Analysis of the cold start behavior of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell in constant power start‐up mode

Niu, Huipeng; Ji, Changwei; Wang, Shuofeng; Shi, Mingheng; Zhang, Hanlin; Liang, Chen

doi:10.1002/er.7025

Cited by 15 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Model predictive control (MPC), also known as predictive control, is a very important control method in the field of industrial control. The theory of model predictive control [ 24 ] is a control method that predicts the future model state in the time domain from the model state of current moment and then solves the optimal control quantity with rolling optimization. MPC is a multivariable control strategy that involves the dynamic model of the loop in the process, the historical value of the control quantity, and an optimal value equation J in the prediction interval.…”

Section: Model Simulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on Cold Start of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Based on Model Predictive Control

Xiong

Jiang

et al. 2023

Membranes

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The cold start of fuel cells limits their wide application. Since the water produced by fuel cells takes up more space when it freezes, it may affect the internal structure of the stack, causing collapse and densification of the pores inside the catalytic layer. This paper mainly analyzes the influence of different startup strategies on the stack cold start, focusing on the change in the stack temperature and the ice volume fraction of the catalytic layer. When designing a startup strategy, it is important to focus not only on the optimization of the startup time, but also on the principle of minimizing the damage to the stack. A lumped parameter cold-start model was constructed, which was experimentally verified to have a maximum error of 8.9%. On this basis, a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm was used to control the starting current. The MPC cold-start strategy reached the freezing point at 17 s when the startup temperature was −10 °C, which is faster than other startup strategies. Additionally, the time to ice production was controlled to about 20 s. Compared with the potentiostatic strategy and maximum power strategy, MPC is optimal and still has great potential for further optimization.

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Section: Model Simulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on Cold Start of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Based on Model Predictive Control

Xiong

Jiang

et al. 2023

Membranes

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“…The remaining parameters are in Tables 1 and 2, Table 4. Meanwhile, the effect of liquid water on the reaction rate is considered i Equation 29 …”

Section: Model Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi‐objective optimization of porous layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on neural network surrogate model

Liu

Chen

Tan

et al. 2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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Summary In this paper, the impacts of three important parameters of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) porous layer: the porosity of the catalytic layer (CL), the electrolyte volume fraction of the CL, and the porosity of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) on the performance of the PEMFC were studied. The electrolyte is composed of platinum catalyst and ionomer. Considering the high cost of platinum catalyst, the goal of parameter optimization of the porous layer is to improve the PEMFC output power density while reducing the electrolyte volume fraction. To achieve this goal, a 3‐dimensional two‐phase isothermal PEMFC model was built. Under different operating voltages and porous layer parameters, run the PEMFC physical model to obtain a set of data, use the data to train the neural network to replace the physical model, and then use the multi‐objective optimization algorithm to optimize the porous layer parameters. The results show that when the operating voltage is 0.4951, the porosity of the CL is 0.2647, the electrolyte volume fraction is 0.4471, and the porosity of the GDL is 0.5043, and the overall performance is good. Compared with the original model, the optimized model improves the maximum output power density by 3.56% and reduces the electrolyte volume fraction by 10.58%.

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“…All reaction areas are covered by ice and the chemical reactions cannot be maintained if insufficient heat production is generated to reach above zero. In this case, the cell cannot be survived and the cold start failure takes place 25‐28 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this case, the cell cannot be survived and the cold start failure takes place. [25][26][27][28] Essentially, the ice formation is avoidable with the holding of the stack above zero which is called as "Keep Warm" strategy. 29 The stack temperature can be protected by an active support system, insulator materials, or phase change materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of the heater and the pump operation durations on the cold start performance of the coolant heating assisted PEM fuel cell application

Topcu

Aydın

Çelik

2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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Summary The self‐cold start ability of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is limited due to the inadequate heat generation by the cell and the restricted effect of operating conditions. Fresh and useful heat may be provided by an external assisted technique that is adopted in the current study. The operation duration effect of the pump and the heater which are the most energy‐consuming components of the coolant heating assisted method on the cold start performance of a PEM fuel cell stack was investigated, experimentally. Firstly, the inadequacy of the single‐cell operation was proved by self‐operation tests. The test was conducted at −10°C and the temperature was raised to −7.5°C levels during the test thanks to exothermic reactions that occurred in the cell. It manifests the cell may not be survived without any assistance and an external heat source is required. This fresh heat was supplied to the cell by the closed coolant cycle. Ethanol which can be operated at subzero temperatures was circulated throughout the machined external channels to the backside of the bipolar plates. The case studies were established considering various operation durations of the pump and the heater and the cold start tests were performed at −10°C, −15°C, −20°C, −25°C, and −30°C temperatures. The effect of the pump and the heater operation durations on the temperature, voltage, and current profiles of the single‐cell were investigated under the same energy consumption levels. The cell was operated throughout the whole case study and generated electricity successfully. It put forward the accomplishment of the proposed heating mechanism even at −30°C. The time required for the cell temperature to rise above zero is increase with the decrease of the cold start test temperature. The cell temperature increased to zero at approximately 18, 39, and 53 seconds at −10°C, −20°C, and −30°C operations, respectively. The PEM fuel cell stack, which does have not the capacity to operate itself at sub‐zero temperatures, was successfully operated with the help of the established mechanism. No higher starter energy is needed for a −10°C operation and the cell may be survived with a low operation of the auxiliary equipment. Failed starts were experienced with long heater and low pump cases at −20°C and −25°C temperatures. It is thought that a sharp drop in temperature after a pump shutdown prompts the cell into an unstable situation and fluctuations in voltage and current profiles. Although failed starts were recorded with implemented case studies at −30°C at the initial stage, successful cold starts were achieved by the extended durations of the pump and heater, proportionally 2.6 and 5.5 A stable current, and 23.7°C and 20°C maximum temperature values were obtained with long heater operation and long pump operation cases, respectively. Although long heater operation provided a higher temperature increase, the long pump operation enabled a more homogeneous temperature distribution and stable current profile. This study revealed the st...

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Analysis of the cold start behavior of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell in constant power start‐up mode

Cited by 15 publications

References 43 publications

Research on Cold Start of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Based on Model Predictive Control

Research on Cold Start of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Based on Model Predictive Control

Multi‐objective optimization of porous layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on neural network surrogate model

The effect of the heater and the pump operation durations on the cold start performance of the coolant heating assisted PEM fuel cell application

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