Perspective on the Development and Integration of Hydrogen Sensors for Fuel Cell Control

Michael Hauck (), Christopher Bickmann, Annika Morgenstern, Nicolas Nagel, Christoph R. Meinecke, Alexander Schade, Rania Tafat, Lucas Viriato, Harald Kuhn, Georgeta Salvan, Daniel Schondelmaier, Tino Ullrich, Thomas von Unwerth and Stefan Streif
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Michael Hauck: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Christopher Bickmann: Center for Micro and Nano Technologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Annika Morgenstern: Physics Department, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Nicolas Nagel: Department of Mathematics, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Christoph R. Meinecke: Center for Micro and Nano Technologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Alexander Schade: Center for Micro and Nano Technologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Rania Tafat: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Lucas Viriato: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Harald Kuhn: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Georgeta Salvan: Physics Department, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Daniel Schondelmaier: Department of Physical Engineering/Computer Science, University of Applied Science Zwickau, Peter-Breuer-Straße 2, D-08056 Zwickau, Germany
Tino Ullrich: Physics Department, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Thomas von Unwerth: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Stefan Streif: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Straße 70, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-18

Abstract: The measurement of hydrogen concentration in fuel cell systems is an important prerequisite for the development of a control strategy to enhance system performance, reduce purge losses and minimize fuel cell aging effects. In this perspective paper, the working principles of hydrogen sensors are analyzed and their requirements for hydrogen control in fuel cell systems are critically discussed. The wide measurement range, absence of oxygen, high humidity and limited space turn out to be most limiting. A perspective on the development of hydrogen sensors based on palladium as a gas-sensitive metal and based on the organic magnetic field effect in organic light-emitting devices is presented. The design of a test chamber, where the sensor response can easily be analyzed under fuel cell-like conditions is proposed. This allows the generation of practical knowledge for further sensor development. The presented sensors could be integrated into the end plate to measure the hydrogen concentration at the anode in- and outlet. Further miniaturization is necessary to integrate them into the flow field of the fuel cell to avoid fuel starvation in each single cell. Compressed sensing methods are used for more efficient data analysis. By using a dynamical sensor model, control algorithms are applied with high frequency to control the hydrogen concentration, the purge process, and the recirculation pump.

Keywords: fuel cells; sensors; hydrogen concentration; control strategy; purge process; anode recirculation (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: 2024
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