Abstract
The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system consisting of stack and balance of plant (BOP) was modeled in a MATLAB/Simulink environment. High-pressure operating (compressor type) and low-pressure operating (air blower type) fuel cell systems were considered, The effects of two main operating parameters (humidity and the pressure of the supplied gas) on the power distribution characteristics of BOP and the net system efficiency of the two systems mentioned above were compared and discussed. The simulation determines an optimum condition regarding parameters such as the cathode air pressure and the relative humidity for maximum net system efficiency for the operating fuel cell systems. This study contributes to get a basic insight into the fuel cell stack and BOP component sizing. Further research using multiobject variable optimization packages and the approach developed by this study can effectively contribute to an operating strategy for the practical use of fuel cell systems for vehicles.
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Abbreviations
- A :
-
Surface area of the stack (cm2)
- a :
-
Modeling constant
- C P :
-
Specific heat (J/kgK)
- C 1 :
-
Modeling constant
- C 2 :
-
Modeling constant
- C 3 :
-
Modeling constant
- E :
-
Open circuit voltage (V)
- h :
-
Heat transfer coefficient (W/cm2 K)
- i :
-
Current density (A/cm2)
- imax :
-
Current density that cause precipitous voltage drop (A/cm2)
- i 0 :
-
Exchange current density (A/cm2)
- LHV H2 :
-
Lower heating value of hydrogen (J/kg)
- m cw :
-
Mass flow rate of stack coolant (kg/s)
- m H2 :
-
Mass flow rate of hydrogen gas (kg/s)
- Pbop :
-
Parasitic load of BOP (W)
- P net :
-
Net system power (W)
- P stack :
-
Stack gross electric power (W)
- R ohm :
-
Internal electrical resistance (ω cm2)
- T cw,m :
-
Mean temperature of coolant (°C)
- T s,m :
-
Mean temperature of stack (°C)
- V act :
-
Activation overpotential (V)
- V conc :
-
Concentration overpotential (V)
- V fc :
-
Fuel cell voltage (V)
- V ohm :
-
Ohmic overpotential (V)
- v a :
-
Constant (V)
- v o :
-
Voltage drop at zero current density (V)
- W s :
-
Stack power (W)
- ΔT ew :
-
Coolant temperature difference between stack inlet and stack outlet (°C)
- η net :
-
Net system efficiency
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Kim, HS., Lee, DH., Min, K. et al. Effects of key operating parameters on the efficiency of two types of pem fuel cell systems (High-Pressure and Low-Pressure operating) for Automotive Applications. J Mech Sci Technol 19, 1018–1026 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02919185
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02919185