IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v305y2024ics0360544224021832.html

Performance optimization study on the thermal management system of proton exchange membrane fuel cell based on metal hydride hydrogen storage

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Yuhang
  • Dai, Hui
  • Cao, Hongmei
  • Zhou, Shaobin
  • Gao, Ming
  • Sun, Fengzhong
  • Liu, Jiangwei
  • Han, Kuihua
  • Jiang, Jianguo

Abstract

To compare the performance differences between proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), metal hydride tank (MHT) and heat exchanger (HX) coupling configurations and optimize thermal management methods, this study investigates and compares three coupling systems, PEMFC-MHT-HX series, PEMFC-HX-MHT series, and PEMFC-MHT|HX parallel system. Results reveal that, under controlled load variables, all three systems achieve an energy efficiency of 48.1 % at the maximum net power of 41.99 kW, increased by 16.93 % compared to standalone PEMFC. Exergy efficiencies of the systems show little differences, with values of 43.65 %, 43.38 %, and 43.51 %, respectively. The PEMFC-MHT-HX system exhibits the highest hydrogen outlet pressure, which is suitable for high-pressure applications. Conversely, the PEMFC-MHT|HX system enables flexible hydrogen supply regulation through decoupled control of hydrogen outlet pressure and flow. Increasing the MHT heat transfer coefficient can enhance the outlet pressure, but this effect diminishes beyond 1500 W/(m2·K). Sensitivity analysis identifies current and stack temperature as pivotal factors, emphasizing the necessity of precise current regulation and effective thermal management strategies. Additionally, the proportion of PEMFC waste heat recovered by the MHT decreases from 36.8 % to 29.0 % as the current load rises from 100 A to 400 A, indicating potential for alternative waste heat recovery devices over HX.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yuhang & Dai, Hui & Cao, Hongmei & Zhou, Shaobin & Gao, Ming & Sun, Fengzhong & Liu, Jiangwei & Han, Kuihua & Jiang, Jianguo, 2024. "Performance optimization study on the thermal management system of proton exchange membrane fuel cell based on metal hydride hydrogen storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:305:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224021832
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.132409
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224021832
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.132409?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sera Ayten Cetinkaya & Tacettin Disli & Gamze Soyturk & Onder Kizilkan & C. Ozgur Colpan, 2022. "A Review on Thermal Coupling of Metal Hydride Storage Tanks with Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Xiao, Jinsheng & Tong, Liang & Bénard, Pierre & Chahine, Richard, 2020. "Thermodynamic analysis for hydriding-dehydriding cycle of metal hydride system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Malleswararao, K. & Aswin, N. & Srinivasa Murthy, S. & Dutta, Pradip, 2022. "Studies on long-term and buffer modes of operations of a thermal energy storage system using coupled metal hydrides," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    5. Bai, Xiao-Shuai & Yang, Wei-Wei & Tang, Xin-Yuan & Dai, Zhou-Qiao & Yang, Fu-Sheng, 2022. "Parametric optimization of coupled fin-metal foam metal hydride bed towards enhanced hydrogen absorption performance of metal hydride hydrogen storage device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    6. Khayrullina, Aliya Glagoleva & Blinov, Dmitry & Borzenko, Vasily, 2019. "Novel kW scale hydrogen energy storage system utilizing fuel cell exhaust air for hydrogen desorption process from metal hydride reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1244-1252.
    7. Alijanpour sheshpoli, Mohamad & Mousavi Ajarostaghi, Seyed Soheil & Delavar, Mojtaba Aghajani, 2018. "Waste heat recovery from a 1180 kW proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system by Recuperative organic Rankine cycle (RORC)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 353-366.
    8. Yuan, Yi & Chen, Li & Lyu, Xingbao & Ning, Wenjing & Liu, Wenqi & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2024. "Modeling and optimization of a residential PEMFC-based CHP system under different operating modes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    9. Chiara Dall’Armi & Davide Pivetta & Rodolfo Taccani, 2023. "Hybrid PEM Fuel Cell Power Plants Fuelled by Hydrogen for Improving Sustainability in Shipping: State of the Art and Review on Active Projects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-34, February.
    10. Sharma, Rakesh & Srinivasa Murthy, S. & Dutta, Pradip & Rao, Badri S., 2022. "Performance of solid state hydrogen storage assisted standalone polygeneration microgrids for various climatic zones of India," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Gao, Wenxue & Dong, Pokun & Hu, Yingjie & Wang, Yan & Yang, Haotian & Yang, Lin & Yang, Mingchang, 2026. "Progress on residential fuel cell combined heat and power systems: A technological review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PA).
    2. Li, Jingwen & Wang, Zhe & Li, Shilin & Zhao, Bingchu & Ji, Yulong & Han, Fenghui, 2026. "Dynamic electro-thermal-gas multi-physics attribution and optimization of PEMFC–LaNi5 coupled system for ship auxiliary power units," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    3. Miao, Shan & Ezawa, Tomoya & Sumita, Masami & Harano, Koki & Imai, Ayane & Katayama, Noboru & Dowaki, Kiyoshi, 2025. "A hydrogen supply system utilizing PEMFC exhaust heat and modular metal hydride tanks for hydrogen-powered bicycles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 401(PC).
