Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods

Maximilian Schmitz (), Matthias Bahr, Sönke Gößling and Stefan Pischinger
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Maximilian Schmitz: Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Matthias Bahr: The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center (ZBT), Carl-Benz-Straße 201, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
Sönke Gößling: The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center (ZBT), Carl-Benz-Straße 201, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
Stefan Pischinger: Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, Germany

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-26

Abstract: Freeze start is a challenge in the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. In this study, ice formation in cell layers is investigated through experiments and simulations. Segmentation of the fuel cell on the test bench allows to determine the local distributions of current density and high frequency resistance over the active cell area. The location and timing of ice formation are analyzed in the experiments. It is shown that the formation of ice lenses can be detected by local measurements of the high frequency resistances. Then, a multiphysical CFD model is built and validated with the measurements and the commonalities and differences between the model results and the experiments are studied. It is shown that the model determines the freeze start behavior very well in wide operating ranges. Together with the findings from the experimental investigations, the model will finally be used to investigate local ice formation in detail.

Keywords: PEM fuel cell; frost start behavior; segmented measurements; ice formation; high frequency resistance; measurement and simulation (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
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