Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System Research Articles

A fuzzy-predictive current control with real-time hardware for PEM fuel cell systems

This research study presents the application of the FC-PCC (Fuzzy Logic Predictive Current Control) algorithm in the context of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system employing a three-level boost converter (TLBC). The proposed approach involves the integration of an intelligent fuzzy controller with a predictive current control strategy in order to improve the performance of MPP tracking. Initially, the utilization of fuzzy logic involves the utilization of data values obtained from the PEMFC. The maximum point (P-I) of the PEMFC polarization curve is determined, followed by the selection of the reference current. A predictive current control technique employs the reference current to ensure the voltage balance of the output capacitor in the three-level converter. The hardware-in-the-loop system utilizes a real-time and high-speed simulator, specifically the PLECS RT Box 1, to obtain the findings. The computational cost of the overall system is rather low, making it feasible to construct using PLECS RT Box 1. The new MPPT algorithm quickly finds the maximum power point (MPP) and balances the voltage of capacitors in a number of different proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The suggested MPPT technique has been verified to demonstrate rapid tracking of the maximum power point (MPP) location, as well as precise balancing of capacitor voltage and robustness to environmental variations. This approach was tested and found to outperform conventional MPPT methods like Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (IC) in terms of tracking duration, precision, and voltage balancing, achieving a 15% reduction in tracking duration, a 5% deviation from the MPP value for voltage, and superior stability under changing temperature and pressure.

Techno-economic assessment and multi-objective optimization of a hybrid methanol-reforming proton exchange membrane fuel cell system with cascading energy utilization

Techno-economic assessment and multi-objective optimization of a hybrid methanol-reforming proton exchange membrane fuel cell system with cascading energy utilization

An enhanced sparrow search algorithm for model order reduction of proton exchange membrane fuel cell system

An enhanced sparrow search algorithm for model order reduction of proton exchange membrane fuel cell system

Multi-objective energy management strategy for a dual-stack fuel cell heavy-duty truck via deep reinforcement learning

The Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) system, as an efficient, zero-pollution emission, and high-efficiency energy conversion device, is particularly suitable for heavy-duty transportation. Considering the limited power of the current PEMFC system, this study focuses on a hybrid fuel cell heavy-duty truck with dual stacks. Considering the optimal operating range of the PEMFC system and the health status of the lithium-ion battery pack, an energy management strategy (EMS) based on the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithm is established. This strategy optimizes the hydrogen consumption cost, degradation costs of lithium-ion battery and fuel cells. Additionally, a dynamic programming (DP) and an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) based EMSs are established. The power allocation and overall transportation costs under the CSC driving cycle are compared and verified for the three EMSs. The results show that the DDPG algorithm provides a more optimal power allocation for the dual-stack fuel cells, improving the overall system efficiency, enhancing the lifecycle of heavy-duty trucks, and significantly reducing overall travel costs.

Development of integrated thermally autonomous reformed methanol-proton exchange membrane fuel cell system

This paper presents a novel thermally autonomous reformed methanol fuel cell (RMFC) system for highly efficient hydrogen production and power generation by integrating a self-heating methanol steam reforming (MSR) microreactor and a high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC). The RMFC system would exhibit significant potential for portable use due to its high energy efficiency, compact size and long lifetime. The structural design of the RMFC system including MSR microreactor and HT-PEMFC are studied, and a work flow is developed to enable the startup and stable power output of the system. After that, the microreactor and HT-PEMFC are fabricated, and then integrated to develop the system. Experimental testing results showed that the microreactor can produce a maximum reformate gas of 541 ml/min with a methanol conversion larger than 93.8 %., while maintaining the carbon monoxide concentration below 2 %. The RMFC system can start up within 17 min, the temperature fluctuation is lower than 6.28 % and the maximum output power can reach up to 32.9 W. As for a conservatively designed rating power of 25 W, the calculated energy conversion efficiency of the system can reach about 28.5 %, with good stability during long-term operations.

