Balkan Physics Letters, ss.273-278, 2008 (Hakemli Dergi)
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell which is an energy
conversion technology is an electro-chemical device that can convert chemical
energy into electrical energy by a chain of reactions. In this work, the
performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell was investigated. With the help of software prepared by us, voltage
signals that obtained from the proton exchange membrane fuel cell were
observed. Since voltage signals formed between the terminals with the running
of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell were analogue, an electronic circuit
which prepared by us that converts analogue signals into digital signals was
used. With these data voltage-time curves were plotted according to different
feeding conditions of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Polarization
curve was obtained by voltage and current changing when external load
resistance is kept wide. In the polarization curve, voltage-current relation
can be examined in three different regions. The electrical power of the proton
exchange membrane fuel cell was determined. As a result, it was concluded that
the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell depends on the load
resistance, on the type and quantity of the fuel/oxidizer that feeds the cell,
and on the discharge of water resulting from the electrochemical reactions.
According to these, it was determined that start-up speed of the proton
exchange membrane fuel cell was high, it reaches constant voltage values in a
short time, and their maximum electrical power is within the limits of the
ohmic and the concentration region.