Evaluating the impact of enhanced anode CO tolerance on performance of proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell systems fueled by liquid hydrocarbons

Recent advances in anode electrocatalysts for low-temperature PEM fuel cells are increasing tolerance for CO in the H2-rich anode stream. This study explores the impact of potential improvements in CO-tolerant electrocatalysts on the system efficiency of low-temperature Nafion-based PEM fuel cell systems operating in conjunction with a hydrocarbon autothermal reformer and a preferential CO oxidation (PROx) reactor for CO clean-up. The incomplete H2 clean-up by PROx reactors with partial CO removal can present conditions where CO-tolerant anode electrocatalysts significantly improve overall system efficiency. Empirical fuel cell performance models were based upon voltage–current characteristics from single-cell MEA tests at varying CO concentrations with new Pt–Mo alloy reformate-tolerant electrocatalysts tested in conjunction with this study. A system-level model for a liquid-fueled PEM fuel cell system with a 5 kW full power output is used to study the trade-offs between the improved performance with decreased CO concentration and the increased penalties from the air supply to the PROx reactor and associated reduction in H2 partial pressures to the anode. As CO tolerance is increased over current state-of-the-art Pt alloy catalysts, system efficiencies improve due primarily to higher fuel cell voltages and to a lesser extent to reductions in parasitic loads. Furthermore, increasing CO tolerance of anode electrocatalysts allows for the potential for reduced system costs with minimal efficiency penalty by reducing PROx reactor size through reduced CO conversion requirements.