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Applying a 2 kW Polymer Membrane Fuel-Cell Stack to Building Hybrid Power Sources for Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Author

Listed:
  • Magdalena Dudek

    (Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Krakow, Av. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland)

  • Mikołaj Zarzycki

    (Łukasiewicz Research Network—Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements PIAP, Av. Jerozolimskie 202, 02-486 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Andrzej Raźniak

    (Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Krakow, Av. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland)

  • Maciej Rosół

    (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, Av. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland)

Abstract

The novel constructions of hybrid energy sources using polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs), and supercapacitors are developed. Studies on the energy demand and peak electrical power of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) weighing up to 100 kg were conducted under various conditions. It was found that the average electrical power required does not exceed ~2 kW under all conditions studied. However, under the dynamic electrical load of the electric drive of mobile robots, the short peak power exceeded 2 kW, and the highest current load was in the range of 80–90 A. The electrical performance of a family of PEMFC stacks built in open-cathode mode was determined. A hydrogen-usage control strategy for power generation, cleaning processes, and humidification was analysed. The integration of a PEMFC stack with a bank of supercapacitors makes it possible to mitigate the voltage dips. These occur periodically at short time intervals as a result of short-circuit operation. In the second construction, the recovery of electrical energy dissipated by a short-circuit unit (SCU) was also demonstrated in the integrated PEMFC stack and supercapacitor bank system. The concept of an energy-efficient, mobile, and environmentally friendly hydrogen charging unit has been proposed. It comprises (i) a hydrogen anion exchange membrane electrolyser, (ii) a photovoltaic installation, (iii) a battery storage, (iv) a hydrogen buffer storage in a buffer tank, (v) a hydrogen compression unit, and (vi) composite tanks.

Suggested Citation

  • Magdalena Dudek & Mikołaj Zarzycki & Andrzej Raźniak & Maciej Rosół, 2023. "Applying a 2 kW Polymer Membrane Fuel-Cell Stack to Building Hybrid Power Sources for Unmanned Ground Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-32, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:22:p:7531-:d:1278483
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Tribioli, Laura & Cozzolino, Raffaello & Chiappini, Daniele & Iora, Paolo, 2016. "Energy management of a plug-in fuel cell/battery hybrid vehicle with on-board fuel processing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 140-154.
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