fumapem® hydrocarbon membrane types

High Temperature PEM Fuel CellsDirect Methanol Fuel CellsAlkaline Water Electrolysis

fumapem® hydrocarbon membrane types

High temperature PEM in generalHigh Temperature Proton-Exchange-Membrane (HTPEM) is the core of the fuel cells running above 150 °C. As in classical PEM fuel cells technology, Hydrogen is electrochemically split to proton and electron on anode. Proton is transported through membrane to cathode while electricity is yielded in external circuit. At cathode protons recombine with electron and reacts further with Oxygen to water and heat. Two modes of opera-tion can be assumed with respect to source of fuel. One mode is based on natural gas conversion to Hydrogen by means of steam reforming, which represents stationary application. The second mode is based on operation of Hydrogen with Oxygen

obtained by electrolysis and this suits well the space applica-tion. As for coupling to natural gas, the HTPEM technology is particularly interesting in sense of no need for additional expensive periphery such as preferential-oxidation catalyst for CO removing from steam reformate gas, since it can accom-modate on anode side also high concentration of substances such as CO and CO2 without sacrificing major loss of power. Also no additional humidification is required and the heat management is simplified compared to low temperature PEM system. The HTPEM technology can achieve efficiency ap-proaching 90% calculated as combined yield of electricity and heat.

Hydrocarbon membranes are used for its superior properties in special type fuel cells and electrolysis applications, such as high-temperature PEM without humidification operated above 150 °C, in DMFC application where low fuel cross-over is required and in alkaline water electrolysis for Hydrogen production. FUMATECH has also developed and patented PEM membrane SX as alternative to PFSA material. The hydrocarbon membranes can be produced in both plain and reinforced version, depending on application.

Load cycling of HTPEM fumea® in air and dry Hydrogen at 160 °C

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Load cycling OCV (4min) - 0,3 A/cm2 (16 min) @ 160 °C

0,2 A/cm2

@ 160 °C

Polarisation curves of HTPEM fumea® at 160 °C during load cycling protocol in air and dry Hydrogen

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390 hrs / 900 cycl.

505 hrs / 1200 cycl.890 hrs / 2355 cycl. 740 hrs / 1730 cycl.HTPEM fumea®

T(cell) = 160 °CStoich dry H2 1,5Stoich air 2,0

Operational profile of HTPEM fumea® running in high humidity conditions

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HTPEM fumea®, cell 50 sqcmstoich Hydrogen 1,5 with approx. 33% water stoich air 2,0

Operational profile of HTPEM fumea® running in high current density mode @ 160 °C in air and dry Hydrogen

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HTPEM fumea® fumapem AMT (cell) = 160 °CStoich dry H2 1,5Stoich air 2,0

Selected physical-chemical properties of hydrocarbon membranes

Membrane Thickness Reinforc. ApplicationMechanical properties Conductivity at

conditions of application (mS.cm-1)

Young modulus (MPa)

Tensile strength (MPa)

Elongation at break (%)

AM 40 No HTPEM > 2500 > 150 > 100 75 (160 °C)

AP 35 No HTPEM > 4500 > 130 > 50 95 (160 °C)

E-730 30 No DMFC > 1500 > 90 > 200 61 (70 °C)

F-1850 50 No DMFC > 300 > 20 > 390 72 (70 °C)

FAAM-15 15 No AWE > 2500 > 150 > 100 115 (70 °C)

FAAM-75-RF 75 Yes AWE > 1000 > 30 > 15 79 (70 °C)

FAA-3 50 No AWE > 500 > 40 > 35 55 (60 °C)

SX 60 No PEM > 350 > 25 > 15 130 (65 °C)

Polarisation curves of DMFC membranes (customer’s data, courtesy of IRD Fuel cells Denmark)

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E-730F-1850power density E-730power density F-1850

Operational conditions:75 °C cell temperature1 M methanolstoich air 3ambient pressure

Alkaline water electrolysis in generalSince Hydrogen-based industry represents generally ac-knowledged way to cleaner environment and cut-off of CO2 emissions, Hydrogen production without using fossil fuels is a one of key steps toward those targets. Water electrolysis is such technology that allows generation of Hydrogen by splitting water when current is applied. Traditional alkaline water electrolysis uses a porous separator that is robust, but such separator cannot withstand pressure difference, which in contrary represents no issue for fumasep water electrolysis membranes.

Membrane materials for HTPEMThere are two materials that can be used for this kind of technology, both are based on poly-benzimidazole (PBI) molecules. The classical version of PBI is fumapem® AP and the new one is ultra-high molecular weight fumapem® AM. While the fumapem® AP suits well the wet anode operation, fumapem® AM is advantageous for operation with equalised humidity on both cathode and anode side and for its superb durability against temperature above 170 °C. Both mem-branes feature very good thermo-durability and conductivity. Very high level of performance can be achieved with both of them over period of 3,000-20,000 hrs, depending on opera-tional conditions.

Direct methanol fuel cells in generalDirect Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC) are particularly interesting for its portable feature as they can be used very conveniently as source of power at any place where grid or connection to natural gas is not available. As fuel, methanol is used and converted at anode to protons and CO2 while current is drawn. At cathode protons and electrons recombine and are oxidised with Oxygen to water while heat is released.

