A Two-Dimensional, Two-Phase, Multicomponent, Transient Model for the Cathode of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using Conventional Gas Distributors [Journal of the Electrochemical Society 148, A1324 (2001)]

Abstract Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have emerged, in the last decade, as a viable technology for power generation and energy conversion. Fuel cell (FC) engines for vehicular applications possess many attributes such as high fuel efficiency, low emission, quiet and low temperature operation, and modularity. An important phenomenon limiting fuel cell performance is the two-phase flow and transport of fuel and oxidant from flow channels to reaction sites. In this paper a mathematical model is presented to study the two-phase flow dynamics, multi-component transport and electrochemical kinetics in the air cathode, the most important component of the hydrogen PEM fuel cell. A major feature of the present model is that it unifies single- and two-phase analyses for low and high current densities, respectively, and it is capable of predicting the threshold current density corresponding to the onset of liquid water formation in the air cathode. A numerical study based on the finite volume method is then undertaken to calculate the detailed distributions of local current density, oxygen concentration, water vapor concentration and liquid water saturation as well as their effects on the cell polarization curve. The simulated polarization curve and predicted threshold current density corresponding to the onset of liquid water formation for a single-channel, 5cm2 fuel cell compare favorably with experimental results. Quantitative comparisons with experiments presently being conducted at our laboratory will be reported in a forthcoming paper.

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Two-dimensional simulation of cold start processes for proton exchange membrane fuel cell with different hydrogen flow arrangements

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy ◽

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.04.187 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (35) ◽

pp. 17795-17812

Author(s):

Kangcheng Wu ◽

Xu Xie ◽

Bowen Wang ◽

Zirong Yang ◽

Qing Du ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Cold Start ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Hydrogen Flow ◽

Dimensional Simulation ◽

Exchange Membrane

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Two-phase flow and oxygen transport in the perforated gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer ◽

10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.05.008 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 139 ◽

pp. 58-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Zhiqiang Niu ◽

Jingtian Wu ◽

Zhiming Bao ◽

Yun Wang ◽

Yan Yin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Diffusion Layer ◽

Oxygen Transport ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Gas Diffusion Layer ◽

Gas Diffusion ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Phase Flow ◽

Two Phase ◽

Exchange Membrane

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Multi-Timescale-Based Partial Optimal Control of a Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13010166 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 166

Author(s):

Milos Milanovic ◽

Verica Radisavljevic-Gajic

Keyword(s):

Optimal Control ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Pole Placement ◽

Control Technique ◽

Transient Model ◽

Linearized Model ◽

Exchange Membrane

This paper presents a Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) transient model in stack current cycling conditions and its partial optimal control. The derived model is used for a specific application of the recently published multistage control technique developed by the authors. The presented control-oriented transient PEMFC model is an extension of the steady-state control-oriented model previously established by the authors. The new model is experimentally validated for transient operating conditions on the Greenlight Innovation G60 testing station where the comparison of the experimental and simulation results is presented. The derived five-state nonlinear control-oriented model is linearized, and three clusters of eigenvalues can be clearly identified. This specific feature of the linearized model is known as the three timescale system. A novel multistage optimal control technique is particularly suitable for this class of systems. It is shown that this control technique enables the designer to construct a local LQR, pole-placement or any other linear controller type at the subsystem level completely independently, which further optimizes the performance of the whole non-decoupled system.

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