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

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.

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Numerical analysis of relative humidity distribution in polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack including cooling water

Journal of Power Sources ◽

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.07.017 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 162 (1) ◽

pp. 81-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Gen Inoue ◽

Takashi Yoshimoto ◽

Yosuke Matsukuma ◽

Masaki Minemoto ◽

Hideki Itoh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Numerical Analysis ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Polymer Electrolyte ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽

Fuel Cell Stack

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Asymptotic Analysis for the Effects of Anode Inlet Humidity on the Fastest Power Attenuation Single Cell in a Vehicle Fuel Cell Stack

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app8112307 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 2307 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yongfeng Liu ◽

Jianhua Gao ◽

Na Wang ◽

Shengzhuo Yao

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Pressure Drop ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Single Cell ◽

Geometric Model ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Polarization Curves ◽

Water Flooding ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Fuel Cell Stack

A three-dimensional and isothermal anode relative humidity (ARH) model is presented and used to study the anode inlet humidity effects on the fastest power attenuation single cell in a vehicle fuel cell stack. The ARH model is based on the phenomenon that the anode is more sensitive than the cathode to water flooding. The pressure drop is considered in the ARH model, and saturation pressure is established by a pressure drop. Based on the pressure drop and relative humidity, simulations and tests are completed. First, the geometric model and computational grids are established, based on real structure of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Second, single cell distribution in the stack, test schematic and experimental conditions are demonstrated. Finally, polarization curves with 10 cells are displayed and discussed under these conditions that working temperature 70 °C, and diverse relative humidity (40%, 55%, 70%, 85%, and 100%). The test results of 34 cm2 fuel cell stack are compared against simulation results. The results show that C10 (the single cell with the farthest distance from the gas inlet) power attenuation is the fastest and that its performance is the poorest under the experimental conditions. The polarization curves predicted by the ARH model indicate fairly good coherence with the experimental results, compared against the Fluent original model. The ARH model calculation deviation is 28% less than the Fluent model at 360 mA·cm−2 for a relative humidity of 85%. The current density distribution is almost uniform, and membrane water content is negatively affected by high humidity.

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Modeling Balance of Plant Components for a PEM Fuel Cell

ASME 2006 Fourth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/fuelcell2006-97182 ◽

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.

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Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Units for Heavy Duty Trucks

ASME 2012 10th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology ◽

10.1115/fuelcell2012-91224 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Ali Alhelfi ◽

Jinliang Yuan ◽

Bengt Sunden

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells ◽

Solid Oxide ◽

Oxide Fuel ◽

Heavy Duty ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Military Vehicles ◽

Auxiliary Power ◽

Auxiliary Power Units ◽

Mass Flow Rates

This paper explores the potentials of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) as 3 kW auxiliary power units for trucks and military vehicles operating on diesel fuel. Various issues are discussed, e.g., the requirements and specifications for the unit as well as the advantages, challenges, and development issues for SOFCs in such applications. System design and analysis are carried out. The major component of the system is the fuel cell stack. The calculations are performed for two voltage systems 12/14 V and 36/42 V, respectively. The influences of others parameters like the mass flow rates of air and gases, water production and heat production are also evaluated for the two voltage systems.

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A Survey of PEM Fuel Cell System Control Models and Control Developments

ASME 2006 Fourth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/fuelcell2006-97030 ◽

2006 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Richard T. Meyer ◽

Shripad Revankar

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Cell System ◽

Current Control ◽

System Control ◽

Air Cooling ◽

Fuel Cell System ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Balance Of Plant ◽

Control Work

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system performance can be significantly improved with suitable control strategies. Control appropriate models of the fuel cell stack and balance of plant are presented along with current control research. Fuel cell stack models are zero dimensional and range from simple empirical stack polarization curves to complex dynamic models of mass flow rates, pressures, temperatures, and voltages. Balance of plant models are also zero dimensional and can be used individually to build a complete system around a stack. Models of this type are presented for the air compressor, air blower, manifolds, reactant humidification, fuel recirculation, air cooling, and stack cooling. Current control work is surveyed with regard to feedforward, feedback, observers, optimization, model prediction, rule based, neural networks, and fuzzy methods. The most promising fuel cell stack model is evaluated. Additionally, improvements to the balance of plant models are recommended. Finally, future control work is explored with a desire for system control that leads to greater output power.

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A Novel Reactant Delivery System for PEM Fuel Cells

ASME 2008 6th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology ◽

10.1115/fuelcell2008-65142 ◽

2008 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brenton Greska ◽

Peter DeRoche ◽

Anjaneyulu Krothapalli

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Pem Fuel Cells ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Polarization Curves ◽

Delivery Method ◽

Supply Pressure ◽

Flow Channels ◽

Air Supply ◽

Cell Test

This paper deals with the use of microjets as a reactant delivery method for a PEM fuel cell. The flow physics of this technique have been adapted such that an even distribution of reactants over the membrane is achieved. A single cell based on this microjet delivery method has been built and tested using the fuel cell test station at SESEC. Polarization curves were obtained for a number of different operating conditions in which the relative humidity and supply pressure of the air supply were varied. Similar operating conditions were used to obtain polarization curves for a similarly sized commercially available fuel cell that utilizes commonly used serpentine flow channels for reactant delivery. Comparison of the polarization curves at similar operating conditions revealed that the microjet-based fuel cell was relatively unaffected by the changes in relative humidity and and positively affected by an increase in supply pressure, which was in stark contrast to what was observed for the commercial fuel cell.

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Development of a Proof-of-Concept Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Powered Scooter

Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology ◽

10.1115/1.4006055 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Georgiy Diloyan ◽

Luis Breziner ◽

Parsaoran Hutapea

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Rear Wheel ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Brushless Motor ◽

Air Supply ◽

In Series ◽

Exchange Membrane

The objective of this project is to develop a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell powered scooter with a designed digital controller to regulate the air supply to PEM fuel cell stack. A 500-Watt (W) electric power train was chosen as a platform for the scooter. Two 300 W PEM fuel cell systems, each containing 63 cells, were used to charge 48-Volt batteries that powered an electric motor. The energy carrier (hydrogen) was stored in two metal hydride tanks, each one containing 85 gs of hydrogen pressurized to 250 psig. The output hydrogen pressure from each tank was maintained at 5.8 psi by a two-stage pressure regulator, and then delivered to each fuel cell stack. To regulate the voltage of each PEM fuel cell under different load conditions, two step down DC/DC converters were used. These converters were connected in series to power the motor controller and charge the batteries. The batteries then supplied power to the 500 W brushless motor mounted to the hub of the rear wheel to save space. After all modifications were completed, most of the parts of the scooter stayed the same except for the panel under the seat—where larger space is needed for accommodating the hydrogen tanks. The weight of the scooter did not change significantly, because the weight of the hydrogen tanks (6.5 kg each) and fuel cell stacks (1.7 kg each) was partially compensated by replacing the batteries from the old ones that weighed 17.5 kg to new ones that weighed 9 kg.

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