Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of an Optimized Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Outeiro ◽  
R. Chibante ◽  
A. S. Carvalho ◽  
A. T. de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Sustainable Energy System

Hydrogen and fuel cells are widely regarded as the key to energy solutions for the 21st century. These technologies will contribute significantly to a reduction in environmental impact, enhanced energy security and development of new energy industries. Fuel cells operating with hydrogen have the potential to contribute to the transition for a future sustainable energy system with low-CO2 emissions. In this paper a dynamic PEM fuel cell model, implemented in Matlab/Simulink, is presented. In order to estimate the PEM fuel cell model parameters, an optimization based approach is used. The optimization is carried out using the Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm. This optimization process evolves converging to a minimum of the objective function. The flexibility and robustness of SA as a global search method are extremely important advantages of this method. A good agreement between experimental and simulated results is observed. This optimized PEM fuel cell model can significantly help designers of fuel cell systems by providing a tool to perform accurate design and consequently to improve system efficiency.

Numerical Study and Optimisation of Channel Geometry and Gas Diffusion Layer of a PEM Fuel Cell

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surajudeen O. Obayopo ◽  
Tunde Bello-Ochende ◽  
Josua P. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Fuel cell technology offers a promising alternative to conventional fossil fuel energy sources. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) in particular have become sustainable choice for the automotive industries because of its low pollution, low noise and quick start-up at low temperatures. Researches are on-going to improve its performance and reduce cost of this class of energy systems. In this work, a novel approach to optimise proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell gas channels in the systems bipolar plates with the aim of globally optimising the overall system net power performance at minimised pressure drop and subsequently low pumping power requirement for the reactant species gas was carried out. In addition, the effect of various gas diffusion layer (GDL) properties on the fuel cell performance was examined. Simulations were done ranging from 0.6 to 1.6 mm for channel width, 0.5 to 3.0 mm for channel depth and 0.1 to 0.7 for the GDL porosity. A gradient based optimisation algorithm is implemented which effectively handles an objective function obtained from a computational fluid dynamics simulation to further enhance the obtained optimum values of the examined multiple parameters for the fuel cell system. The results indicate that effective match of reactant gas channel and GDL properties enhance the performance of the fuel cell system. The numerical results computed agree well with experimental data in the literature. Consequently, the results obtained provide useful information for improving the design of fuel cells.

scholarly journals Determination of the optimal battery capacity of a PEM fuel cell vehicle taking into account recuperation and supercapacitors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swantje C. Konradt ◽  
Hermann Rottengruber
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicle ◽  
Battery Capacity

AbstractProton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell vehicles require an electrical intermediate storage system to compensate for dynamic load requirements. That storage system uses a battery and has the task to increase tolerance to dynamic operation. In addition, energy can be recuperated and stored in supercapacitors to increase the fuel cell vehicle’s efficiency. To determine the optimal battery capacity according to the recuperation potential and possible use of a supercapacitor, a reference vehicle with PEM fuel cell was transferred to the simulation environment Matlab/Simulink. The model is based on a cell model describing the electrochemical and physical interactions within the cell. It has been implemented in a complete vehicle model for the representation of a fuel cell vehicle. Various legal driving cycles, such as the WLTP (“Worldwide harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure”), were used for the calculations. A further step sets the optimal battery capacity depending on the dynamic of the fuel cell system. With this simulation model, dynamic requirements—for the fuel cell and the associated system components—can be determined in the future, scalable for each vehicle depending on the battery capacity and recuperation potential.

Theoretical Analysis on the Autothermal Reforming Process of Ethanol as Fuel for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Perna
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Autothermal Reforming ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Hydrogen Yield ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The purpose of this work is to investigate, by a thermodynamic analysis, the effects of the process variables on the performance of an autothermal reforming (ATR)-based fuel processor, operating on ethanol as fuel, integrated into an overall proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system. This analysis has been carried out finding the better operating conditions to maximize hydrogen yield and to minimize CO carbon monoxide production. In order to evaluate the overall efficiency of the system, PEM fuel cell operations have been analyzed by an available parametric model.

Pore Structure Modeling of Flow in Gas Diffusion Layers of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongying Shi ◽  
Xia Wang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pore Structure ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Transport Phenomena ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Structure Model ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell has a porous structure with anisotropic and non-homogenous properties. The objective of this research is to develop a PEM fuel cell model where transport phenomena in the GDL are simulated based on GDL’s pore structure. The GDL pore structure was obtained by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). GDL’s cross-section view instead of surface view was scanned under the SEM. The SEM image was then processed using an image processing tool to obtain a two dimensional computational domain. This pore structure model was then coupled with an electrochemical model to predict the overall fuel cell performance. The transport phenomena in the GDL were simulated by solving the Navier-Stokes equation directly in the GDL pore structure. By comparing with the testing data, the fuel cell model predicted a reasonable fuel cell polarization curve. The pore structure model was further used to calculate the GDL permeability. The numerically predicted permeability was close to the value published in the literature. A future application of the current pore structure model is to predict GDL thermal and electric related properties.

