scholarly journals Multi-Stack Lifetime Improvement through Adapted Power Electronic Architecture in a Fuel Cell Hybrid System

Mathematics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milad Bahrami ◽  
Jean-Philippe Martin ◽  
Gaël Maranzana ◽  
Serge Pierfederici ◽  
Mathieu Weber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Management System ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Hydrogen Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Cell Groups

To deal with the intermittency of renewable energy resources, hydrogen as an energy carrier is a good solution. The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) as a device that can directly convert hydrogen energy to electricity is an important part of this solution. However, durability and cost are two hurdles that must be overcome to enable the mass deployment of the technology. In this paper, a management system is proposed for the fuel cells that can cope with the durability issue by a suitable distribution of electrical power between cell groups. The proposed power electronics architecture is studied in this paper. A dynamical average model is developed for the proposed system. The validation of the model is verified by simulation and experimental results. Then, this model is used to prove the stability and robustness of the control method. Finally, the energy management system is assessed experimentally in three different conditions. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed topology for developing a management system with which the instability of cells can be confronted. The experimental results verify that the system can supply the load profile even during the degradation mode of one stack and while trying to cure it.

Continous Operation of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Regenerative Fuel Cell System for Energy Storage

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei-jiann Chang ◽  
Christopher P. Garcia ◽  
Donald W. Johnson ◽  
David J. Bents ◽  
Vincent J. Scullin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Regenerative Fuel Cell ◽  
Smooth Transitions

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has recently demonstrated a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) based regenerative fuel cell system (RFCS) that operated for five contiguous back-to-back 24h charge/discharge cycles over a period of 120h. The system operated continuously at full rated power with no significant reactant loss, breakdowns, or degradations from June 26 through July 1, 2005. It demonstrated a closed-loop solar energy storage system over repeated day/night cycles that absorbed solar electrical power profiles of 0–15kWe and stored the energy as pressurized hydrogen and oxygen gas in charge mode, then delivered steady 4.5–5kWe electrical power with product water during discharge mode. Fuel cell efficiency, electrolyzer efficiency, as well as system round-trip efficiency were determined. Individual cell performance and the spread of cell voltages within the electrochemical stacks were documented. The amount of waste heat dissipated from the RFCS was also reported. The RFCS demonstrated fully closed-cycle operation without venting or purging, thereby conserving reactant masses involved in the electrochemical processes. Smooth transitions between the fuel cell mode and electrolyzer mode were repeatedly accomplished. The RFCS is applicable to NASA’s lunar and planetary surface solar power needs, providing lightweight energy storage for any multikilowatt-electrical application, where an environmentally sealed system is required.

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.

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.

“Floating Scroll” Technology for Fuel Cell Air Management System

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Ni
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Management System ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Centrifugal Forces ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Minimum Wear

The performance and overall efficiency of the entire fuel cell system is very dependent on the air management subsystem. Unfortunately, no compressor-expander module technologies are available that simultaneously meet all of the air supply requirements of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell systems. Scroll Laboratories has developed innovative oil-free scroll devices as compressor, expander and vacuum pump — the “floating scroll”. The “floating scroll” uses a dual-scroll structure and introduces a mechanism called synchronizer. This mechanism enables the orbiting scroll with full compliant ability, namely axial and radial. The floating scroll scheme balances all pressure and centrifugal forces within the scroll, minimizing forces on contacting surfaces to maintain excellent seal and essentially zero or minimum wear. The orbiting scrolls are literally floating between fixed scrolls during high speed orbiting motion. In the floating scroll, the compression and/or expansion processes take place without lubrication and cooling from injecting lubricant and coolant. The floating scroll technology is the answer to the needs of air management system for fuel cell systems.

scholarly journals Efforts to Improve PBI/Acid Membrane System for High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (HT-PEMFC)

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 ◽  
pp. 01002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Anati Bazilah Daud ◽  
Ebrahim Abouzari Lotf ◽  
Saidatul Sophia Sha’rani ◽  
Mohamed M. Nasef ◽  
Arshad Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Heat Dissipation ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Complex Membrane ◽  
Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid

The global expansion of industry and technology has brought various environmental issues especially in atmospheric pollution and global warming. These resulted in various R&D activities on renewable energy resources and devices. Developing high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) is one of them. Over the past decades, this research has been received the most attention for various stationary and transportation applications. This is due to inherent advantages of operation above 100 °C including improved tolerance toward CO poisoning, enhanced electrode kinetics, easier heat dissipation and water management as well as better thermodynamic quality of the produced heat. Poly (benzimidazoles)-phosphoric acid (PBI/PA) is the well-established membrane for HT-PEMFC applications replacing perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes, which operate in the temperature range of below 100 °C. Nevertheless, there have been concerns on the durability and stability of such PEMFC, which negatively affected their widespread commercialization. In this paper, problems regarding this acid-base complex membrane system and modifications as well as some techniques used to overcome these issues will be outlined.

scholarly journals Review of the Durability of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell in Long-Term Operation: Main Influencing Parameters and Testing Protocols

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 4048
Author(s):  
Huu Linh Nguyen ◽  
Jeasu Han ◽  
Xuan Linh Nguyen ◽  
Sangseok Yu ◽  
Young-Mo Goo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Durability Test ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Transportation Applications ◽  
Testing Protocols

Durability is the most pressing issue preventing the efficient commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stationary and transportation applications. A big barrier to overcoming the durability limitations is gaining a better understanding of failure modes for user profiles. In addition, durability test protocols for determining the lifetime of PEMFCs are important factors in the development of the technology. These methods are designed to gather enough data about the cell/stack to understand its efficiency and durability without causing it to fail. They also provide some indication of the cell/stack’s age in terms of changes in performance over time. Based on a study of the literature, the fundamental factors influencing PEMFC long-term durability and the durability test protocols for both PEMFC stationary and transportation applications were discussed and outlined in depth in this review. This brief analysis should provide engineers and researchers with a fast overview as well as a useful toolbox for investigating PEMFC durability issues.

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