Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2024, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (3): 952-962.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0630

• Energy Storage Test: Methods and Evaluation • Previous Articles     Next Articles

High-power fuel cell modeling and voltage uniformity analysis

Minjie BAO1(), Xiaoli YU2,3, Rui HUANG2,3(), Junxuan CHEN2, Xiaoyang CHEN2, Wenbin ZHI1   

  1. 1.Polytechnic Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, China
    2.College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China
    3.Key Laboratory of Smart Thermal Management Science & Technology for Vehicles of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou 317299, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2023-09-14 Revised:2023-11-03 Online:2024-03-28 Published:2024-03-28
  • Contact: Rui HUANG E-mail:bmj772@zju.edu.cn;hrss@zju.edu.cn

Abstract:

With the advancement of fuel cell stack technology for the development of higher power outputs, operational disparities among individual cells have become more apparent. Longevity of a cell subjected to prolonged poor operating conditions is markedly diminished compared to its counterparts, often becoming a decisive factor in determining the overall stack lifespan. Thus, to assess the effects of varied operational parameters on achieving uniform performance in high-power fuel cells, a comprehensive 110 kW, high-power fuel cell model was developed. This model encompasses a fluid network, fuel cell voltage, and fuel cell thermal resistance models. Subsequently, a steady-state test was executed to validate the fuel cell model, revealing that the error between simulation and test results remained within a 5% margin. Employing the model simulations, maximum deviation rate of voltage was utilized as the evaluation criterion to analyze the influence of three key operating parameters: operating current, cooling water flow rate, and cooling water inlet temperature on the voltage uniformity of the fuel cell. Thus, the simulation results indicate that the operating current exerts the most pronounced impact on the voltage uniformity of the fuel cell, followed by the cooling water inlet temperature, with the cooling water flow rate exhibiting the test influence. This study offers valuable insights for guiding the structural optimization design of high-power fuel cell engines and the formation of thermal management control strategies.

Key words: fuel cell, voltage uniformity, maximum deviation rate

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