Design of a novel multizone cooling system for performance improvement in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Thermal management is critical to developing proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems, impacting their output performance, safety, and lifetime. Currently, studies on thermal management use single zone cooling technique to control the cell temperature, which leads to the non-uniform distribution of water inside the cell and reduces the cell’s output performance and life span. In this paper, a novel multizone cooling system is developed to optimise the thermal management of the cell, and the effect of multizone cooling technology on the cell is investigated under different operating parameters. The experimental results demonstrate that cell voltage and current density uniformity improved when the cell bottom temperature was high and the inlet temperature was low. The performance enhancement was significant as the back pressure and outlet temperature increased. Notably, the cell with multizone temperature control showed significantly reduced reverse current generation and improved current density uniformity. Compared to cells using single zone cooling technique at 60 °C, the voltage increased by 9.98 %, 12.07 %, and 15.98 % at current densities of 400, 800, and 1200 mA cm−2, respectively. Multizone cooling technology notably enhances current density uniformity, achieving a 40.93 % improvement at 400 mA cm−2.

Towards maximum efficiency of an open-cathode PEM fuel cell system: A comparative experimental demonstration

Despite its high energy density and zero-carbon emissions, the path to large commercialization for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) systems faces challenges related to cost reduction, efficiency enhancement, and durability improvement. One key strategy to address these hurdles is the development of reliable control algorithms that ensure operation at the Maximum Efficiency Point (MEP) of PEMFC systems. This optimization is essential for achieving high efficiency, a crucial factor for PEMFC technology commercial viability. This work explores the experimental design, implementation, and evaluation of Maximum Efficiency Point Tracking (MEPT) control algorithms for a PEMFC system. The investigated methods span across five distinct categories: conventional, data-driven, metaheuristics, online model identification, and filter-based approaches. To assess these methods, a real-time small-scale PEMFC system test bench was built. The setup consists of 200 W open-cathode PEMFC, industrial step-up DC–DC converter, programmable load and a cost-effective measurement and monitoring unit. Merits and demerits of each method are then discussed based on different performance metrics such as tracking speed, hydrogen consumption and power stress. Comparative analysis of the results reveals that, while all the algorithms achieved a maximum electrical efficiency of about 48%, data-driven methods exhibited a superior trade-off between performance metrics. This ultimately leads to improved PEMFC durability.

Fault Diagnosis Review of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems: Fault Mechanisms, Detection and Identification, and Fault Mitigation

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has become a hotspot due to its high efficiency, compact structure, and good dynamic operation efficiency. However, problems such as poor reliability and short lifespan create bottlenecks in its large‐scale applications. There has been a large amount of research on fault diagnosis and health management techniques dedicated to addressing the lifespan issues of PEMFC systems. This article provides an in‐depth analysis on the fault mechanism of PEMFC and systematically sorts out the types, causes, and impacts of faults. On this basis, the research progress of PEMFC fault diagnosis technology is summarized, and the measurement characterization methods for fuel cell status monitoring and fault detection are summarized. The literatures of model‐based and data‐driven fault identification methods are summarized and compared. The relevant mitigation measures for PEMFC faults are discussed. Finally, based on the challenges in the current research of fault diagnosis, people mainly conduct research on fault model, online diagnostic technology, and improving diagnostic mechanisms. Overall, this article can provide useful summary and guidance for future research.

