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Comparison of numerical simulation results and experimental data during cold-start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells

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  • Ko, Johan
  • Ju, Hyunchul

Abstract

A multiphase transient model is developed to investigate key physical and transport phenomena during the startup of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) from subzero temperatures. The proposed PEFC cold start model rigorously considers ice/frost formation and evolution in the cathode electrode, and their complicated interactions with heat transport, mass transport, and electrochemical reactions. The proposed cold start model is extensively validated against experimental data measured under various key cold start conditions such as startup temperature, startup current density, and initial water content in the membrane. The model predictions are in good agreement with the experimental data, demonstrating the validity and accuracy of the cold start model. In addition, detailed simulation results, including multidimensional contours, clearly elucidate the cold start behavior of a PEFC under different cell designs and operating conditions. We suggest that the proposed cold start model could aid in the development of optimal cold start strategies.

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  • Ko, Johan & Ju, Hyunchul, 2012. "Comparison of numerical simulation results and experimental data during cold-start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 364-374.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:94:y:2012:i:c:p:364-374
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.02.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Gießgen, Tom & Jahnke, Thomas, 2023. "Assisted cold start of a PEMFC with a thermochemical preheater: A numerical study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    3. Lei Yao & Fangfang Ma & Jie Peng & Jianbo Zhang & Yangjun Zhang & Jianpeng Shi, 2020. "Analysis of the Failure Modes in the Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Cold-Start Process—Anode Dehydration or Cathode Pore Blockage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Zhongmin Wan & Huawei Chang & Shuiming Shu & Yongxiang Wang & Haolin Tang, 2014. "A Review on Cold Start of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-25, May.
    5. Yang, Liu & Cao, Chenxi & Gan, Quanquan & Pei, Hao & Zhang, Qi & Li, Ping, 2022. "Revealing failure modes and effect of catalyst layer properties for PEM fuel cell cold start using an agglomerate model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    6. Chunjuan Shen & Sichuan Xu & Lei Pan & Yuan Gao, 2021. "A High-Efficiency Cooperative Control Strategy of Active and Passive Heating for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-11, November.
    7. Li, Linjun & Wang, Shixue & Yue, Like & Wang, Guozhuo, 2019. "Cold-start method for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells based on locally heating the cathode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    8. Zhan, Zhigang & Yuan, Chong & Hu, Zhangrong & Wang, Hui & Sui, P.C. & Djilali, Ned & Pan, Mu, 2018. "Experimental study on different preheating methods for the cold-start of PEMFC stacks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1029-1040.
    9. Alam, Afroz & Park, Chungi & Lee, Jaeseung & Ju, Hyunchul, 2020. "Comparative analysis of performance of alkaline water electrolyzer by using porous separator and ion-solvating polybenzimidazole membrane," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 222-233.
    10. Maximilian Schmitz & Matthias Bahr & Sönke Gößling & Stefan Pischinger, 2023. "Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-26, September.
    11. Knorr, Florian & Sanchez, Daniel Garcia & Schirmer, Johannes & Gazdzicki, Pawel & Friedrich, K.A., 2019. "Methanol as antifreeze agent for cold start of automotive polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1-10.
    12. Amamou, A. & Kandidayeni, M. & Boulon, L. & Kelouwani, S., 2018. "Real time adaptive efficient cold start strategy for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 21-30.
    13. Oh, Kyeongmin & Yoo, Haneul & Ko, Johan & Won, Seongyeon & Ju, Hyunchul, 2015. "Three-dimensional, transient, nonisothermal model of all-vanadium redox flow batteries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 3-14.
    14. Zang, Linfeng & Hao, Liang & Zhu, Xiaojing, 2023. "Effect of the pore structure of cathode catalyst layer on the PEM fuel cell cold start process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    15. Huo, Sen & Cooper, Nathanial James & Smith, Travis Lee & Park, Jae Wan & Jiao, Kui, 2017. "Experimental investigation on PEM fuel cell cold start behavior containing porous metal foam as cathode flow distributor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 101-114.
    16. Huo, Sen & Jiao, Kui & Park, Jae Wan, 2019. "On the water transport behavior and phase transition mechanisms in cold start operation of PEM fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 776-788.
    17. Tian, Pengjie & Liu, Xuejun & Luo, Kaiyao & Li, Hongkun & Wang, Yun, 2021. "Deep learning from three-dimensional multiphysics simulation in operational optimization and control of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for maximum power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    18. Pan, Mingzhang & Pan, Chengjie & Li, Chao & Zhao, Jian, 2021. "A review of membranes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Transport phenomena, performance and durability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    19. Chen, Qin & Zhang, Guobin & Zhang, Xuzhong & Sun, Cheng & Jiao, Kui & Wang, Yun, 2021. "Thermal management of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: A review of cooling methods, material properties, and durability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    20. Lin, Rui & Zhu, Yike & Ni, Meng & Jiang, Zhenghua & Lou, Diming & Han, Lihang & Zhong, Di, 2019. "Consistency analysis of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack during cold start," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 420-432.
    21. Dafalla, Ahmed Mohmed & Wei, Lin & Liao, Zihao & Guo, Jian & Jiang, Fangming, 2023. "Influence of cathode channel blockages on the cold start performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    22. Andersson, M. & Beale, S.B. & Espinoza, M. & Wu, Z. & Lehnert, W., 2016. "A review of cell-scale multiphase flow modeling, including water management, in polymer electrolyte fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 757-778.
    23. Yazhou Chen & Sheng Li & Jie Peng & Weilin Zhuge & Yangjun Zhang, 2023. "Numerical Simulation of the Cold-Start Process of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-23, August.

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