Sensitivity analysis and optimization of operating conditions of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract

Power characteristics are important indicators of fuel cell performance. In the actual operation of fuel cells, changes in operating conditions lead to variations in their power characteristics. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the impact of operating conditions on power characteristics. This paper analyzes the factors influencing fuel cell power and uses sensitivity analysis to investigate how different factors affect fuel cell performance. The operating parameters are optimized using a Bayesian-optimized Gaussian process regression model. The research results indicate that temperature has the greatest impact on fuel cell power, followed by stoichiometry and backpressure. The Bayesian-optimized Gaussian process regression model performs the best, reducing its RSME from 0.1 to 0.0556. Residual analysis and regression characteristic analysis verify the optimized model's improved fitting and regression characteristics. Based on the Bayesian-Gaussian process regression model, the optimized operating parameters are obtained for maximum power: a temperature of 80 °C, stoichiometry of 4, and backpressure of 1.7 bar. This paper provides theoretical support for improving fuel cell performance.。 Keyword: Fuel cells, operating conditions, power characteristics, sensitivity analysis, Gaussian process regression model IntroductionProton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), with their advantages of zero emissions, environmental friendliness, high power density, low noise, and long lifespan, have the potential to promote sustainable transportation and environmental development in various fields [1-2]. However, drawbacks such as relatively poor transient response characteristics and environmental adaptability have limited their commercial development [3]. In light of these challenges, enhancing fuel cell performance has become a focal point of industry research. Power, as a crucial parameter for assessing fuel cell performance and lifespan, is not only related to the performance and feasibility of fuel cells in various applications but also provides an effective basis for judging fuel cell performance degradation. Therefore, research on fuel cell power and its influencing factors is paramount.Factors affecting fuel cell power: Several factors affect system design, operating conditions, and materials. System 2 design primarily includes aspects such as system integration and control. Kim et al. [4] established a transient model of a fuel cell system and proposed a time-delay control strategy to prevent air starvation and flooding. This strategy adjusts the optimal stoichiometry of oxygen and hydrogen. The study verified that this control strategy is crucial in improving the transient performance of PEMFC systems through a comparative analysis with feedforward control and linear quadratic Gaussian control with a state estimator. To comprehensively understand the coupled effects of different factors on the overall performance and durability of PEMFC, Wu et al. [5] reviewed four aspects: fuel cell stack, subsystems, system in...