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15 pages, 3185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Electric Simulation Model of a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer System for Hydrogen Production

by Giuseppe De Lorenzo, Raffaele Giuseppe Agostino and Petronilla Fragiacomo

Energies 2022, 15(17), 6437; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176437 - 03 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1846

An energy storage system based on a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system, which could be managed by a nanoGrid for Home Applications (nGfHA), is able to convert the surplus of electric energy produced by renewable sources into hydrogen, which can be stored [...] Read more.

An energy storage system based on a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system, which could be managed by a nanoGrid for Home Applications (nGfHA), is able to convert the surplus of electric energy produced by renewable sources into hydrogen, which can be stored in pressurized tanks. The PEM electrolyzer system must be able to operate at variable feeding power for converting all the surplus of renewable electric energy into hydrogen in reasonable time. In this article, the dynamic electric simulation model of a PEM electrolyzer system with its pressurized hydrogen tanks is developed in a proper calculation environment. Through the calculation code, the stack voltage and current peaks to a supply power variation from the minimum value (about 56 W) to the maximum value (about 440 W) are controlled and zeroed to preserve the stack, the best range of the operating stack current is evaluated, and hydrogen production is monitored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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14 pages, 3819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficiency Enhancement on Hybrid Power System Composed of Irreversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Stirling Engine by Finite Time Thermodynamics

by Hsin-Yi Lai, Yi-Ting Li and Yen-Hsin Chan

Energies 2021, 14(4), 1037; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14041037 - 16 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1725

Abstract

This paper presents the work for efficiency enhancement on a hybrid power system with an irreversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Stirling Engine (SE) for various system design using the approach of finite-time thermodynamics. The SOFC-based cogeneration system was integrated with an [...] Read more.

This paper presents the work for efficiency enhancement on a hybrid power system with an irreversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Stirling Engine (SE) for various system design using the approach of finite-time thermodynamics. The SOFC-based cogeneration system was integrated with an SE and several heat components. The effects of design configurations using various interface components on system performance were investigated. By analyzing the SE with finite-time thermodynamics and considering multiple irreversible factors of output power given by the SOFC, the efficiency of the calculation can be more practical and accurate. In this study, the working efficiency of the proposed hybrid system was enhanced by 16.37% compared to that of the conventional system at an intermediate temperature of 873 K. The design approach proposed herein is considered an essential package for building highly efficient power systems working in the intermediate temperature range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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24 pages, 16404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Grid-Tied Fuel Cell Multilevel Inverter with Low Harmonic Distortions

by Khlid Ben Hamad, Doudou N. Luta and Atanda K. Raji

Energies 2021, 14(3), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14030688 - 29 Jan 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2987

Abstract

As a result of global energy demand increase, concerns over global warming, and rapid exhaustion of fossil fuels, there is a growing interest in energy system dependence on clean and sustainable energy resources. Attractive power technologies include photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and biomass [...] Read more.

As a result of global energy demand increase, concerns over global warming, and rapid exhaustion of fossil fuels, there is a growing interest in energy system dependence on clean and sustainable energy resources. Attractive power technologies include photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and biomass power. Fuel cells are also clean energy units that substitute power generators based on fossil fuels. They are employed in various applications, including transportation, stationary power, and small portable power. Fuel cell connections to utility grids require that the power conditioning units, interfacing the fuel cells and the grids, operate accordingly (by complying with the grid requirements). This study aims to model a centralised, single-stage grid-tied three-level diode clamped inverter interfacing a multi-stack fuel cell system. The inverter is expected to produce harmonic distortions of less than 0.5% and achieve an efficiency of 85%. Besides the grid, the system consists of a 1.54 MW/1400 V DC proton exchange membrane fuel cell, a 1.3 MW three-level diode clamped inverter with a nominal voltage of 600 V, and an inductance-capacitance-inductance (LCL) filter. Two case studies based on the load conditions are considered to assess the developed system’s performance further. In case 1, the fuel cell system generates enough power to fully meet this load and exports the excess to the grid. In the other case, a load of 2.5 MW was connected at the grid-tied fuel cell inverter’s output terminals. The system imports the grid’s power to meet the 2.5 MW load since the fuel cell can only produce 1.54 MW. It is demonstrated that the system can supply and also receive power from the grid. The results show the developed system’s good performance with a low total harmonic distortion of about 0.12% for the voltage and 0.07% for the current. The results also reveal that the fuel cell inverter voltage and the frequency at the point of common coupling comply with the grid requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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26 pages, 8930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Renewable/Fuel Cell Hybrid Power System Operation Using Two Search Controllers of the Optimal Power Needed on the DC Bus

