Fuel Cell Pack Research Articles

Diagnosing Failure in Fuel Cell Pack: A Frequency-Based Approach

Diagnosing Failure in Fuel Cell Pack: A Frequency-Based Approach

Metaheuristic optimization techniques to design solar-fuel cell-battery energy system for locomotives

This work proposes a design methodology of a Solar-Fuel Cell-Battery Energy System (SFCBES), which is proficient in supplying the energy requirements of a passenger train and with least cost, decide ratings of fuel cell pack and battery. The prospective work considers Indian Railways passenger locomotive with its real-time driving cycles. A design optimization method is articulated to solve cost minimization objective function, under the constraints such as fuel cell capacity, battery SOC limits, and average power demand of the locomotive. Detailed modelling of the hybrid power sources and locomotive is done and estimated for two practical driving cycles of the locomotive. Various cases including two intelligent energy management methods, three gradients, a hybrid power system with and without solar panels are considered. In this work, six metaheuristic algorithms namely Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Differential Evolution (DE), Firefly Algorithm (FA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Invasive Weed Optimization (IWO), and Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) are employed in the solution of cost minimization problem. The results declared that, among various algorithms considered, TLBO gave a better performance with minimum cost and earlier convergence among the cases considered.

Flexible and Adaptable Fuel Cell Pack with High Energy Density Realized by a Bifunctional Catalyst.

A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system with a hydrogen generator could have higher energy density than flexible batteries and supercapacitors and is possible to meet the urgent demand of flexible electronics. However, a flexible PEMFC pack is still not available due to the absence of a flexible hydrogen generator. To solve this problem, we successfully invented a flexible and adaptable hydrogen generator, which was realized by a new bifunctional aerogel catalyst with the abilities of both storing and producing hydrogen. The flexible hydrogen generator can produce hydrogen at room temperature when the device is inverting, bending, and rotating. By combining this flexible hydrogen generator and the unique flexible PEMFC stack of our group, we originally made a highly flexible and adaptable fuel cell pack with a high theoretical energy density (up to 722 Wh·kg-1) and current achieved energy density (135.9 Wh·kg-1). Such a PEMFC pack is highly promising to meet the high demand of flexible electronics.

Implementation of Firefly Algorithm in Optimal Sizing of PEMFC-Battery Hybrid Locomotive

The intention of this work is to find out the sizes or ratings of fuel cell pack and battery which can meet the requirements of a medium-range passenger train with minimum cost. In this paper, two optimization techniques are used for component sizing of a passenger train with PEM fuel cell and Battery. Proposed work deals with Indian Railways (Palakkad-Nilambur passenger train) considered. An objective function is formulated to reduce the cost of power sources, subject to various constraints such as battery SOC limits and Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) rating. Modeling of a locomotive, PEMFC, the battery is done and evaluated/simulated for two driving cycles of the passenger train. Two energy management approaches are considered for the equilibrium of power from the two energy sources. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) and firefly algorithm (FA) are used to find the objective function solution and the results obtained in this way are discussed in detail.

Convex programming energy management and components sizing of a plug-in fuel cell urban logistics vehicle

This paper devises an optimization framework for efficient energy management and components sizing of a plug-in fuel cell urban logistics vehicle. Based on the propulsion system structure, fuel cell system model, and convex battery health model, a convex programming problem is formulated to simultaneously optimize both the control decision and parameters of power sources, including a fuel cell pack and a battery pack. This paper seeks to minimize a summation of energy cost and power sources cost, while satisfying vehicle power demand and battery health requirements. Considering different drive cycles, the optimal parameters and energy cost are systematically investigated. As a result, the optimal battery rated power and energy capacity are about 54 kW and 29 kWh, respectively, which are not affected by different drive cycles, given an electric-only range between 40 km and 60 km. Finally, based on the developed convex programming control law and optimal parameters, we examine the power distribution of the plug-in fuel cell urban logistics vehicle with different hydrogen prices, which significantly influences the vehicle's fuel economy.

Model based Design and Optimization of a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Alternative vehicle powertrains (hybrid, hydrogen, electric) are a right answer to the emissions problem in very congested urban areas. The most effective alternative choice is surely represented by fuel cell vehicles. The design and optimization of this kind of powertrain can take a great benefit from mathematical models which include auxiliary management and control strategies of the energy fluxes: the use of a virtual platform limits the expensive and time-consuming experimental activity.The Authors present a lumped parameter mathematical model of a hybrid vehicle fed by a fuel cell pack. The propulsion system (fuel cell and battery) is accurately designed according to energy balancing. The mechanical power is given by an electric machine, whose behavior as alternator allows the energy recovery during braking. This aspect is treated with particular care (inside the overall vehicle and powertrain modeling). Vehicle's stability and safety has been also verified before recovering energy, re-modulating the braking action.

Investigation of a Micro PEM Fuel Cell Pack Based on MEMS Technology

Investigation of a Micro PEM Fuel Cell Pack Based on MEMS Technology

Investigation of a Micro PEM Fuel Cell Pack Based on MEMS Technology

Investigation of a micro PEM fuel cell pack based on MEMS technology is carried out in this paper. A Novel type of Z-type anode flow field plates were applied to replace the full pin-type ones used previously and all the single cells were assembled in the same plane with a fuel distributor as their support. The total pack's volume is about 4.0ml. Operating on dry H2 and air-breathing conditions at 20±3°C and 50±3% RH, the pack produced the peak power of 1.34W and the estimated maximum power density of the pack could reach 335W/L. Meanwhile, all the single cells had rather even performances which were based on V-I and internal resistance measurement (EIS). The results suggested that the pack's performance was greatly improved compared to the previous work. The novel Z-type anode flow field leading to more even fuel distribution among each cell probably had the greatest contribution for the improvement.

A Self-Breathing Proton-Exchange-Membrane Fuel-Cell Pack With Optimal Design and Microfabrication

An entire set of silicon-based microtechnologies is developed for a high-performance H $ _2/$ air self-breathing microproton-exchange-membrane fuel-cell ( $mu$ PEMFC) pack. For improving the performance of the silicon-based $mu$ PEMFC, microflow-fields together with the electrodes at the cathode and the anode are optimally designed. For simplifying the microfabrication, a bulk-micromachining process is developed for fabricating both the cathode and the anode. Besides that the optimally designed flow-fields and electrodes are accurate fabricated, both the cathodes and the anodes can be fabricated in a same wafer with identical process. Optimized packaging conditions, such as the compression ratio and the current-collecting layer for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), are experimentally obtained for both high fuel-cell performance and reliable silicon micropackaging. Attributed to the optimized design and the precise microfabrication, the peak power-density of the self-breathing $mu$ PEMFC is measured as high as 141.0–147.2 mW/cm $^-2$ . For adapting the output voltage to handheld electronic systems, a thin-pad planar configuration is designed for the $mu$ PEMFC pack that consists of six single cells connected in series. The planar-configured self-breathing $mu$ PEMFC pack is micropackaged on a silicon-micromachined base-chip, with the specific power as high as 271 mW/cm $^3$ measured. Experimental results demonstrate that the fuel cells can reliably work under normal environmental temperature and humidity. 1200-h continuing power supply of the $mu$ PEMFC pack is performed, resulting in stable output of about 3 V.1643