Membrane materials for DMFCOne of the most important features of membranes for DMFC application is high retention of fuel on anode side, as cross-over not only reduces the efficiency, but also increases risk of cells malfunction. For this reason a robust membrane that does not suffer from excessive swelling or shrinking is the key component of each DMFC system. There are two membranes fumapem® E-730 characterised by very low methanol cross-over and good performance and fumapem® F-1850 character-ised by low methanol cross over and very good performance.

Operational profile of fumapem SX at load cycling

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85 °C 40% rh, load cycling test OCV (30 min) -0,5 A/cm2 (30min)

Membrane fumapem® SX (60 µm), Gen 1 Commercial GDE Gas utilisation: H2 67% (stoich 1,5), air 40% (stoich 2,5)

Polarisation curves of advanced membrane for alkaline water electrolysis. Data recorded and for publishing permitted by courtesy of FZ Jülich.

Polarisation curves of alkaline water electrolysis membranes (customer’s data, courtesy of AIJU research centre Spain)

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FAA-3 (1M KOH, 50°C)

FAAM-40 (6M KOH, 70°C)

FAAM-15 (6M KOH, 70 °C)

Electrodes: FZJ Benchmark Cell: FZJ Benchmark

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No. cells in stack: 100Membrane fumapem®FAAM-55KOH concentration 30%Hydrogen gas purity: > 99,99%

Polarisation curves of MEA based on fumapem SX

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Membrane fumapem® SX (60 µm), Gen 1 Commercial GDE Gas utilisation: H2 67% (stoich 1,5), air 40% (stoich 2,5)

Membrane materials for alkaline water electrolysisThe reinforced fumasep® FAAM membranes can be utilised in alkaline electrolysers without necessity of changing most of proven accessories. It shows very good mechanical and oxidative durability and performance at high concentration of KOH and increased temperature. The fumasep® FAAM has been tested successfully to pressure difference up to 8 bar. Due to its thickness under 100 µm the resistance of cell is reduced compared to classical 500 µm classical porous separator. The membrane can be well sealed in cell by common sealing tech-nique governing in alkaline water electrolysis application.

The latest direction of development in alkaline water electroly-sis aims on using of highly diluted KOH solution, typically 1M KOH or less. Such system requires a membrane featuring OH- exchanged groups. A typical example of such polymeric membranes is fumasep® FAA-3 membrane. The group of

FAA-3 membranes is characterised by excellent oxidative dura-bility, very high conductivity and good temperature durability. The FAA-3 membranes can be used in both water electrolysis and fuel cell operation, making it attractive especially for sys-tems aiming on operation without platinum-group metals.

Hydrocarbon proton-exchanged membranesMembranes on basis of the PFSA materials such as fumapem® F or fumapem® FS are used as state-of-the-art materials for PEM technology. An alternative that has a potential to improve the classical PFSA membrane is fumapem® SX, a new class of sulfonated polysulfone built in copolymers blocks. The first generation has shown excellent durability and reasonable performance. It is expected, that the second generation that aims on thickness reduction and applying reinforcement will result in a candidate that is technically-wise fully comparable with PFSA materials.

FUMATECH – functional membranes for fuel cells, batteries and electrolysis

FUMATECH draws its particular strengths as a leading producer of ion-exchange membranes from its membership in the BWT Best Water Technology Group.

FUMATECH is committed to develop new products that willaccelerate progress in polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

The company is both competent und competitive as a leading supplier of polymers and membranes for manufacturing of membrane electrode assemblies.

The high performance membranes are the heart of a protonexchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack.

FUMATECH produces and develops   polyelectrolytes (fumion® ionomers),   proton conductive membranes (fumapem® membranes) and   separation membranes (fumasep® membranes)

based on proprietary technology and designed for high precision mass manufacturing.

  fumion® ionomer resin as granular polymer, in solution form or in dispersion   fumion® FF granular perfluorosulfonyl fluoride resin for extrusion   fumapem® F perfluorosulfonic acid membranes for PEMFC   fumapem® AM polybenzimidazole membranes for high temperature PEMFC   fumapem® ST hydrocarbon membranes for DMFC and PEMFC   fumapem® P,E hydrocarbon membranes for DMFC   fumapem® FAA anion-exchange membrane for alkaline FC   fumasep® FAP anion-exchange membrane for redox flow batteries   fumasep® FBM bipolar membrane   fumasep® HF hollow fibre cartridge for gas humidification   fumasep® ion-exchange membranes for humidifier, electrodialysis and electrolysis   fumea® catalyst coated membranes for water electrolysis

The company

Focussing on water as the basis of all forms of life, and energy as the basis for a higher quality of life, FUMATECH “Functional Membranes and Plant Technology“ combines the important tasks of providing energy and water. The company is engaged in the field of fuel cell technology and membrane separation technology, particularly for the treatment of aqueous solutions.

For further information:For further information:

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www.fumatech.com

The Best Water Technology Group is Europe’s leading water technology company with 3,300 employees and a vast network of partner companies, service staff, installers, planners, archi-tects and hygiene experts. Our R&D teams apply state-of-the-art methods and use the latest processes and materials to create products that are both economical and green. One of the key objectives is to reduce the resource and energy consumption levels of our products, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions.

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FUMATECH BWT GmbHCarl-Benz-Straße 4D-74321 Bietigheim-BissingenTel.: +49/7142/3737-900Fax: +49/7142/3737-999E-Mail: office@fumatech.com