IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v342y2026ics0360544225054015.html

A framework integrating multi-physic and data-driven models and optimization approaches to maximize electrical efficiency and power of PEMFC

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Mingguang
  • Quan, Zhenhua
  • Zhao, Yaohua
  • Xing, Lei
  • Xuan, Jin
  • Wang, Lincheng

Abstract

The performance of open-cathode air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is critically dependent on fan characteristics, which can significantly impact electrical efficiency and output. This paper proposes a PEMFC mathematical model, a surrogate model driven by a database containing 120,000 data sets, and an optimization algorithm to form a framework for addressing low efficiencies in existing air-cooled stacks caused by fan operation. The purpose is to maximize the electrical efficiency and output power of an open-cathode air-cooled PEMFC stack at various currents, and to identify the optimal power combinations for fan operation within the stack. The results indicate that fan operation has multiple interactive effects on the stack. The developed data-driven surrogate model demonstrates excellent predictive performance, validated by three robust evaluation metrics. By adjusting the operating power of the fans, the maximum increments in electrical efficiency of the stack at 6 A, 27 A and 48 A are 49.79 %, 10.00 % and 5.91 %, respectively. For the stack rated at 1 kW, the maximum output power reached up to 236.52 W, 839.43 W and 1091.04 W at 6 A, 27 A, and 48 A respectively, with the maximum increments in output power of 4.14 W, 64.80 W and 59.52 W.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Mingguang & Quan, Zhenhua & Zhao, Yaohua & Xing, Lei & Xuan, Jin & Wang, Lincheng, 2026. "A framework integrating multi-physic and data-driven models and optimization approaches to maximize electrical efficiency and power of PEMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:342:y:2026:i:c:s0360544225054015
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139758
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225054015
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.139758?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. Yu, Yulong & Lv, Shuangyu & Wang, Qiuyu & Xian, Lei & Chen, Lei & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2024. "A two-stage framework for quantifying the impact of operating parameters and optimizing power density and oxygen distribution quality of PEMFC," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    2. Feng, ShengSen & Huang, WenTao & Huang, Zhe & Jian, Qifei, 2022. "Optimization of maximum power density output for proton exchange membrane fuel cell based on a data-driven surrogate model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    3. Sun, Li & Li, Guanru & Hua, Q.S. & Jin, Yuhui, 2020. "A hybrid paradigm combining model-based and data-driven methods for fuel cell stack cooling control," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 1642-1652.
    4. Hu, Junming & Li, Jianqiu & Xu, Liangfei & Huang, Fusen & Ouyang, Minggao, 2016. "Analytical calculation and evaluation of water transport through a proton exchange membrane fuel cell based on a one-dimensional model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 869-883.
    5. Chen, Xi & Gu, Bin & Feng, Wentao & Tan, Jingying & Kong, Xiangzhong & Li, Shi & Chen, Yiyu & Wan, Zhongmin, 2024. "Research on control strategy of PEMFC air supply system for power and efficiency improvement," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    6. Qiu, Diankai & Zhou, Xiangyang & Chen, Minxue & Xu, Zhutian & Peng, Linfa, 2023. "Optimization of control strategy for air-cooled PEMFC based on in-situ observation of internal reaction state," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    7. Mahdavi, Arash & Ranjbar, Ali Akbar & Gorji, Mofid & Rahimi-Esbo, Mazaher, 2018. "Numerical simulation based design for an innovative PEMFC cooling flow field with metallic bipolar plates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 656-666.
    8. Deng, Bo & Huang, Wentao & Jian, Qifei, 2023. "An open-cathode PEMFC efficiency optimization strategy based on exergy analysis and data-driven modeling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(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. 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).
    2. Yang, Mingguang & Quan, Zhenhua & Wang, Lincheng & Liu, Zichu & Chang, Zejian & Zhao, Yaohua, 2025. "Investigation on a novel model of PEMFC stack integrated with micro heat pipe arrays and multi-objective optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 393(C).