An enhanced salp swarm algorithm with chaotic mapping and dynamic learning for optimizing purge process of proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems

Swarm intelligence algorithm is now a research focus for the energy optimization of fuel cell systems to improve hydrogen utilization efficiency. However, conventional algorithms exhibit poor robustness and low execution efficiency since complex constraints are involved in the fuel cell cathode purge process. Given that, this paper innovatively introduces chaotic mapping and dynamic learning mechanisms into the Salp swarm algorithm to enhance the algorithm's global search and local exploitation capabilities under complex constraints. First, we developed a three-stage nonlinear cathode purge model to describe the different water transfer behaviors in the three purging stages. Then, an optimizing function is created under the complex staged constraints to accurately reveal the energy consumption mechanism. Finally, the enhanced Salp swarm algorithm enables the rapid and accurate determination of the three-stage dynamic purge flows based on minimizing energy consumption. Compared with the fixed flow purge scheme, we found that energy consumption is reduced by 3.6 %–8.2 % under various constraints. The enhanced Salp swarm algorithm proposed in this work demonstrates an outstanding performance in the energy consumption optimization of fuel cell systems.

Temperature Maintenance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System Based on Genetic Algorithm

Temperature is one of the main factors affecting proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFC). In severe cold conditions, when equipment with PEMFCs is shut down for a short period of time, the battery temperature will drop to below zero degrees Celsius. Under this condition, the generation of ice will increase the battery start-up time, and cold start of PEMFC often requires additional heat sources. At the same time, repeated cold starts will seriously reduce the lifespan of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Aiming at this problem, a temperature maintenance strategy is proposed for short-term low-power output of PEMFCs in severe cold conditions based on the temperature dynamic model of PEMFCs, which reduces energy loss through genetic algorithm effectively.

Rotordynamics of a rotor supported by foil bearings under various housing excitation

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel cell Systems(FCS) are rapid-growing technology in transportation systems. In such applications, a motor-driven oil-free air compressor is one of the critical auxiliary subsystems. Foil bearings are the perfect choice as oil-free bearings for the compressors due to high rotordynamics stability and shock-resistance. The platform of a motor-driven oil-free compressor can also be used as an electric turbocharger for traditional internal combustion engines. All electromechanical subsystems for electric vehicles must satisfy vibration endurance requirements following ISO 16750–3:2012, characterized by certain g-loading at specific frequencies. For the compressor to satisfy ISO 16750 requirement, detailed rotordynamics simulations with externally excited compressor housing under certain g-loading are essential to design the foil bearings considering the static and dynamic loads to the bearing and rotordynamics stability. The main objectives of the current research are 1) to develop a four degree of freedom (4-DOF) dynamic model of the rotor supported by foil bearings under external excitation to the compressor, 2) to simulate linear and non-linear rotordynamics of the compressor rotor supported by two radial foil bearings, and 3) to provide appropriate design guideline such as bump stiffness and axial length of the foil bearings. The simulations show that the rotor is stable for both under single frequency excitation and simultaneous excitations of all the frequencies in ISO 17650 standard. 4-DOF modal analyses were applied to identify natural mode of the system under the housing excitation.

Performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell system by considering the effects of the gas diffusion layer thickness, catalyst layer thickness, and operating temperature of the cell

BackgroundIn this research, the effect of anode and cathode channel cross-sectional shape on the performance of PEM fuel cell was investigated and the appropriate length and dimensions of the channel were determined. Finally, for the determined geometric conditions, the cell performance at different voltages was investigated. MethodsThe purpose of this study was to investigate the structural characteristics of the fuel cell on its performance. The results show that the pressure and temperature in the catalyst layer (CL) of the cathode side are greater than the anode, and the temperature in the central regions of the catalyst layer is higher than the lateral regions. Also, the channel with a length of 100 mm is optimal in terms of producing the maximum current density and the amount of pressure drop is much lower than the channel with a length of 150 mm, which reduces the power consumption of the cell. Significant findingsIn general, a higher electric current is produced by increasing the thickness of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the catalyst layer. At a voltage of 0.8 V, with increasing thickness from 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm, the current density increases above 6 %. The percentage increase in current density at 60 °C–80 °C for 0.85 V and 0.75 V voltages is 42.1 % and 9.28 %, respectively.

