IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v313y2024ics0360544224038118.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of wide reactant relative humidity on PEMFC electrochemical and thermodynamic performance from both global and local perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Shen, Yaorui
  • Yang, Hanqian
  • Fu, Jianqin
  • Sun, Xilei

Abstract

For realizing high-power and high-efficiency operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), influence mechanism of relative humidity (RH) on the fuel cell performance was explored in this study. Combining experimental and simulation methods, the effect of wide gas humidification on the fuel cell output power and irreversible losses was comprehensively studied. Rising RH negatively influenced PEMFC electrochemical and thermodynamic properties at I = 1.6 A/cm2. Humidification of the gas can lead to a maximum increase of 36 %, 43 % and 14.5 % in cell exergy efficiency at I = 0.2–0.4 A/cm2, I = 0.4–1.2 A/cm2 and I = 1.2–1.4 A/cm2, respectively. The effect of RH on the pressure drop at a wide current densities was identified using a two-phase multiplier, and further can be categorized into three zones. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that mass transfer losses and activation losses are keys to influence the characteristics of the above regions. Cathode catalyst layer (CCL) and proton exchange membrane (PEM) contributed more than 90 % to thermal irreversible loss, whose entropy generation rates change is consistent with activation loss. These study results can provide theoretical support for the development of PEMFC with high output power and high exergy efficiency at wide gas humidification conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Shen, Yaorui & Yang, Hanqian & Fu, Jianqin & Sun, Xilei, 2024. "Effect of wide reactant relative humidity on PEMFC electrochemical and thermodynamic performance from both global and local perspectives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:313:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224038118
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134033
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224038118
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.134033?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 search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fu, Jianqin & Wang, Huailin & Sun, Xilei & Bao, Huanhuan & Wang, Xun & Liu, Jingping, 2024. "Multi-objective optimization for impeller structure parameters of fuel cell air compressor using linear-based boosting model and reference vector guided evolutionary algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    2. Zhao, Junjie & Tu, Zhengkai & Chan, Siew Hwa, 2022. "In-situ measurement of humidity distribution and its effect on the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PD).
    3. Jeon, Seung Won & Cha, Dowon & Kim, Hyung Soon & Kim, Yongchan, 2016. "Analysis of the system efficiency of an intermediate temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell at elevated temperature and relative humidity conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 165-173.
    4. Sun, Xilei & Fu, Jianqin & Yang, Huiyong & Xie, Mingke & Liu, Jingping, 2023. "An energy management strategy for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles based on deep learning and improved model predictive control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    5. Zhang, Teng & Li, Ming-Jia & Ni, Jing-Wei & Qian, Cun-Cun, 2024. "Study of dynamic performance of PEMFC-based CCHP system in a data center based on real-time load and a novel synergistic control method with variable working conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    6. Zhang, Ruiyuan & Min, Ting & Chen, Li & Li, Hailong & Yan, Jinyue & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2022. "Pore-scale study of effects of relative humidity on reactive transport processes in catalyst layers in PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    7. Li, Yuehua & Pei, Pucheng & Wu, Ziyao & Xu, Huachi & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Shangwei, 2017. "Novel approach to determine cathode two-phase-flow pressure drop of proton exchange membrane fuel cell and its application on water management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 713-724.
    8. Fan, Ruijia & Chang, Guofeng & Xu, Yiming & Xu, Jiamin, 2024. "Investigating and quantifying the effects of catalyst layer gradients, operating conditions, and their interactions on PEMFC performance through global sensitivity analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Sun, Xilei & Fu, Jianqin, 2024. "Experiment investigation for interconnected effects of driving cycle and ambient temperature on bidirectional energy flows in an electric sport utility vehicle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    2. Liu, Yongfeng & Fan, Lei & Pei, Pucheng & Yao, Shengzhuo & Wang, Fang, 2018. "Asymptotic analysis for the inlet relative humidity effects on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 573-584.
