Deliverables

D.1.1 – Living work plan and risk register established

For efficient management of the project and to ensure that the project adheres to its deliverable and timeline, a living work plan has been established. This plan includes documents to be monthly updated containing the project timeline for tasks and deliverables. A risk register has also been established and will be updated with the same interval. This constitutes D1.1 Living work plan and risk register established.

D.1.2 – Data Management Plan

The document describes the data management plan for the project. Upload instructions for project internal sharepoint site as well as public upload (e.g. Zenodo) are provided. Fair data for CAMELOT is described, including file naming conventions and metadata description. Table 2-1 lists data planned to be generated in the project.

D.1.3 – Annual Data Reporting

This deliverable summarises the project activities for the first 12 months of the project.

D.1.5 – Annual Data Reporting

Deliverable 1.5 reports data generated by the CAMELOT project for the CALENDAR year 2021. Data from TRUST, reporting for 2022 programme review and graphical material is reported.

D.1.6 – Annual Data Reporting

Deliverable 1.6 reports data generated by the CAMELOT project for the CALENDAR year 2022. Data from TRUST, project fiche data, and graphical material is reported.

D.2.1 – Water Transport in thin Ionomeric Mateials and Membranes - PDF

An improved ionomeric material and membrane sub-model is developed for implementation in a broader unit cell performance model. The sub-model implements the water transport mechanisms based on the chemical potential gradient, liquid water pressure gradient, and electro-osmotic drag. Further, the model implements a sorption methodology to capture the water content vs activity relationship for thin membrane materials and demonstrates the capability of the approach to predict exsitu testing methods such as Dynamic Vapour Sorption (DVS)

D.2.2 – Implemented and Validated Model of Liq,. Water Transport for Ultra Thin MEAs - PDF

An overview of an original saturation driven liquid water model is given and discussed. The broader equations which govern transport in a pemfc performance model are presented and further improvements made upon on a previous integration of a dissolved water uptake model are provided. The updated liquid water transport model implemented to replace the saturation-driven original approach is given, with a review of the input criterion, key characteristic data, and an overview of the MEA level predictions. The performance model predictions are compared with a set of data representing Hot & Dry and Cold & Wet performance to establish a baseline validation

D.2.3 – Performance Limitations in SoA MEAs using FFC VLB Techniques

FAST-FC is extended to include a Voltage Loss Breakdown methodology which applies a sequential correction method to obtain iR-Free and iR-Free and Mass-Transport Free polarisation predictions. These are then used in combination with a validated polarisation curve to investigate the allocation of the losses to categorisation for Activation Losses, Ohmic Losses, and Mass Transport Losses.

D.2.4 – Recommendations for Next generation MEA Designs and Potential Design Route Map

The FAST-FC model has been used to complete parametric studies on the composition of the MEA and potential operational conditions. These parametric studies have then been utilized to guide the development of a set of potential pathways to achieve beyond-SoA performance of 670mV at 2.7 A/cm².

D.2.5 – Source code prepared for public release and dissemination - PDF

A COMSOL-based implementation of FAST-FC has been completed and has been uploaded to an online, public GitHub repository for public access. The repository has issue tracking and version control to ensure that user feedback can be logged and improvements to the COMSOL-based FAST-FC model can be controlled and tracked.

D.3.1 – Initial Thin Layer CCM Assessment

An initial assessment of MEA components has taken place for cathode catalyst layers of 0.1 mgPt/cm² and membranes of ≤10 μm. Performance losses were identified for low loaded layers and a range of designs tested; the best case being a 30% Pt/C variant. A study has taken place of the ionomer loading in thin catalyst layers. Performance benefits and characteristics of thin membranes have been investigated and MEAs have been evaluated with combined thin catalyst and membrane layers.

D.3.2 –X/Y/Z CCM Construction Concepts Assessment

An assessment of different deposition techniques has taken place for X-Y-Z varied CCM constructions including knife coating, spray coating, dispense jet printing, slot die coating and aerosol jet printing. Alternative direct coating approaches have also been explored.

D.3.3 –Final optimised MEA

Different complex layer structures have been explored including XY and Z gradient layers and flow field designs. Manufacturing routes have been assessed for production of these different types of CCM. MEAs based on these CCMs have been supplied to Powercell for short stack testing.

D.4.1 – Document detailing testing used to parameterise FFC - PDF

This document outlines the experimental protocols to be used throughout the CAMELOT project. Detailed descriptions of various ex-situ techniques used to characterise the electrochemical properties of the catalyst and physical properties of the electrode layers, in-situ techniques for the electrochemical characterisation of the membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), as well as experimental conditions and procedures are provided. The protocols outlined in this report will serve to parameterise state-of-the-art PEMFCs, thus providing valuable input for improving future iterations of the open-sourced Fast-FC™ model and ultimately leading to a better understanding of the fundamental transport phenomena within low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

D.4.2 –– Report on Properties of Materials Used in Baseline MEA 

Various characterisation techniques were performed to parameterize the baseline materials used in the CAMELOT project. The report highlights the ex-situ characterisation of a series of PFSA-based proton exchange membranes (supplied by JMFC as part of WP3) to determine their water uptake and transport properties, e.g., water uptake, swelling, ionic conductivity, and permeability, as well as the in-situ characterization of baseline catalyst coated membranes (provided by JMFC as part of WP3) to determine their physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties, e.g., exchange current density, Tafel slope, Ohmic resistance, H₂ crossover, and ECSA. The parameterization of the baseline membrane and CCMs will provide valuable input to the models being developed in WP2.