Effects of geometrical parameters on the performance of hydrogen regenerative pumps in proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems

Regenerative pumps are considered a promising option for hydrogen recirculation in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems. The geometry of the impeller exerts a direct influence on the pressurization process within the regenerative pumps. However, the influence has not been explored systematically in any available publications. This study investigates the effects of geometric parameters on pump performance and provides design guidelines for hydrogen regenerative pumps. A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model is developed and validated. The effects of critical geometric parameters, including the number of blades, impeller radius, and impeller radius ratio, on the performance of the regenerative pumps are then analyzed. Based on the analysis, this work recommends 35 blades and an impeller radius ratio of 0.65. To establish a correlation between operational performance and micro-flow mechanisms, the fluid velocity distribution at the interface of the rotating and stationary domains is quantitatively analyzed. Results indicate that a reduction in the flow rate results in increased axial velocity and decreased tangential velocity. The increased axial velocity enhances mass transfer, thus increasing the pressure and diminishing the efficiency, whereas the decreased tangential velocity intensifies the impact of the fluid on the blades, leading to increased shock losses and reduced efficiency.

Energy recovery and efficiency improvement method of proton exchange membrane fuel cell system by applying the expander in plateau environment

The compressor can improve the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system, but excessive parasitic power can actually have a counterproductive effect. PEMFC system also faces the issue of plateau environmental adaptability. This paper experimentally verifies the energy recovery effect of the expander and explores the system performance in plateau environment. In plain environment, with a rated stack power of 162.2 kW, the application of the expander decreases the air compressor power from 18.7 kW to 13.2 kW, and increases the system efficiency from 44.5 % to 46.5 %. Based on simulation model, further research is conducted on plateau environment. PEMFC system can operate under rated conditions below an altitude of 3000 m. At an altitude of 0–3000 m, the compressor power increases from 18.1 kW to 24.9 kW, and the system efficiency reduces from 44.8 % to 42.5 %. By applying the expander, the air compressor power reduces to 16.8 kW, and system efficiency increases to 45.1 %. The working boundary of the compressor limits the operating load and altitude of PEMFC system. The expander can achieve better energy recovery effect in high current density and plateau environment. In future, the expander will be an indispensable part of high-power PEMFC system.

Diagnostic and prognostic for prescriptive maintenance and control of PEMFC systems in an industrial framework

This paper designed and defined the framework of prescriptive maintenance and its four axes, for hydrogen-energy systems, considering the constraints of actual systems, to improve durability, availability, reliability, performance, safety and operating costs of these systems. Different data-driven approaches for diagnostic and different approaches for prognostic of Remaining Useful Life (RUL) for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) systems are discussed. The use of measures always available on actual systems allows to validate the approach in an industrial framework. Several diagnostic algorithms (classification and clustering) are compared to find the best compromise between computation time and accuracy in an online diagnostic framework. For the prognostic part, the data set comes from experimental tests performed under steady load for a PEMFC stack. A degradation trend of PEMFC stack voltage is extracted from these data and two well-known prediction algorithms namely Bidirectional Echo State Network (BiESN) and Bidirectional Long-Short Term Memory network (BiLSTM) are tested and compared to evaluate the robustness of the PEMFC voltage prediction for RUL estimation. The diagnostic and prognostic approaches proposed in this paper are first steps towards future work related to prescriptive maintenance for hydrogen-energy systems (PEMFC, Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer and hybridization of the two).

Theoretical studies on wide-operating-range ejector based on operating conditions and multi-parameter coupling effect in proton exchange membrane fuel cell system

