Dynamic behaviors of PEM fuel cells under load changes

Xiaolong Li, Kai Han*, Yu Song

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, a one-dimensional isothermal single-phase transient model considering the finite-rate water absorption/desorption of membrane was established to study the dynamic behaviors of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells under different cathode inlet humidity conditions in the presence of voltage step changes. Both the overshoot and undershoot phenomena were observed. Moreover, the distributions of water inside the electrolyte and the influence of that on the response current density of fuel cells were analyzed. When voltage stepped up/down, the water content in anode generally increased/decreased, and the water content in cathode is reversed. If the cathode intake is fully humidified, the water vapor in cathode is always over-saturated causing the change of ionic resistance is determined by that of the water content in anode. If the cathode intake is partially humidified, the change of ionic resistance could maintain within a small range owing to the change of water content in anode can be balanced by that of the water content in cathode.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20312-20320
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume45
Issue number39
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Aug 2020

Keywords

  • Dynamic response
  • PEM fuel cell
  • Transient behaviors
  • Water distribution

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