Overview of Field Performance by UTC Fuel Cells’ Transportation Fuel-Cell Power Plants

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praveen Narasimhamurthy ◽  
Zakiul Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Transportation Fuel ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack

UTC Fuel Cells (UTCFC) over the last few years has partnered with leading automotive and bus companies and developed Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel-cell power plants for various transportation applications, for instance, automotive, buses, and auxiliary power units (APUs). These units are deployed in various parts of the globe and have been gaining field experience under both real world and laboratory environments. The longest running UTC PEM fuel cell stack in a public transport bus has accumulated over 1350 operating hours and 400 start-stop cycles. The longest running APU fuel cell stack has accrued over 3000 operating hours with more than 3200 start-stop cycles. UTCFC PEM fuel-cell systems are low noise and demonstrate excellent steady state, cyclic, and transient capabilities. These near ambient pressure, PEMFC systems operate at high electrical efficiencies at both low and rated power conditions.

scholarly journals Data from Experimental Analysis of the Performance and Load Cycling of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Data ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ramírez-Cruzado ◽  
Blanca Ramírez-Peña ◽  
Rosario Vélez-García ◽  
Alfredo Iranzo ◽  
José Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Experimental Analysis ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Load Cycling

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy stored in fuels (hydrogen for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells) directly into electricity with high efficiency. Fuel cells are already commercially used in different applications, and significant research efforts are being carried out to further improve their performance and durability and to reduce costs. Experimental testing of fuel cells is a fundamental research activity used to assess all the issues indicated above. The current work presents original data corresponding to the experimental analysis of the performance of a 50 cm2 PEM fuel cell, including experimental results from a load cycling dedicated test. The experimental data were acquired using a dedicated test bench following the harmonized testing protocols defined by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission for automotive applications. With the presented dataset, we aim to provide a transparent collection of experimental data from PEM fuel cell testing that can contribute to enhanced reusability for further research.

Non-humidified fuel cells using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) as the electrolyte within a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM): the effect of water and counterions

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2917-2929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bagher Karimi ◽  
Fereidoon Mohammadi ◽  
Khadijeh Hooshyari
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Deep Eutectic Solvent ◽  
Deep Eutectic Solvents ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Fuel Cell Application ◽  
Nafion Membranes

In this research, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were prepared and employed as electrolyte in Nafion membranes for PEM fuel cell application.

Dynamic Simulation of a High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell: Stack Performance

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademola Rabiu ◽  
Myalelo Nomnqa ◽  
Daniel Ikhuomoregbe
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Operating Current ◽  
Electrical Power Output

One of the attractions of high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is the quality of the heat co-produced with power that could be recovered for use in a combined heat and power system. In this study, a one-dimensional model for a single PEM fuel cell was developed and implemented in Engineering Equations Solver (EES) environment to express the cell voltage as a function of current density among others. The single cell model was employed to investigate the energetic behaviour of a 1 kWe high temperature PEM fuel cell stack system, and the corresponding power and thermal efficiencies at different operating modes. A multiple parametric analyses using the built-in EES uncertainty propagation tool was used to determine the stack performance for the selected parameter range. The influence of the stack operating temperature, hydrogen utilization, the carbon monoxide content in the anode gas feed and the current density, on the efficiency of the fuel cell stack were studied at the required stack electrical output. The study showed that an increase in temperature increased the stack electrical power output whilst the thermal output decreased. The stack electrical power output was seen to increase with increase in the current density and hydrogen stoichiometry. It can be seen that ratio between the electrical power and thermal output increased as the current density increases. This ratio becomes unity at an operating current density of 0.3 A/cm2, representing the optimal operating current density of the stack. An increase in the hydrogen utilization has positive effects on both the cogeneration and thermal efficiency.

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Technology for Fuel Cells

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 587-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj G. Rajendran
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Perfluorosulfonic Acid ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membranes

AbstractThe concept of using an ion-exchange membrane as an electrolyte separator for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells was first reported by General Electric in 1955. However, a real breakthrough in PEM fuel cell technology occurred in the mid-1960s after DuPont introduced Nafion®, a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. Due to their inherent chemical, thermal, and oxidative stability, perfluorosulfonic acid membranes displaced unstable polystyrene sulfonic acid membranes.Today, Nafion® and other related perfluorosulfonic acid membranes are considered to be the state of the art for PEM fuel cell technology. Although perfluorosulfonic acid membrane structures are preferred today, structural improvements are still needed to accommodate the increasing demands of fuel cell systems for specific applications. Higher performance, lower cost, greater durability, better water management, the ability to perform at higher temperatures, and flexibility in operating with a wide range of fuels are some of the challenges that need to be overcome before widespread commercial adoption of the technology can be realized. The present article will highlight the membrane properties relevant to PEM fuel cell systems, the development history of perfluorosulfonic acid membranes, and the current status of R&D activities in PEM technology.