    4. Huang, Zhenguang & Li, Chao & Chu, Yican & Gu, Jing & Li, Wenqing & Xie, Jiaxing & Gao, Ge & Wang, Haoyu & Fan, Meiqiang & Yao, Zhendong, 2025. "Potential and challenges for V-based solid solution hydrogen storage alloys," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    5. Tu, Xikai & Lv, Jin & Wu, Jin & Luo, Xiaobing & Tu, Zhengkai, 2025. "Experimental investigation of a novel open cathode air-cooled fuel cell stack design featuring simultaneous inlet blowing and outlet suction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani & Shahzada Adeel & Valentina Chkoniya, 2025. "Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-36, March.
    2. Liu, Jiaxuan & Wang, Jing & Yang, Fusheng & Wu, Zhen & Zhang, Zaoxiao, 2025. "The analysis of cross-level transfer characteristic of hydrogen and heat of thermal coupling system: Framework design and case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    3. Li, Jisen & Zhao, Dongqi & Wang, Yuren & Xie, Liang & Zhou, Ze & Zhang, Liyan & Chen, Qihong, 2025. "PEM fuel cell platinum distributions optimization under typical scenarios utilizing multiple health and efficiency indicators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 400(C).
    4. Dong, Xiaofei & Zhao, Hongxia & Li, Hailong & Fucucci, Giacomo & Zheng, Qingrong & Zhao, Honghua & Pu, Jinhuan, 2024. "A novel design of a metal hydride reactor integrated with phase change material for H2 storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 367(C).
    5. Wang, Chenfang & Li, Qingshan & Wang, Chunmei & Zhang, Yangjun & Zhuge, Weilin, 2021. "Thermodynamic analysis of a hydrogen fuel cell waste heat recovery system based on a zeotropic organic Rankine cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    6. Zenan Shen & Shaoquan Liu & Wei Zhu & Daoyuan Ren & Qiang Xu & Yu Feng, 2024. "A Review on Key Technologies and Developments of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Multi-Rotor Drones," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-36, August.
    7. Superchi, Francesco & Bianchini, Alessandro, 2026. "Development of a MILP optimization framework to design grid-connected microgrids: enhancing operational synergy among wind, solar, batteries, and hydrogen storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PG).
    8. Bai, Xiao-Shuai & Rong, Long & Yang, Wei-Wei & Yang, Fu-Sheng, 2023. "Effective thermal conductivity of metal hydride particle bed: Theoretical model and experimental validation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    9. Mohamed Mohamed Khaleel & Mohd Rafi Adzman & Samila Mat Zali, 2021. "An Integrated of Hydrogen Fuel Cell to Distribution Network System: Challenging and Opportunity for D-STATCOM," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-26, October.
    10. Gao, Wenxue & Dong, Pokun & Hu, Yingjie & Wang, Yan & Yang, Haotian & Yang, Lin & Yang, Mingchang, 2026. "Progress on residential fuel cell combined heat and power systems: A technological review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PA).
    11. Kim, Soohwan & Jeong, Hoyoung & Lee, Hoseong, 2021. "Cold-start performance investigation of fuel cell electric vehicles with heat pump-assisted thermal management systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    12. Gabriele Scarpati & Julián A. Puszkiel & Jan Warfsmann & Fahim Karimi & Elio Jannelli & Claudio Pistidda & Thomas Klassen & Julian Jepsen, 2025. "Comprehensive Overview of the Effective Thermal Conductivity for Hydride Materials: Experimental and Modeling Approaches," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-56, January.
    13. Li, Yanju & Li, Dongxu & Ma, Zheshu & Zheng, Meng & Lu, Zhanghao & Song, Hanlin & Guo, Xinjia & Shao, Wei, 2022. "Performance analysis and optimization of a novel vehicular power system based on HT-PEMFC integrated methanol steam reforming and ORC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    14. Chen, Yu & Chen, Xiaoyuan & Fu, Lin & Jiang, Shan & Shen, Boyang, 2025. "Superconducting hydrogen-electricity multi-energy system for transportation hubs: Modeling, technical study and economic-environmental assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 401(PC).
    15. Miao, Shan & Wu, Qiong & Ezawa, Tomoya & Harano, Koki & Sumita, Masami & Katayama, Noboru & Dowaki, Kiyoshi, 2026. "Simulation and analysis of hydrogen desorption dynamics in a PEMFC-metal hydride system for H-bike," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    16. Assareh, Ehsanolah & Mousavi Asl, Seyed Sajad & Agarwal, Neha & Ahmadinejad, Mehrdad & Ghodrat, Maryam & Lee, Moonyong, 2023. "New optimized configuration for a hybrid PVT solar/electrolyzer/absorption chiller system utilizing the response surface method as a machine learning technique and multi-objective optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    17. Sun, Dahan & Liu, Zhongyan, 2024. "Performance and economic study of a novel high-efficiency PEMFC vehicle thermal management system applied for cold conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    18. Yang, Zirong & Jiao, Kui & Wu, Kangcheng & Shi, Weilong & Jiang, Shangfeng & Zhang, Longhai & Du, Qing, 2021. "Numerical investigations of assisted heating cold start strategies for proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    19. Krishna, K. Venkata & Kanti, Praveen Kumar & Maiya, M.P., 2024. "A novel fin efficiency concept to optimize solid state hydrogen storage reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    20. Pivetta, Davide & Tafone, Alessio & Mazzoni, Stefano & Romagnoli, Alessandro & Taccani, Rodolfo, 2024. "A multi-objective planning tool for the optimal supply of green hydrogen for an industrial port area decarbonization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:305:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224021832. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.