Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Balance of Plant and Performance Simulation for Vehicle Applications

Tino Vidović, Ivan Tolj (), Gojmir Radica and Natalia Bodrožić Ćoko
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Tino Vidović: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, R. Boškovića 32, 21000 Split, Croatia
Ivan Tolj: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, R. Boškovića 32, 21000 Split, Croatia
Gojmir Radica: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, R. Boškovića 32, 21000 Split, Croatia
Natalia Bodrožić Ćoko: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, R. Boškovića 32, 21000 Split, Croatia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: In this study, a newly developed zero-dimensional electrochemical model was used for modeling and controlling proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance. Calibration of the model was performed with measurements from the fuel cell stack. Subsequently, a compressor and a humidifier on the cathode side were sized and added to the existing model. The aim of this work was to model the PEMFC stack and balance of plant (BoP) components in detail to show the influence of operating parameters such as cathode pressure, stack temperature and cathode stoichiometric ratio on the performance and efficiency of the overall system compared to the original model using a newly developed real-time model. The model managed to predict the profile of essential parameters, such as temperature, pressure, power, voltage, etc. The most important conclusions from this particular case are: the cell power output is only slightly changed with the variations in stoichiometric ratio of the cathode side and adding an external compressor is valid only for high current applications, but in those cases, there is 10–22% power gain. Stack temperature is a very influential parameter. Optimal temperatures were determined through design of experiments (DoE) and for this case are in the 40–60 °C range, where for low current applications lower temperatures are better due lower activation loss (8% difference between 80 °C and 40 °C at 20 A current). For high current applications, due to lower ohmic losses, higher temperatures are desirable.

Keywords: proton-exchange membrane fuel cells; system modeling; balance of plant component sizing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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