DETERMINAÇÃO EXPERIMENTAL DA CURVA DE POLARIZAÇÃO DE UMA CÉLULA A COMBUSTÍVEL TIPO PEM

Abstract

The electric energy generation presents itself as a great mankind challenge due to its enormous potential pollutant, especially when coming from fossil fuels. In the world, in 2013, as shown in BEN 2016, only 13.5% of the energy matrix was renewable fuels made up being in Brazil 41.2%. Based on these statistics it can be affirmed that the energy production in Brazil is still fossil fuels predominant. One of the alternatives that deserves special mention is the fuel cells (CAC) technology, since they are sustainable and non-polluting devices that oxidize electrochemically the fuel, usually hydrogen, generating electric energy and heat. This work is aim to show the procedures to test a unitary CAC of solid electrolyte ETEK_HP, a Náfion (PTFE) membrane with a 115 μm thickness composed and the electrode being a platinum catalyst with a 0,4mg / cm2 load at the anode and 0.6 mg / cm2 at the cathode, supported on carbon. The optimum CAC operating point by the MEA efficiency was 433 mV @ 1, 120 mA, with linear characteristic and it is not significantly subject to the activation and mass transfer phenomena. It is noted that between 365 mV and 558 mV the density was above 0.45 W / cm2 and consequently the CAC power above 11 W. The oxygen and hydrogen consumption were more efficient above 800 mV.