Modeling and Experimental Analyses of a Two-Cell Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Stack Emphasizing Individual Cell Characteristics

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Kyun Park ◽  
Song-Yul Choe
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Individual Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
The Individual

Performance of individual cells in an operating polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack is different from each other because of inherent manufacturing tolerances of the cell components and unequal operating conditions for the individual cells. In this paper, first, effects of different operating conditions on performance of the individual cells in a two-cell PEM fuel cell stack have been experimentally investigated. The results of the experiments showed the presence of a voltage difference between the two cells that cannot be manipulated by operating conditions. The temperature of the supplying air among others predominantly influences the individual cell voltages. In addition, those effects are explored by using a dynamic model of a stack that has been developed. The model uses electrochemical voltage equations, dynamic water balance in the membrane, energy balance, and diffusion in the gas diffusion layer, reflecting a two-phase phenomenon of water. Major design parameters and an operating condition by conveying simulations have been changed to analyze sensitivity of the parameters on the performance, which is then compared with experimental results. It turns out that proton conductivity of the membrane in cells among others is the most influential parameter on the performance, which is fairly in line with the reading from the experimental results.

Performance of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell System Fueled With Hydrogen Generated by a Fuel Processor

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jannelli ◽  
M. Minutillo ◽  
E. Galloni
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Hydrogen Generator ◽  
Fuel Processor ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Continuous Power

Fuel cells, which have seen remarkable progress in the last decade, are being developed for transportation, as well as for both stationary and portable power generation. For residential applications, the fuel cells with the largest market segment are the proton exchange membrane fuel cells, which are suitable for small utilities since they offer many advantages: high power density, small footprint, low operating temperature, fast start-up and shutdown, low emissions, and quiet operation. On the other hand, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells require high purity hydrogen as fuel. Currently, the infrastructure for the distribution of hydrogen is almost nonexistent. In order to use PEM fuel cell technology on a large scale, it is necessary to feed them with conventional fuel such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline or methanol to generate hydrogen in situ. This study aims to predict the performance of a PEM fuel cell integrated with a hydrogen generator based on steam reforming process. This integrated power unit will be able to provide clean, continuous power for on-site residential or light commercial applications. A precommercial natural gas fuel processor has been chosen as hydrogen generator. This fuel processor contains all the elements—desulphurizer, steam reformer, CO shift converter, CO preferential oxidation (PROX) reactor, steam generator, burner, and heat exchanger—in one package. The reforming system has been modeled with the ASPEN PLUS code. The model has a modular structure in order to allow performance analysis, component by component. Experimental investigations have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the fuel cell fed with the reformate gas, as produced by the reformer. The performance of the integrated system reformer/fuel cell has been evaluated both using the numerical results of the reformer modeling and the experimental data of the PEM fuel cell.

Design of a Fuel Cell Powered Blended Wing Body UAV

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dries Verstraete ◽  
Kai Lehmkuehler ◽  
K. C. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Electrical Propulsion ◽  
Blended Wing Body

Small-scale electrically powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are currently in use for a variety of reconnaissance and remote sensing missions. For these missions, electrical propulsion is generally preferred over small internal combustion engines because of the low noise and IR signature, low vibration levels, ease of operational support, and physical robustness. A desire for longer endurance than is available from the current generation of batteries has motivated the development of fuel cell based hybrid electrical propulsion systems. These advanced powerplant designs often include implementation challenges that will require new development methods and tools. Fuel cells generally lead to very low fuel weight at a high specific energy (Wh/kg) but have low specific power (W/kg). A high specific power is required to improve aircraft performance and manoeuvrability. Aircraft concepts powered solely by fuel cells therefore require both extremely lightweight airframes with a large internal volume and low-power payloads, which remains a challenge for conventional airframe designs. A blended-wing-body (BWB) airframe has high aerodynamic and structural efficiencies, which therefore seem ideally suited for this new generation of power-plants. This paper presents the development and testing of a novel BWB fuel-cell powered UAV. The paper first describes the initial design steps that led to the current airframe design. The Mark 1 platform has been developed, with a half-scale model built and currently being flight-tested. Based on the flight test results, the airframe will be scaled up and optimised to accommodate the fuel-cell and its associated systems. This aircraft will then be tested with a standard electrical propulsion system to determine the airworthiness with the restricted fuel cell power output as well as the design of the take-off boost system. This paper reports on the design, analyses, and preliminary testing of a fuel cell powered BWB UAV.

Control Oriented Discretized Cathode Control Volume Method for Improved PEM Fuel Cell Modeling

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Headley ◽  
Dongmei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Modeling Methodology ◽  
Volume Method ◽  
And Control

The humidity levels in PEM fuel cells has a profound effect on the performance. However, in large fuel cell stacks the relative humidity (RH) changes significantly along the length of the stack. This paper presents a control-oriented model with spatial considerations of the distribution of water vapor that can be used to properly predict and control the humidity levels in a PEM fuel cell stack. This model predicts the dynamic response of the stack in real-time by tracking energy and mass flows in four basic CVs. To provide spatial information of the stack conditions, the cathode CV was further subdivided into 6 sub-volumes. The model was validated with experiments conducted on a 28-cell, 2kW fuel cell stack. The validation results show that the multiple CV approach can accurately predict the stack RH and voltage, and is capable of predicting localized voltage losses. This new modeling methodology shows the importance of a distributed understanding of the RH profile, and provides a tool to create control algorithms for PEM fuel cells that consider the health of all the sections of the stack.

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