by Nicu Bizon, Mircea Raceanu, Emmanouel Koudoumas, Adriana Marinoiu, Emmanuel Karapidakis and Elena Carcadea

Energies 2020, 13(22), 6111; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13226111 - 21 Nov 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2071

Abstract

In this paper, the optimal and safe operation of a hybrid power system based on a fuel cell system and renewable energy sources is analyzed. The needed DC power resulting from the power flow balance on the DC bus is ensured by the [...] Read more.

In this paper, the optimal and safe operation of a hybrid power system based on a fuel cell system and renewable energy sources is analyzed. The needed DC power resulting from the power flow balance on the DC bus is ensured by the FC system via the air regulator or the fuel regulator controlled by the power-tracking control reference or both regulators using a switched mode of the above-mentioned reference. The optimal operation of a fuel cell system is ensured by a search for the maximum of multicriteria-based optimization functions focused on fuel economy under perturbation, such as variable renewable energy and dynamic load on the DC bus. Two search controllers based on the global extremum seeking scheme are involved in this search via the remaining fueling regulator and the boost DC–DC converter. Thus, the fuel economy strategies based on the control of the air regulator and the fuel regulator, respectively, on the control of both fueling regulators are analyzed in this study. The fuel savings compared to fuel consumed using the static feed-forward control are 6.63%, 4.36% and 13.72%, respectively, under dynamic load but without renewable power. With renewable power, the needed fuel cell power on the DC bus is lower, so the fuel cell system operates more efficiently. These percentages are increased to 7.28%, 4.94% and 14.97%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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16 pages, 2380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Study of Using Polarization Curve Models in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Degradation Analysis

by Chen Zhang, Wen Li, Mingruo Hu, Xiaofang Cheng, Kai He and Lei Mao

Energies 2020, 13(15), 3759; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13153759 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2994

Abstract

In this paper, a systematic study is carried out to compare the performance of various V-I models at both normal and faulty conditions, in terms of simulating proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) behavior and analyzing the corresponding degradation process. In the analysis, [...] Read more.

In this paper, a systematic study is carried out to compare the performance of various V-I models at both normal and faulty conditions, in terms of simulating proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) behavior and analyzing the corresponding degradation process. In the analysis, the simulation accuracy of V-I models, including overall behavior simulation and the simulation of different PEMFC losses, is investigated. Results show that compared to the other V-I models, the V-I model using exponential function for mass transport loss and considering open circuit voltage (OCV) at zero current can provide the best simulation performance, with an overall root mean square error (RMSE) of about 0.00279. Furthermore, the performance of these V-I models in analyzing PEMFC degradation process is also studied. By investigating the evolution of PEMFC losses during the degradation, the effectiveness of these models in interpreting PEMFC degradation mechanisms can be clarified. The results show that, besides the simulation accuracy, different interpretations may be provided from different models; this further confirms the necessity of comparative study. Moreover, the effectiveness of different V-I models in identifying PEMFC abnormal performance at two faulty scenarios is investigated. The results demonstrate that, among different V-I models, the model using an exponential function for mass transport loss and considering OCV at zero current can provide more accurate simulation and reasonable interpretation regarding PEMFC internal behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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17 pages, 3001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulation of the Dynamic Characteristics of a PEMFC System in Fluctuating Operating Conditions

by Jiangyan Yan, Chang Zhou, Zhihai Rong, Haijiang Wang, Hui Li and Xuejiao Hu

Energies 2020, 13(14), 3596; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13143596 - 13 Jul 2020

Viewed by 2084

Abstract

A greater understanding of the dynamic processes inside the stack is urgently needed to optimize the PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell). In this study, we examined the gas, water and electrochemical processes inside the stack, studied the physical dynamics of system accessories [...] Read more.

