Modeling Balance of Plant Components for a PEM Fuel Cell

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Rocheleau ◽  
John F. Sagona
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
System Development ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Power Production ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
Balance Of Plant ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Plant Components

To integrate a fuel cell into a vehicle platform many subsystems must be engineered to support the electrical power production of the fuel cell plant. These subsystems include the control of fuel and air supply as well as managing thermal and water throughput in the fuel cell stack. For the fuel cell plant to operate at optimum performance, one must examine the individual components that make up the “balance of plant” of the fuel cell system. Specifically, the power used to run the system must be scrutinized with the power produced by the system. Knowing how individual balance of plant components perform is the first step in design and optimization studies, as well as automated control system development. To address these issues, this paper examines how balance of plant components and subsystems affect parasitic power consumption, fuel cell power production, membrane hydration, hydrogen usage, and water production.

scholarly journals Experimental investigation on water-injected twin-screw compressor for fuel cell humidification

2012 ◽  
Vol 226 (12) ◽  
pp. 2925-2932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talal Ous ◽  
Elvedin Mujic ◽  
Nikola Stosic
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Constant Pressure ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Injection Rate ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Balance Of Plant ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Twin Screw ◽  
Mass Flow Rates

Water injection in twin-screw compressors was examined in order to develop effective humidification and cooling schemes for fuel cell stacks as well as cooling for compressors. The temperature and the relative humidity of the air at suction and exhaust of the compressor were monitored under constant pressure and water injection rate and at variable compressor operating speeds. The experimental results showed that the relative humidity of the outlet air was increased by the water injection. The injection tends to have more effect on humidity at low operating speeds/mass flow rates. Further humidification can be achieved at higher speeds as a higher evaporation rate becomes available. It was also found that the rate of power produced by the fuel cell stack was higher than the rate used to run the compressor for the same amount of air supplied. The efficiency of the balance of plant was, therefore, higher when more air is delivered to the stack. However, this increase in the air supply needs additional subsystems for further humidification/cooling of the balance-of-plant system.

Experimental and Theoretical Performance Analysis of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Fed With LPG Using a Compact Steam Reformer

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Zuliani ◽  
Rodolfo Taccani ◽  
Robert Radu
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Steam Reformer ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Fuel Processor ◽  
Balance Of Plant ◽  
Energy Balances ◽  
High Temperature Pem

High temperature PEM (HTPEM) fuel cell based on polybenzimidazole polymer (PBI) and phosphoric acid, can be operated at temperature between 120°C and 180°C. Reactants humidification is not required and CO content up to 1% in fuel can be tolerated, affecting only marginally performance. This is what makes HTPEM fuel cells very attractive, as low quality reformed hydrogen can be used and water management problems are avoided. This paper aims to present the preliminary experimental results obtained on a HTPEM fuel cell fed with LPG using a compact steam reformer. The analysis focus on the reformer start up transient, on the influence of the steam to carbon ratio on reformate CO content and on the single fuel cell performance at different operating conditions. By analyzing the mass and energy balances of the fuel processor, fuel cell system, and balance-of-plant, a previously developed system simulation model has been used to provide critical assessment on the conversion efficiency for a 1 kWel system. The current study attempts to extend the previously published analyses of integrated HTPEM fuel cell systems.

Partial Validation of a Proposed Rating Methodology for Residential Fuel Cell Systems

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W. Davis ◽  
Michael W. Ellis ◽  
Brian P. Dougherty ◽  
A. Hunter Fanney
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Thermal Load ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Electrical Load ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Load Following

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in conjunction with Virginia Tech, has developed a rating methodology for residential-scale stationary fuel cell systems. The methodology predicts the cumulative electrical production, thermal energy delivery, and fuel consumption on an annual basis. The annual performance is estimated by representing the entire year of climate and load data into representative winter, spring/fall, and summer days for six different U.S. climatic zones. It prescribes a minimal number of steady state and simulated use tests, which provide the necessary performance data for the calculation procedure that predicts the annual performance. The procedure accounts for the changes in performance resulting from changes in ambient temperature, electrical load, and, if the unit provides thermal as well as electrical power, thermal load. The rating methodology addresses four different types of fuel cell systems: grid-independent electrical load following, grid-connected constant power, grid-connected thermal load following, and grid-connected water heating. This paper will describe a partial validation of the rating methodology for a grid-connected thermal load following fuel cell system. The rating methodology was validated using measured data from tests that subjected the fuel cell system to domestic hot water and space heating thermal loads for each of the three representative days. The simplification of a full year’s load and climate data into three representative days was then validated by comparing the rating methodology predictions with the prediction of each hour over the full year in each of the six cities.

Combustion System Development for the Ramgen Engine

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 885-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Kendrick ◽  
B. C. Chenevert ◽  
B. Trueblood ◽  
J. Tonouchi ◽  
S. P. Lawlor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bluff Body ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
System Development ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Combustion Efficiency ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Successful Operation ◽  
Injection Methods ◽  
The Individual

The research and development of a unique combustion engine is presented. The engine converts the thrust from ramjet modules located on the rim of a disk into shaft torque, which in turn can be used for electrical power generation or mechanical drive applications. A test program was undertaken that included evaluation of the pre-prototype engine and incorporation of improvements to the thrust modules and supporting systems. Fuel mixing studies with vortex generators and bluff-body flame holders demonstrated the importance of increasing the shear-layer area and spreading angle to augment flame volume. Evaluation of flame-holding configurations (with variable fuel injection methods) concluded that the heat release zone, and therefore combustion efficiency, could be manipulated by judicious selection of bluff-body geometry, and is less influenced by fuel injection distribution. Finally, successful operation of novel fuel and cooling air delivery systems have resolved issues of gas (fuel and air) delivery to the individual rotor segments. The lessons learned from the pre-prototype engine are currently being applied to the development of a 2.8MW engine.

Fuel Cell System Development: A Strong Influence on FCEV Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Walters ◽  
Maximilian Wick ◽  
Sören Tinz ◽  
Juergen Ogrzewalla ◽  
Andreas Sehr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
System Development ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System
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