A Study on Performance By Oxygen Concentration According to Driving Environmental of Fuel Cell Vehicle

Abstract

Partial pressure of oxygen is a significant factor for determining performance of fuel cell. As is well known, the oxygen concentration in air is generally 21%, but it is about 20% at urban area which has numerous vehicles and is reduced by 18% at underground parking lot with stuffy ventilation facilities. Also, the oxygen concentration in air is 21% at a high altitude, but efficiency of fuel cell vehicle can be decreased by low oxygen partial pressure. In this study, change of fuel cell performance was analyzed by applying empirical equation about I-V curves using experimental results according to oxygen concentration. The performance of fuel cell in oxygen concentration of 18%~23% and altitude of 0~4km was prospected by a deducted empirical equation. In case of stoichiometric ratio(SR) 2.0, performance of fuel cell in oxygen concentration of 18% was decreased over 10% in comparison with concentration of 21%, the results was revealed as reduction in performance of 22%. Also, the performance of fuel cell at 4km altitude appeared decrease of 25% owing to low partial pressure.