Estimating Air Flow Rates in a Fuel Cell System Using Electrochemical Impedance

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith O’Rourke ◽  
Murat Arcak ◽  
Manikandan Ramani
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Ac Impedance ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Impedance Measurements ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Current Densities

This paper proposes the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to estimate the cathode flow rate in a fuel cell system. Through experimental testing of an eight-cell, hydrogen-fueled polymer electrolyte stack, it shows that the ac impedance measurements are highly sensitive to the air flow rates at varying current densities. The ac impedance magnitude at 0.1Hz allows the distinction of air flow rates (stoichiometry of 1.5–3.0) at current densities as low as 0.1A/cm2. Using experimental data and regression analysis, a simple algebraic equation that estimates the air flow rate using impedance measurements at a frequency of 0.1Hz is developed. The derivation of this equation is based on the operating cell voltage equation that accounts for all the irreversibilities.

Critical flow rate of anode fuel exhaust in a PEM fuel cell system

2006 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 512-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhua H. Zhu ◽  
Robert U. Payne ◽  
Bruce J. Tatarchuk
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Critical Flow ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Critical Flow Rate

Gain-Scheduled Control for an Automotive Traction PEM Fuel Cell System

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Al-Durra ◽  
Stephen Yurkovich ◽  
Yann Guezennec
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Nonlinear Model ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Transient Behavior ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Hydrogen Flow ◽  
Gain Scheduled

To be practical in automotive traction applications, fuel cell systems must provide power output levels of performance that rival that of typical internal combustion engines. In so doing, transient behavior is one of the keys for success of fuel cell systems in vehicles. From a model-based control perspective, regulation of the fuel cell system through transients is critical, where the response of a fuel cell system depends on the air and hydrogen (flow and pressure regulation) and heat and water management. The focus of this paper is on the air/fuel supply subsystem in tracking an optimum variable pressurization and air flow for maximum system efficiency during load transients. The control-oriented model developed for this study considers electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and fluid flow principles for a 13-state, nonlinear model of a pressurized fuel cell system. For control purposes, a model reduction is performed by converting some of the model dynamics to simple algebraic relationships. A single reference input, the power demanded by the user, is utilized to produce a corresponding reference air flow and back-pressure valve opening, after passing through a static calculation and a tabulated map. Because of the complexity of the full nonlinear model (used in simulation as the truth model), where several maps are used rather than functional forms, two different control techniques are examined separately, each using a feedforward component. The first technique uses an observer-based linear optimum control which combines a feed-forward approach based on the steady state plant inverse response, coupled to a multi-variable LQR feedback control. An extension of that approach, for control in the full nonlinear range of operation, leads to the second technique, nonlinear gain-scheduled control.

Air flow and pressure optimization for air supply in proton exchange membrane fuel cell system

Energy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 238 ◽  
pp. 121949
Author(s):  
Huicui Chen ◽  
Zhao Liu ◽  
Xichen Ye ◽  
Liu Yi ◽  
Sichen Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Measurement of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Flow Rate by Tracer Gas Method

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-372
Author(s):  
Masatsugu Amano ◽  
Tohru Kato ◽  
Akira Negishi ◽  
Ken Kato ◽  
Ken Nozaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Calibration Method ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Mixed Gas ◽  
Tracer Gas ◽  
Sampling System ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
Sonic Nozzle

A high-precision method to measure efficiency of fuel cells with a 0.1% margin of error is proposed. This method is principally divided into two procedures: determining the composition of fuel gas to be fed into a fuel cell system and measuring the flow rate of the fuel gas. The composition of the fuel gas is determined by an FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer) and/or a QMS (quadrapole mass spectrometer) with a built-in sonic nozzle sampling system. The flow rate was measured by the tracer gas method; that is, a given amount of tracer gas, such as one of the noble gases, was introduced into the line of the fuel gas, then, the mixed gas was sampled at the point where the tracer gas had been well mixed, and the concentration of the tracer gas was determined by the QMS. In this paper, a gravimetric calibration method using a highly sensitive balance is also proposed for flow control of the tracer gas. Also proposed are calibration of the FTIR and the QMS to establish the required low uncertainty or high accuracy of the measurement of the efficiency.

Computation of Dehydration Effects of the Membrane in a PEM Fuel Cell

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuyao Shan ◽  
Song-Yul Choe
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Reliable Operation ◽  
Validation Process ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
1D Model

The water management is one of crucial issues to secure a safe and reliable operation of a fuel cell system. Particularly, water flooding blocks influx of reactants in the porous materials or a lack of water in membrane may lead to decrease proton conductivity. Computational methodologies using 3D CFD are employed to conduct analyses. However, the exponentially increasing computational time and the complexity of the validation process necessary for the models are impeding further dynamic study. On the other hand, most of the current models used for the analysis are based on the empirical polarization curve, which does not include the phenomena of water dehydration. We developed a dynamic quasi-1D model for a membrane layer appropriate for an analysis of the dehydration, which considers two aspects: (1) water removed by the outlet gases at the two electrodes; (2) water transported by diffusion and electro-osmotic forces in the membrane. Simulations have been conducted to analyze the effects of load currents and anode/cathode inlet pressure as well as flow rates on the dynamic variation of water content in the membrane and derive impacts on the behavior of the whole PEM fuel cell system.

Feedforward fuzzy-PID control for air flow regulation of PEM fuel cell system

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (35) ◽  
pp. 11686-11695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Ou ◽  
Ya-Xiong Wang ◽  
Zhen-Zhe Li ◽  
Yun-De Shen ◽  
Dong-Ji Xuan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pid Control ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Regulation ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuzzy Pid ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Fuzzy Pid Control
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document