Investigation of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System Cathode Exhaust Gas Composition Based on Test Bed Measurements

Peter Reithuber (), Christian Frühwirth, Simon Buchberger and Helmut Eichlseder
Additional contact information
Peter Reithuber: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems (ITnA), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria
Christian Frühwirth: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems (ITnA), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria
Simon Buchberger: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems (ITnA), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria
Helmut Eichlseder: Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems (ITnA), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 19, 8010 Graz, Austria

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-20

Abstract: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are gaining increasing importance in vehicle applications. The exhaust gas composition regarding the water and oxygen content and the mass flow are important parameters in fuel cell research (e.g., for designing the test bed, quantifying the hydrogen loss in the exhaust, performing experiments with air pollutants, and monitoring degradation). The exhaust gas composition is also important for vehicle applications (e.g., ensuring safe hydrogen levels in the exhaust). Performing direct measurements of the exhaust mass flow and the relative humidity is challenging due to the high-humidity environment. This article presents a mathematical thermodynamic model used to calculate the exhaust gas mass flow and relative humidity, validated by balancing the gas species composition between cathode inlet and exhaust and by using data measured at the fuel cell system test bed. Four calculation model variations and their analyses are discussed. Furthermore, the exhaust gas composition throughout the fuel cell system operating range is presented. The results of air pollutant experiments provide comprehensive examples for the application of the calculation model. These results demonstrate the suitability of the model for its application in fuel cell system research.

Keywords: PEM fuel cell; cathode gas; fuel cell exhaust; reactant humidification; gas measurement; degradation; air contaminants; mass flow; relative humidity; thermodynamic model; test bed (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/16/6057/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/16/6057/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:16:p:6057-:d:1220431

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().