Development of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cells

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dc.contributor.advisorConrad, Olafen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorLevecque, Pieter B Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorFortuin, Adrian Charlesen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-31T11:12:07Z
dc.date.available2014-07-31T11:12:07Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.description.abstractIn the drive to more sustainable energy production, polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) have been at the pinnacle of global research. One of the major drawbacks of PEFCs is therequirement for expensive noble metal catalysts (platinum and ruthenium). Furthermore 75% of the overpotential losses at the cathode are due to the activation of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To reduce the platinum content requirements and understand the cause of the large overpotential of the ORR, a fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism and the manner in which it proceeds under different operatingconditions is required. Presently, there still remains a large debate in literature around the mechanism followed by the ORR.This study developed a kinetic model from conventional kinetic isotherms and it is proposed that an associative adsorption mechanism occurs at a low overpotential resulting in the dissociation of the hydroperoxyl species determining the rate of the ORR at the cathode of the PEFC. In order to explain the above phenomena a kinetic model was developed, based on the Eley-Rideal mechanism. Furthermore, experiments were conducted at different oxygen partial pressures and low potentials whereby the associative mechanism is believed to dominate. Under these conditions linear sweep voltammograms were recorded. Regression of the derived kinetic model, by using the values for oxygen partial pressure, applied overpotential and kinetic current allowed for the determination of the kinetic constant of a polycrystalline platinum catalyst for ORR.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationFortuin, A. C. (2013). <i>Development of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cells</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5334en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationFortuin, Adrian Charles. <i>"Development of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cells."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5334en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationFortuin, A. 2013. Development of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cells. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Fortuin, Adrian Charles AB - In the drive to more sustainable energy production, polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) have been at the pinnacle of global research. One of the major drawbacks of PEFCs is therequirement for expensive noble metal catalysts (platinum and ruthenium). Furthermore 75% of the overpotential losses at the cathode are due to the activation of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To reduce the platinum content requirements and understand the cause of the large overpotential of the ORR, a fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism and the manner in which it proceeds under different operatingconditions is required. Presently, there still remains a large debate in literature around the mechanism followed by the ORR.This study developed a kinetic model from conventional kinetic isotherms and it is proposed that an associative adsorption mechanism occurs at a low overpotential resulting in the dissociation of the hydroperoxyl species determining the rate of the ORR at the cathode of the PEFC. In order to explain the above phenomena a kinetic model was developed, based on the Eley-Rideal mechanism. Furthermore, experiments were conducted at different oxygen partial pressures and low potentials whereby the associative mechanism is believed to dominate. Under these conditions linear sweep voltammograms were recorded. Regression of the derived kinetic model, by using the values for oxygen partial pressure, applied overpotential and kinetic current allowed for the determination of the kinetic constant of a polycrystalline platinum catalyst for ORR. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - Development of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cells TI - Development of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cells UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5334 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/5334
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationFortuin AC. Development of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cells. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering, 2013 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5334en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Chemical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherChemical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleDevelopment of a semi–empirical reaction kinetic model for PEM fuel cellsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc(Eng) Chemen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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