Influences of ambient conditions on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell using various models

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell is an emerging renewable energy resource for transportation and power generation. Similar to other renewable resources, the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell is affected by ambient conditions. However, procedures for analyzing the influences of such conditions on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells are expensive and time-consuming. Moreover, the commonly used models have been developed on the basis of standard ambient conditions. Thus, these models are difficult to utilize under adverse ambient conditions. This study was performed to develop suitable proton exchange membrane fuel cell models that could reflect the effects of ambient conditions on the output voltage and current of the models. The first proposed model used the advantages of electrical and thermal relationships of a complex semiempirical model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. A simplified proton exchange membrane fuel cell model that used passive electrical components was then developed by central composite surface design. Both proposed models were simulated using various ambient temperatures, pressures, and load resistances by considering that the applied hydrogen pressure is known. Results showed that the output voltage of proton exchange membrane fuel cell decreased when ambient temperature increased and pressure decreased. This variation was dominant when the load resistance was reduced. Computation using the simplified model was remarkably faster than that using the first model. The proposed model can be beneficial, especially for aircraft applications and unusual ambient conditions.

Membrane‐hydration‐state detection in proton exchange membrane fuel cells using improved ambient‐condition‐based dynamic model

“…[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] These models use passive as well as active electrical components that are combined both in series and in parallel and can accurately emulate the voltage produced by PEMFC systems. [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] These models use passive as well as active electrical components that are combined both in series and in parallel and can accurately emulate the voltage produced by PEMFC systems.…”

“…Yet, previous studies have demonstrated that the ambient conditions profoundly affect the PEMFC performance, 40,[75][76][77][78][79] indicating that it would be meaningful to incorporate ambient variations in the fault diagnosis model. Yet, previous studies have demonstrated that the ambient conditions profoundly affect the PEMFC performance, 40,[75][76][77][78][79] indicating that it would be meaningful to incorporate ambient variations in the fault diagnosis model.…”

“…The second type of PEMFC models includes electricalequivalent models. [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] These models use passive as well as active electrical components that are combined both in series and in parallel and can accurately emulate the voltage produced by PEMFC systems. A major drawback of these models is that they do not consider variations in ambient conditions.…”

“…A major drawback of these models is that they do not consider variations in ambient conditions. Although an attempt was made 40 to consider variations in the ambient conditions in the design of electrical-equivalent models, the effect of the relative humidity of air was ignored therein. Although these electrical-equivalent models are independent from ambient conditions, they facilitate investigations concerning auxiliary power-electronics systems-converters and inverters-connected to PEMFC systems.…”

“…None of the reported fault diagnosis techniques (among all mentioned techniques) directly incorporate the effect of ambient changes on the PEMFC. Yet, previous studies have demonstrated that the ambient conditions profoundly affect the PEMFC performance, 40,[75][76][77][78][79] indicating that it would be meaningful to incorporate ambient variations in the fault diagnosis model. This paper reports our attempt to combine two recent PEMFC models,, 5,52 to simultaneously model the voltage and temperature of the PEMFC.…”