High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC), also known as High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells, are a type of PEM fuel cells which can be operated at temperatures between 120 and 200°C. [1] HT-PEM fuel cells are used for both stationary and portable applications. [2] The HT-PEM fuel cell is usually supplied with hydrogen-rich gas like reformate gas formed by reforming of methanol, ethanol, natural gas or LPG.
HT-PEM fuel cell was developed in 1995 for operation at higher cell temperatures aiming at lower sensitivity of PEM fuel cells regarding impurities. [3] Thus HT-PEM fuel cell technology is one of the youngest fuel cell types and HT-PEM fuel cell systems are produced since the 21st century by several companies.
The membrane consists of an acid and temperature resistant polymer which has the ability to uptake acid which acts as electrolyte. [4] Commonly polybenzimidazole (PBI) is used as membrane and Phosphoric acid is used as electrolyte. [5] The HT-PEM fuel cell technology is similar to Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC), but mainly differs in the membrane which is used in HT-PEM fuel cell and makes portable applications possible for HT-PEM fuel cells.
Whereas the common PEM fuel cell, also called Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell (LT-PEM), must usually be operated with hydrogen with high purity of more than 99.9 % the HT-PEM fuel cell is less sensitive to impurities and thus is typically operated with reformate gas with hydrogen concentration of about 50 to 75 %. In contrast to LT-PEM fuel cell, which is sensitive to carbon monoxide concentration of several parts per million, HT-PEM fuel cells are operated at carbon monoxide concentrations up to about 3 Vol-%. [6] Usually HT-PEM fuel cells are operated at cell temperature of 150 to 180 °C.
The low sensitity to impurities allows the use of fuels like methanol, ethanol, natural gas, LPG, DME, etc. which are reformed in a reformer to hydrogen rich reformate gas whereat the fuel cell system design is simple without the need of purification steps for purifying the reformate gas. [7]
Because of the low sensitivity to impurities and because of proton conductivity of the membrane the Membrane electrode assembly which is used for HT-PEM fuel cell can also be used for hydrogen separation to separate ultrapure hydrogen efficiently from diluted or impure hydrogen containing gases. [8]
The balance-of-plant system efficiency for methanol fueled HT-PEM fuel cell systems is typically between 35 and 45 % and can reach up to about 55 % depending on system design and operating conditions. Regarding cell efficiency up to 63 % can be reached.
As the steam reforming of methanol is more simple and efficient (catalyst bed temperature below 280°C) compared to reforming of other fuels and because of the low cost and high purity of conventional methanol and renewable methanol (e.g. made from waste or renewable power) as well as because of the simple storage of methanol, most HT-PEM fuel cells are operated with methanol. The methanol fueled HT-PEM fuel cell is the mostly used type of Reformed Methanol fuel cell (RMFC).
HT-PEM fuel cell systems are used for stationary and portable applications. [17] For example methanol fueled HT-PEM fuel cells are used as replacement of generators (e.g. off-grid applications, backup power, emergency-power supply, auxiliary power unit) and for range extension of electric vehicles (e.g. sports car Gumpert Nathalie). Typically the HT-PEM fuel cell system is used in hybrid operation with a battery. HT-PEM fuel cell systems fueled with natural gas are also used for combined heat and power (CHP) applications in buildings.
Manufacturers of fuel cell systems containing HT-PEM fuel cell technology:
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High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC), also known as High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells, are a type of PEM fuel cells which can be operated at temperatures between 120 and 200°C. [1] HT-PEM fuel cells are used for both stationary and portable applications. [2] The HT-PEM fuel cell is usually supplied with hydrogen-rich gas like reformate gas formed by reforming of methanol, ethanol, natural gas or LPG.
HT-PEM fuel cell was developed in 1995 for operation at higher cell temperatures aiming at lower sensitivity of PEM fuel cells regarding impurities. [3] Thus HT-PEM fuel cell technology is one of the youngest fuel cell types and HT-PEM fuel cell systems are produced since the 21st century by several companies.
The membrane consists of an acid and temperature resistant polymer which has the ability to uptake acid which acts as electrolyte. [4] Commonly polybenzimidazole (PBI) is used as membrane and Phosphoric acid is used as electrolyte. [5] The HT-PEM fuel cell technology is similar to Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC), but mainly differs in the membrane which is used in HT-PEM fuel cell and makes portable applications possible for HT-PEM fuel cells.
Whereas the common PEM fuel cell, also called Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell (LT-PEM), must usually be operated with hydrogen with high purity of more than 99.9 % the HT-PEM fuel cell is less sensitive to impurities and thus is typically operated with reformate gas with hydrogen concentration of about 50 to 75 %. In contrast to LT-PEM fuel cell, which is sensitive to carbon monoxide concentration of several parts per million, HT-PEM fuel cells are operated at carbon monoxide concentrations up to about 3 Vol-%. [6] Usually HT-PEM fuel cells are operated at cell temperature of 150 to 180 °C.
The low sensitity to impurities allows the use of fuels like methanol, ethanol, natural gas, LPG, DME, etc. which are reformed in a reformer to hydrogen rich reformate gas whereat the fuel cell system design is simple without the need of purification steps for purifying the reformate gas. [7]
Because of the low sensitivity to impurities and because of proton conductivity of the membrane the Membrane electrode assembly which is used for HT-PEM fuel cell can also be used for hydrogen separation to separate ultrapure hydrogen efficiently from diluted or impure hydrogen containing gases. [8]
The balance-of-plant system efficiency for methanol fueled HT-PEM fuel cell systems is typically between 35 and 45 % and can reach up to about 55 % depending on system design and operating conditions. Regarding cell efficiency up to 63 % can be reached.
As the steam reforming of methanol is more simple and efficient (catalyst bed temperature below 280°C) compared to reforming of other fuels and because of the low cost and high purity of conventional methanol and renewable methanol (e.g. made from waste or renewable power) as well as because of the simple storage of methanol, most HT-PEM fuel cells are operated with methanol. The methanol fueled HT-PEM fuel cell is the mostly used type of Reformed Methanol fuel cell (RMFC).
HT-PEM fuel cell systems are used for stationary and portable applications. [17] For example methanol fueled HT-PEM fuel cells are used as replacement of generators (e.g. off-grid applications, backup power, emergency-power supply, auxiliary power unit) and for range extension of electric vehicles (e.g. sports car Gumpert Nathalie). Typically the HT-PEM fuel cell system is used in hybrid operation with a battery. HT-PEM fuel cell systems fueled with natural gas are also used for combined heat and power (CHP) applications in buildings.
Manufacturers of fuel cell systems containing HT-PEM fuel cell technology:
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cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
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help)