    3. Xuan, Zi-Hao & Fang, Wen-Zhen & Zhao, Guo-Rui & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2025. "Optimal gradient designs of catalyst layers for boosting performance: A data-driven-assisted model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    4. Li, Yuehua & Pei, Pucheng & Ma, Ze & Ren, Peng & Wu, Ziyao & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Hao, 2019. "Characteristic analysis in lowering current density based on pressure drop for avoiding flooding in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 321-329.
    5. Ren, Peng & Pei, Pucheng & Li, Yuehua & Wu, Ziyao & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Shangwei & Jia, Xiaoning, 2019. "Diagnosis of water failures in proton exchange membrane fuel cell with zero-phase ohmic resistance and fixed-low-frequency impedance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 785-792.
    6. Lu Zhang & Yongfeng Liu & Pucheng Pei & Xintong Liu & Long Wang & Yuan Wan, 2022. "Variation Characteristic Analysis of Water Content at the Flow Channel of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Sun, Xilei & Fu, Jianqin, 2024. "Many-objective optimization of BEV design parameters based on gradient boosting decision tree models and the NSGA-III algorithm considering the ambient temperature," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    8. Sun, Xilei & Zhou, Feng & Fu, Jianqin & Liu, Jingping, 2024. "Experiment and simulation study on energy flow characteristics of a battery electric vehicle throughout the entire driving range in low-temperature conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    9. Zhang, Hao & Lei, Nuo & Chen, Boli & Li, Bingbing & Li, Rulong & Wang, Zhi, 2024. "Modeling and control system optimization for electrified vehicles: A data-driven approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    10. Zhang, Ruiyuan & Min, Ting & Chen, Li & Li, Hailong & Yan, Jinyue & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2022. "Pore-scale study of effects of relative humidity on reactive transport processes in catalyst layers in PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    11. Chen, Huicui & Zhang, Ruirui & Xia, Zhifeng & Weng, Qianyao & Zhang, Tong & Pei, Pucheng, 2023. "Experimental investigation on PEM fuel cell flooding mitigation under heavy loading condition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    12. Shi, Dehua & Xu, Han & Wang, Shaohua & Hu, Jia & Chen, Long & Yin, Chunfang, 2024. "Deep reinforcement learning based adaptive energy management for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with double deep Q-network," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    13. Bai, Fan & Quan, Hong-Bing & Yin, Ren-Jie & Zhang, Zhuo & Jin, Shu-Qi & He, Pu & Mu, Yu-Tong & Gong, Xiao-Ming & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2022. "Three-dimensional multi-field digital twin technology for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    14. Zuo, Ruiwang & Fan, Linhao & Wang, Jiaqi & Du, Qing & Jiao, Kui, 2024. "Revealing the structural and transport properties in the narrow channels of porous carbon for fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    15. Li, Yuehua & Pei, Pucheng & Wu, Ziyao & Ren, Peng & Jia, Xiaoning & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Shangwei, 2018. "Approaches to avoid flooding in association with pressure drop in proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 42-51.
    16. Li, Yuehua & Pei, Pucheng & Ma, Ze & Ren, Peng & Huang, Hao, 2020. "Analysis of air compression, progress of compressor and control for optimal energy efficiency in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    17. 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).
    18. Shen, Jun & Zhang, Chenshuo & Li, Longjian & Liu, Sichen & Liu, Haobo & Chen, Ben & Du, Changqing, 2024. "Numerical study and prediction of water transport through a PEM fuel cell based on genetic algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    19. Lu, Guolong & Liu, Mingxin & Su, Xunkang & Zheng, Tongxi & Luan, Yang & Fan, Wenxuan & Cui, Hao & Liu, Zhenning, 2024. "Study on counter-flow mass transfer characteristics and performance optimization of commercial large-scale proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    20. Fan, Ruijia & Chang, Guofeng & Xu, Yiming & Zhang, Yuanzhi & Wei, Pengnan, 2024. "Enhancing PEM fuel cell dynamic performance: Co-optimization of cathode catalyst layer composition and operating conditions using a novel surrogate model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).

    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:313:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224038118. 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.