When the ejector in a fuel cell system operates under off-design conditions, its performance will significantly decrease. To improve the performance of the ejector under all operating conditions, this paper proposes a theoretical model for predicting performance and optimizing the structure of the ejector that has not been studied before. Based on the jet theory, a two-dimensional three-segment velocity distribution is established, and the exponent of the velocity function is modified by simulation and experimental data, reducing the model’s calculation error from 15% to 6.5%. By combining the Lagrange algorithm, we investigate the influence of operating conditions and multi-parameter coupling effects on ejector performance, obtaining optimal values for structural parameters under different load conditions. The results show that the optimal value of main nozzle exit position (Lx) increases with increasing current and the optimal value ranges from 0.5 to 6 mm. The influence of dimensionless parameter (λc), dimensionless parameter (λd) and diffusion angle (αd) on ejector performance is significant and optimal values exist. Reducing the nozzle throat diameter (dnt) can effectively promote the entrainment performance at low power, and four adjustment conditions are proposed. When dnt decreases from 3.2 to 2.0 mm, the operating range of the current is increased by 38.42%, the power range is increased by 42.12%, and the pressure drop of the ejector (pd) decreased by 9.66 bar. The theoretical model not only improves the accuracy of predicting the entrainment ratio, but also realizes the study of the influence of multi-structural parameter coupling effect on the performance of the ejector, which leads to a significant improvement in the optimization accuracy and efficiency, and extends the applicable power range of the ejector. This provides a new direction for the future performance optimization of wide operating range ejectors considering multi-parameter coupling effects.

Performance investigation of coupling modes for hydrogen circulation in high-power proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems

The economy and stability of the hydrogen recirculation system in high-power fuel cells significantly impact the performance of the stack system. However, there is no consensus on the optimal hydrogen recirculation mode to be employed. To determine the most effective solution across the entire power range of the stack, this study compares the performance of various coupling modes. The dynamic performance variations of the system were investigated under different modes by the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. The simulation results demonstrated that within the low and medium power range of the stack, the PUE (Pump Upstream of Ejector) mode had the lowest power consumption of all modes, at 112 W. The power of the PUE mode had a reduction of 56.3% compared to the full-power single hydrogen pump mode, and a reduction of 22.8% compared to the PDE (Pump Downstream of Ejector) mode.

Modeling and Control of Ejector-Based Hydrogen Circulation System for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems

Ejector-based proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are of great interest due to their simplicity and feasibility. Thus, proton exchange membrane fuel cells are considered the most suitable technology for in-vehicle systems, industrial applications, etc. Despite the passive characteristics of the ejector, active control of the hydrogen supply system is needed to ensure sufficient hydrogen, maintain the stack pressure, and ensure effective entrainment. In this research, a novel semi-empirical model is proposed to accurately predict the entrainment performance of the ejector with an 80 kW fuel cell system. According to the precise semi-empirical model, the hydrogen supply system and the anode channel are modeled. Then, a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is developed to supply sufficient and adequate gas flow and maintain the rapid dynamic response. Compared to the conventional proportional–integral–derivative controller, the fuzzy logic controller could reduce the anode pressure variability by 5% during a stepped case and 2% during a dynamic case.

Research and Development of Control Strategies for Fuel Cell Systems

For the self-developed kilowatt level proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, the control algorithm of the fuel cell system is built in MATLAB/Simulink, and the control models of each subsystem, the entire system control process, and steady-state calibration process are discussed. Data analysis through experiments shows that the system has good performance.

Dynamic Fractional-Order Model of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System for Sustainability Improvement

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stands at the forefront of advancing energy sustainability. Effective monitoring, control, diagnosis, and prognosis are crucial for optimizing the PEMFC system’s sustainability, necessitating a dynamic model that can capture the transient response of the PEMFC. This paper uses a dynamic fractional-order model to describe the behaviors of a stationary micro combined heat and power (mCHP) PEMFC stack. Based on the fractional-order equivalent circuit model, the applied model accurately represents the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the dynamic voltage response under transient conditions. The applied model is validated through experiments on an mCHP PEMFC stack under various fault conditions. The EIS data is analyzed under different current densities and various fault conditions, including the stoichiometry of the anode and cathode, the stack temperature, and the relative humidity. The dynamic voltage response of the applied model shows good correspondence with experimental results in both phase and amplitude, thereby affirming the method’s precision and solidifying its role as a reliable tool for enhancing the sustainability and operational efficiency of PEMFC systems.