性能影响逐渐减弱，适当提高装配压力可以减小重复装配对电解池性能的不利影响.
Abstract：To solve the problems of the components of proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell (PEMEC) with damage during the utilization process and the electrolyzer with repeated assembly and disassembly for replacement or repair operations, the effect of cyclic loading pressure on the performance of PEM electrolysis cells was investigated, and the surface morphology of the porous transport layer (PTL) before and after cyclic tests was characterized by SEM. The results show that after cyclic compression, the structure of PTL changes irreversibly, which affects the performance of electrolysis cell and reduces the service life of electrolysis cell device. The performance of electrolysis cell is affected by cyclic compression in the high current density interval with slow decreasing trend. At high clamping pressure, the effect of cyclic compression on the performance of electrolysis cell is gradually weakened by increasing the number of times of cyclic compression, and the adverse effect of repeated assembly on the electrolysis cell can be reduced by appropriate increasing of assembly pressure.
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2022, Vol. 43 
