Experimental investigation of the effect of corona discharge on fuel cell efficiency

In this thesis, the electrical efficiency of a corona discharge-assisted fuel cell, which is an important type of high voltage electrical gas discharges, was experimentally examined. Within the scope of the study, it was investigated whether it is possible to produce a combined fuel cell system with high energy efficiency by converting molecular fuel cell feed gases into atomic form at a point close to the input terminals of the fuel cell by the corona discharge method produced at various frequencies and voltages. Before being fed into the system, hydrogen gas was pre-treated and atomicized at the entrance of the cell with the help of a high voltage corona discharge system and was transferred to the cell without waiting. By changing the gas flow rate, supply voltage and supply frequency parameters, the current and voltage values of the fuel cell were measured and recorded at each step. These values were then evaluated and interpreted graphically. The gas formed as a result of the reaction in the fuel cell and the gases that emerged without reacting with pure water were discharged by flowing out of the gas/liquid outlet terminals of the cell. According to the results obtained from experimental data, while low-frequency (50-200 Hz) high voltage corona discharge has a positive effect on fuel cell efficiency; high frequency (200-500 Hz) high voltage corona discharge has been shown to have a negative effect on fuel cell efficiency.