Vibration and freeze – thaw cycling tests to characterize PEM fuel cells stacks to use in vehicles

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to test and characterize a 5 kWe PEM fuel cell stack before and after being subjected to vibrations and freeze-thaw cycles in order to determinate their performance, safety and durability. To carry out these activities, different test procedures were developed and validated in CNH2 facilities by following several international works, projects and normative. They were used and applied in the following equipment: 1) Vibration platform (shaker) for vibration test analysis on fuel cells in three axes directions with different vibration profiles; 2) Walk-in climatic chamber to test the starting, operating and stopping behaviour of fuel cells under defined extreme conditions. 3) Test station designed and developed by the CNH2 to test and characterize PEM fuel cell stacks up to 10 kWe. After conducting the tests, the results indicated that the severe variations of temperature as well as the applied vibrations on the stack did not affect its performance and external integrity, so the stack could be installed into an automotive application with the security that it will response as expected.