    3. Li, Jisen & Zhao, Dongqi & Xie, Liang & Zhou, Ze & Zhang, Liyan & Chen, Qihong, 2026. "Time–frequency heterogeneous feature based physical-informed neural network for internal multimodal water estimation of fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    4. Yang, Yuchen & Wu, Zhen & Wang, Bofei & Yao, Jing & Yang, Fusheng & Zhang, Zaoxiao & Ren, Jianwei, 2024. "Efficient water recovery and power generation system based on air-cooled fuel cell with semi-closed cathode circulation mode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    5. Zhao, Jing & Cheng, Xinxuan & Ma, Yongkang & Zhong, Zixun & Zhou, Caiting & Lv, Youfu & Xie, Baoshan & Li, Chuanchang, 2025. "Experimental study on heat and mass transfer enhancement of open cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cells using turbulence grids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 385(C).
    6. Deng, Zhihua & Miao, Bin & Liu, Qinglin & Pan, Zehua & Tong, Chengguang & Zhang, Lan & Chen, Qihong & Chen, Jian & Liu, Hao & Chan, Siew Hwa, 2026. "Adaptive hybrid model-based and data-driven control for air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells temperature regulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    7. Lu, Guolong & Fan, Wenxuan & Lu, Dafeng & Zhao, Taotao & Wu, Qianqian & Liu, Mingxin & Liu, Zhenning, 2024. "Lung-inspired hybrid flow field to enhance PEMFC performance: A case of dual optimization by response surface and artificial intelligence," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    8. Pei, Yaowang & Chen, Fengxiang & Jiao, Jieran & Ye, Huan & Zhang, Caizhi & Jiang, Xiaojie, 2024. "Fuel cell temperature control based on nonlinear transformation mitigating system nonlinearity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    9. Xu, Liangfei & Fang, Chuan & Li, Jianqiu & Ouyang, Minggao & Lehnert, Werner, 2018. "Nonlinear dynamic mechanism modeling of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with dead-ended anode considering mass transport and actuator properties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 106-121.
    10. Xiao, Fei & Chen, Tao & Lan, Yang & Chen, Ziyu & Wen, Jiabin & Liang, Xiao & Dai, Haotian, 2026. "The evolution and local characteristics study of water management faults in PEMFC based on multi-physics zonal measurements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PE).
    11. Sanghyun Yun & Jinwon Yun & Jaeyoung Han, 2023. "Development of a 470-Horsepower Fuel Cell–Battery Hybrid Xcient Dynamic Model Using Simscape TM," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Yang, Mingguang & Quan, Zhenhua & Wang, Lincheng & Chang, Zejian & Zhao, Yaohua & Xing, Lei & Xuan, Jin, 2025. "Experimental design and assessment of a novel mixed-cooling proton exchange membrane fuel cells stack for enhanced power generation and thermal management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 386(C).
    13. Li, Ronghua & Ding, Wu & Huang, Taiming & Xiao, Yufan & Ke, Rongyi & Zou, Pintao & Chen, Yiyu & Wan, Zhongmin & Wang, Xiaodong & Zeng, Wei, 2025. "Optimization of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack manifold inlet geometry using velocity-assisted gray wolf optimization algorithm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    14. Liu, Huize & Hu, Zunyan & Li, Jianqiu & Xu, Liangfei & Shao, Yangbin & Ouyang, Minggao, 2023. "Investigation on the optimal GDL thickness design for PEMFCs considering channel/rib geometry matching and operating conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    15. Liao, Moyu & Xiang, Ruofei & Tan, Xinyu & Dai, Zhongxu & Qin, Hang & Xiao, Hanning, 2025. "Construction of CuO-ZnO-Al2O3/CeO2 catalyst via the shape effect for methanol steam reforming," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    16. Zhang, Qinguo & Tong, Zheming & Tong, Shuiguang & Cheng, Zhewu, 2021. "Self-humidifying effect of air self-circulation system for proton exchange membrane fuel cell engines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1143-1155.
    17. Chen, Zhijie & Zuo, Wei & Zhou, Kun & Li, Qingqing & Huang, Yuhan & E, Jiaqiang, 2023. "Multi-factor impact mechanism on the performance of high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    18. Li, Xiang & Sun, Fan & Cai, Hu & Xue, Fei & Xin, Yu & Hong, Hui, 2026. "Bi-level optimization of integrated PV-storage and by-product hydrogen systems for sustainable chlor-alkali industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    19. Tian, Weiyong & Zhang, Xiaohui & Zhou, Peng & Guo, Ruixue, 2025. "Review of energy management technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    20. Zhu, Zheng & Chen, Sian & Kong, Xiaobing & Ma, Lele & Liu, Xiangjie & Lee, Kwang Y., 2024. "A centralized EMPC scheme for PV-powered alkaline electrolyzer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(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:342:y:2026:i:c:s0360544225054015. 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.