Performance Analysis and Optimization of a High-Temperature PEMFC Vehicle Based on Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

Yanju Li,Dongxu Li,Zhanghao Lu,Bing Xu,Zheshu Ma,Meng Zheng

doi:10.3390/membranes11090691

Yanju Li, Dongxu Li + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11090691

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Journal: Membranes	Publication Date: Sep 7, 2021
Citations: 20	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Nanjing Forestry University

Abstract

In this paper, a high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) model using the polybenzimidazole membrane doped with phosphoric acid molecules is developed based on finite time thermodynamics, considering various polarization losses and losses caused by leakage current. The mathematical expressions of the output power density and efficiency of the HT-PEMFC are deduced. The reliability of the model is verified by the experimental data. The effects of operating parameters and design parameters on the output performance of the HT-PEMFC are further analyzed. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used for the multi-objective optimization of the power density and efficiency of the HT-PEMFC. The results show that the output performance of the optimized HT-PEMFC is improved. Then, according to the different output performance of the low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (LT-PEMFC), HT-PEMFC, and optimized HT-PEMFC, different design schemes are provided for a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) powertrain. Simulation tests are conducted under different driving cycles, and the results show that the FCV with the optimized HT-PEMFC is more efficient and consumes less hydrogen.

Highlights

With the environmental degradation and energy decay caused by conventional internal combustion engines, new/sustainable energy development is essential [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Et al proposed a semi-empirical model of HT-PEMFCs considering hydrogen pressure, ambient temperature, pressure, and load resistance. The effect of these parameters on the cell performance was investigated, and the results showed that the output voltage of the HT-PEMFC decreases when the ambient temperature increases and the pressure decreases
The output performance of different PEMFCs provides different design schemes for fuel cell vehicle (FCV), and through simulation tests, we study the performance of the optimized HT-PEMFC on the vehicle

Summary

Introduction

With the environmental degradation and energy decay caused by conventional internal combustion engines, new/sustainable energy development is essential [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Compared with the LT-PEMFC, the HT-PEMFC [12,13] simplifies the internal water and heat management and improves the CO tolerance of the proton exchange membrane [14,15,16]. Yang et al [26,27] studied the high-temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) in order to improve the performance of the PEMFC at high temperature. The results show that the improved membrane based on Nafion cannot guarantee the comprehensive performance under high temperature and low humidity conditions. Phosphoric-acid-doped polybenzimidazole (PA/PBI) membranes [18] could maintain good mechanical properties and excellent proton conductivity at high temperature and low humidity. Li et al [29] studied the CO tolerance of HT-PEMFCs based on PBI membranes at high temperature.

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Conclusion