Analyses on a declining performance of PEMFC with fuel containing impurities (2nd report, characteristic evaluation of methanol reforming type fuel cells)

This paper covers our investigation into a decline in performance resulting from use of fuel containing impurities in methanol reforming type FCs. The investigations conducted and their results are as follows: 1) Various experiments and analyses were conducted to determine the adverse effects of CO, HCHO, HCOOH, and CH₄ on the performance of the FC; 2) In the case of HCHO and HCOOH poisoning, performance became worse when Ru was added to the FC catalytic-electrode; 3) The quantities of the partial pressure decline phenomenon of hydrogen gas caused by mixing CO₂ and N₂ gases appeared to be the same; 4) The progress of poisoning with the reforming gas was complex; however, explanation became possible by taking CO poisoning and the influence of the partial pressure decline phenomenon of hydrogen gas into consideration.