Pore Structure Modeling of Flow in Gas Diffusion Layers of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Shi ◽  
X. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pore Structure ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Transport Phenomena ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Structure Model ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell has a porous structure with anisotropic and non-homogenous properties. The objective of this research is to develop a PEM fuel cell model where transport phenomena in the GDL are simulated based on GDL’s pore structure. The GDL pore structure was obtained by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). GDL’s cross-section view instead of surface view was scanned under the SEM. The SEM image was then processed using an image processing tool to obtain a two-dimensional computational domain. This pore structure model was then coupled with an electrochemical model to predict the overall fuel cell performance. The transport phenomena in the GDL were simulated by solving the Navier-Stokes equation directly in the GDL pore structure. By comparing with the testing data, the fuel cell model predicted a reasonable fuel cell polarization curve. The pore structure model was further used to calculate the GDL permeability. The numerically predicted permeability was close to the value published in the literature. A future application of the current pore structure model is to predict GDL thermal and electric related properties.

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell System Model for Automotive Vehicle Simulation and Control

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisie D. Boettner ◽  
Gino Paganelli ◽  
Yann G. Guezennec ◽  
Giorgio Rizzoni ◽  
Michael J. Moran
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
System Model ◽  
System Efficiency ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Air Compressor ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Abstract This paper describes a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system model for automotive applications that includes an air compressor, cooling system, and other auxiliaries. The fuel cell system model has been integrated into a vehicle performance simulator that determines fuel economy and allows consideration of control strategies. Significant fuel cell system efficiency improvements may be possible through control of the air compressor and other auxiliaries. Fuel cell system efficiency results are presented for two limiting air compressor cases: ideal control and no control. Extension of the present analysis to hybrid configurations consisting of a fuel cell system and battery is currently under study.

scholarly journals Thermal and Electrical Parameter Identification of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using Genetic Algorithm

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2099 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Ariza ◽  
Antonio Correcher ◽  
Carlos Sánchez ◽  
Ángel Pérez-Navarro ◽  
Emilio García
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Electrical Parameter ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Real Behavior ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) fuel cells is a technology successfully used in the production of energy from hydrogen, allowing the use of hydrogen as an energy vector. It is scalable for stationary and mobile applications. However, the technology demands more research. An important research topic is fault diagnosis and condition monitoring to improve the life and the efficiency and to reduce the operation costs of PEMFC devices. Consequently, there is a need of physical models that allow deep analysis. These models must be accurate enough to represent the PEMFC behavior and to allow the identification of different internal signals of a PEM fuel cell. This work presents a PEM fuel cell model that uses the output temperature in a closed loop, so it can represent the thermal and the electrical behavior. The model is used to represent a Nexa Ballard 1.2 kW fuel cell; therefore, it is necessary to fit the coefficients to represent the real behavior. Five optimization algorithms were tested to fit the model, three of them taken from literature and two proposed in this work. Finally, the model with the identified parameters was validated with real data.

scholarly journals Measurements Based Analysis of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Operation in Transient State and Power of Own Needs

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 498
Author(s):  
Andrzej Wilk ◽  
Daniel Węcel
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Transient State ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Variable Load ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Currently, fuel cells are increasingly used in industrial installations, means of transport, and household applications as a source of electricity and heat. The paper presents the results of experimental tests of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) at variable load, which characterizes the cell’s operation in real installations. A detailed analysis of the power needed for operation fuel cell auxiliary devices (own needs power) was carried out. An analysis of net and gross efficiency was carried out in various operating conditions of the device. The measurements made show changes in the performance of the fuel cell during step changing or smooth changing of an electric load. Load was carried out as a change in the current or a change in the resistance of the receiver. The analysis covered the times of reaching steady states and the efficiency of the fuel cell system taking into account auxiliary devices. In the final part of the article, an analysis was made of the influence of the fuel cell duration of use on obtained parameters. The analysis of the measurement results will allow determination of the possibility of using fuel cells in installations with a rapidly changing load profile and indicate possible solutions to improve the performance of the installation.

Two-Stage Design of Linear Feedback Controllers for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verica Radisavljevic-Gajic ◽  
Patrick Rose ◽  
Garrett M. Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Linear Feedback ◽  
Fast Time ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The paper considers the eighth-order proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel-cell mathematical model and shows that it has a multi-time scale property, indicating that the dynamics of three model state space variables operate in the slow time scale and the dynamics of five state variables operate in the fast time scale. This multi-scale nature allows independent controllers to be designed in slow and fast time scales using only corresponding reduced-order slow (of dimension three) and fast (of dimension five) sub-models. The presented design facilitates the design of hybrid controllers, for example, the linear-quadratic optimal controller for the slow subsystem and the eigenvalue assignment controller for the fast subsystem. The design efficiency and its high accuracy are demonstrated via simulation on the considered PEM fuel cell model.

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