In-situ experimental investigations to study the impact of mechanical compression on the PEMFC - analysis of the global cell performance

An appropriate clamping pressure is required to ensure the gas-tight operation of a PEMFC assembly and to improve the contacts (i.e. mechanical, thermal, electrical) between its components. However, an excessive mechanical load may also worsen the cell performance, in particular through the reduction in the porosity and mass transport ability of the Gas Diffusion Layers. In this study, the effects of mechanical compression on the global performance of a 225 cm2 PEMFC assembly are investigated by implementing cell voltage monitoring and polarisation curve measurements. The investigations are carried out with gradual increase / decrease and randomised load compression protocols applied using a specially designed mechanical compression unit. 12 levels of mechanical compression are considered, ranging from 0.35 to 2 MPa with steps of 0.15 MPa. The results of the characterisation techniques show that the PEMFC performance is improved at all tested operating conditions for mechanical compression up to 1.55 MPa. This finding is attributed to the dominant reduction of the ohmic drop against the increase of the gas diffusion losses. It is also shown that compressing the PEMFC beyond 1.55 MPa would not lead to any further improvement of the global cell voltage output. This may even worsen the cell electrical characteristics by affecting its mass transport issues. [Display omitted] •The effects of clamping on the global performance of a 225 cm2 PEMFC are studied.•A cell compression unit is used to duplicate various mechanical loads (0.35–2 MPa).•Investigations are done using cell voltage monitoring and polarisation curves.•In all cases, the PEMFC performance is improved for mechanical load up to 1.55 MPa.•The tests are correlated with ex-situ characterisations of GDL contact resistances.