Investigation of a fuel cell (FC) system for vehicle

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

10.22104/hfe.2024.6988.1307

Abstract

The limited availability of fossil fuels, the technical challenges associated with existing vehicles, and their emissions, have made the study of efficient energy converters and clean fuels a top priority for research centers and automobile companies worldwide. Using a hybrid or non-hybrid FC system conventional vehicles can address some of their existing problems. Therefore, this study investigates a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane FC (PEMFC) system for vehicle applications. Modeling is performed using MATLAB software. According to the specifications of real-world samples, system components including stack, hydrogen and air humidifier, air compressor, humidifier pump, and cooling pump are modeled. The results indicate that 14% of the power generated by the FC stack is consumed by the peripheral components. In the basic state at a current density of j=0.7 A/cm2, the total efficiency of the system is 48.15%, while the net efficiency is 34.3%. By fully condensing the water vapor exiting the stack and using it to humidify the reactors, the need for an additional water tank is eliminated. For j<0.047 A/cm2, the stack cannot provide sufficient power for the system components, necessitating an auxiliary energy source, such as a battery, to start operation.

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References

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Hydrogen, Fuel Cell & Energy Storage
Volume 11, Issue 4
December 2024
Pages 227-238

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