Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2024, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (8): 2580-2588.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2024.0191

• Energy Storage Materials and Devices • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research on the dynamic process of a fuel cell air system based on a model

Chang LI(), Weibo ZHENG(), Shuai ZHU, Yunwen JIANG, Pingwen MING()   

  1. School of Automotive Studies, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
  • Received:2024-03-05 Revised:2024-03-13 Online:2024-08-28 Published:2024-08-15
  • Contact: Weibo ZHENG, Pingwen MING E-mail:2133531@tongji.edu.cn;zhengweibo@tongji.edu.cn;pwming@tongji.edu.cn

Abstract:

During the operation of PEMFC for vehicles,the humidity inside a fuel cell stack is affected by the water generated by the reaction and the airflow. The working conditions of vehicles frequently change, resulting in frequent changes in humidity. Frequent humidity changes lead to a decrease in the system lifespan; therefore, the process of dynamic changes must be studied. A simulation model of a fuel cell cogeneration system was designed using MATLAB/Simulink, including stacking, and air, hydrogen, and cooling systems. Humidifiers use exhaust gas to humidify the air. The air compressor and exhaust valve control the parameters of an air system. This study also considers the speed and path change of the air compressor and relative time of three parameters (air compressor, tailgate valve, and current). In the condition setting, changing the current after the intake flow rate and pressure were completely changed to the target value helps to reduce the voltage overshoot, but it causes significant fluctuations in humidity, which adversely affects the system lifespan. Considering the reduction in the voltage overshoot and humidity fluctuations, during the dynamic change process, the speed change of the air compressor occurs before the current change, and the opening of the tailgate valve occurs slightly before the current change.

Key words: fuel cell, humidity, air system, dynamic process

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