D.4.3 – Report Comparing Performance and Durability of Baseline and Prototype MEAs

Herein, we report a comparison of single cell performances of three state-of-the-art MEAs to compare the influence of membrane thicknesses and cathode catalyst loadings on cell performance and durability.

D.5.1 – SRU Cell Standard Operating Conditions 

The testing of SoA and beyond-SoA MEAs will be undertaken as part of the CAMELOT project at the single repeating unit (SRU) level. Two different SRU geometries will be utilized in this testing in order to capture the behaviour of the MEAs in different hardware. Due to the unique design and nature of the different SRU geometries, each SRU is ascribed two sets of operating conditions which are relevant for commercial application which are the focal point for the respective SRU developer. This report summarizes the operating conditions, a recommended guideline for cell conditioning, and a polarization collection protocol for the SRU testing to be carried out within the CAMELOT project.

D.5.2 – FFC Validation for SRU Geormetries SoA MEAs - PDF

The development of high performance and durable proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) increasingly relies on the components made of. One of the main components is the catalyst coated membrane (ccm). The EU-funded project Camelot aims to understand limitation of different state of the art CCMs by checking how different CCM parameters can influence the overall performance of the PEMFC. Therefore, it can help to develop a PEMFC with higher performance and durability. In this case study, two different full size membrane electrode assembly (MEAs) were made for a stack size PEMFC equipped with a current distrubiton plate (CDP). The two MEAs consist of membrane thickness of 10 µm, and average loading of the cathodic catalyst is 0.1 mgPt cm^-2 Pt. The main different was the gradient loading of the catalyst concept, where the loading of the CCM in the inlet side is 0.05 mgPt cm² Pt and outlet had a load of 0.15 mgPt cm^-2 Pt. The two MEA were measured in a stack PEMFC with CDP to collected and obtain a current distribution map generated by the MEAs.

D.5.3 – FFC-based recommendations of the next Generation MEAs in SRU Geometry - PDF

Design recommendations from the MEA version of FAST-FC are implemented at the SRU level and simulated to assess the impact in achieving the targeted Beyond-SoA performance of >670mV at 2.7 A/cm². It was found that some of the recommended changes did not yield improvements due to the along the channel effects at the SRU level and these changes were discarded while the remaining changes were implemented and then combined with operational levers to deliver a simulated performance that met the Beyond-SOA target at the SRU level. Design Recommendations were made based on these configurations for future experimental testing and investigation.

D.6.1 – Project Website - PDF

The CAMELOT project website is designed to fulfil project communication and dissemination needs for the benefit of the whole scientific community and the public through relevant information including:

• project overall objectives, partner & work packages information
• project activities: news, meetings
• project progress: technical publications, conference presentations, public domain reports
• project resources: links, related events …
• project contact information

All the partners will collectively participate in the dissemination objective of the website by providing up-to-date information.

D.6.2 – Dissemination and knowledge management protocol

This report presents the dissemination protocol for the CAMELOT project, the procedure for “Open Access” to peer reviewed research articles, internal rules, information on support from the EU members and the strategy for Knowledge Management within the project.

D.6.3 –Survey of dissemination activities & final plan for dissemination and exploitation of project results - PDF

The CAMELOT consortium has been disseminating and communicating about the project outputs throughout its duration. Among those activities, the partners have shared their results during international conferences and workshops, and one full day modelling workshop was organized. After the end of the project, the consortium will continue to carry out further activities to disseminate and exploit the results. The protection of intellectual rights of results issued from CAMELOT project will still follow the agreed dissemination protocol, to ensure confidentiality and the legitimate interests of the partners, according to the Grant Agreement article II.30 and the internal dissemination protocol (D6.2).

D.6.4 – FFC training Workshop - PDF

The FCH 2 JU funded CAMELOT project brings together highly experienced research institutes, universities, fuel cell membrane electrode assembly suppliers and transport OEMs. This project is focused on the understanding of the limitations in performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells to guide the development of the next generation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. As part of this work, a free and open source Fuel Cell Performance Model developed by FAST Simulations UG, FAST-FC, has been utilized, improved and extended to describe the transport and kinetic processes in ultra-thin, low-loaded membrane electrode assemblies. The workshop will provide attendees an understanding of the general theory behind the model, improvements made within the CAMELOT Project, hands-on application of the model through tutorial studies, and an instructor supported, open application and question and answer session.

D.6.5 –Survey of dissemination activities & final plan for dissemination and exploitation of project results - PDF

The CAMELOT consortium has been disseminating and communicating about the project outputs throughout its duration. Among those activities, the partners have shared their results during international conferences and workshops, and one full day modelling workshop was organized. After the end of the project, the consortium will continue to carry out further activities to disseminate and exploit the results. The protection of intellectual rights of results issued from CAMELOT project will still follow the agreed dissemination protocol, to ensure confidentiality and the legitimate interests of the partners, according to the Grant Agreement article II.30 and the internal dissemination protocol (D6.2).