A greater understanding of the dynamic processes inside the stack is urgently needed to optimize the PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell). In this study, we examined the gas, water and electrochemical processes inside the stack, studied the physical dynamics of system accessories such as gas supplement, flow and pressure-regulating devices, then used Simulink to build a mathematical model of a complete PEMFC system; a segmented testing platform was built to test the spatial distribution of RH (relative humidity) and pressure, which was used to verify the simulation model; based on this model, the complicated phenomena occurring inside the stack during fluctuating operating states were calculated. Our findings showed that the pressure in the gas channel and exhaust manifolds decreased when the external load increased, changing sharply at the moment of load change. The transient pressure difference between the cathode and anode sides (several kPa) had a huge impact on the MEA (membrane electrode assembly); when the load current increased, RH in cathode and cathode channel increased gradually, and the increasing rate of anode side was bigger than that in cathode side. The influence of variance magnitude and change interval of external load were also studied based on the model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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24 pages, 11080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Flatness Based-Control Strategy of a Two-Port Bidirectional Supercapacitor Converter for Hydrogen Mobility Applications

by Phatiphat Thounthong, Matheepot Phattanasak, Damien Guilbert, Noureddine Takorabet, Serge Pierfederici, Babak Nahid-Mobarakeh, Nicu Bizon and Poom Kumam

Energies 2020, 13(11), 2794; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13112794 - 01 Jun 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3971

Abstract

This article is focused on an original control approach applied to a transportation system that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) as the main energy source and supercapacitors (SC) as the energy storage backup. To interface the SC with the DC [...] Read more.

This article is focused on an original control approach applied to a transportation system that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) as the main energy source and supercapacitors (SC) as the energy storage backup. To interface the SC with the DC bus of the embedded network, a two-port bidirectional DC-DC converter was used. To control the system and ensure its stability, a reduced-order mathematical model of the network was developed through a nonlinear control approach employing a differential flatness algorithm, which is an attractive and efficient solution to make the system stable by overcoming the dynamic issues generally met in the power electronics networks of transportation systems. The design and tuning of the system control were not linked with the equilibrium point at which the interactions between the PEMFC main source, the SC energy storage device, and the loads are taken into consideration by the proposed control law. Besides this, high dynamics in the load power rejection were accomplished, which is the main contribution of this article. To verify the effectiveness of the developed control law, a small-scale experimental test rig was realized in the laboratory and the control laws were implemented in a dSPACE 1103 controller board. The experimental tests were performed with a 1 kW PEMFC source and a 250 F 32 V SC module as an energy storage backup. Lastly, the performances of the proposed control strategy were validated based on real experimental results measured during driving cycles, including motoring mode, ride-though, and regenerative braking mode. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 27857 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Technical and Commercial Challenges of Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

by Abed Alaswad, Abdelnasir Omran, Jose Ricardo Sodre, Tabbi Wilberforce, Gianmichelle Pignatelli, Michele Dassisti, Ahmad Baroutaji and Abdul Ghani Olabi

Energies 2021, 14(1), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14010144 - 29 Dec 2020

Cited by 80 | Viewed by 8802

Abstract

This review critically evaluates the latest trends in fuel cell development for portable and stationary fuel cell applications and their integration into the automotive industry. Fast start-up, high efficiency, no toxic emissions into the atmosphere and good modularity are the key advantages of [...] Read more.

This review critically evaluates the latest trends in fuel cell development for portable and stationary fuel cell applications and their integration into the automotive industry. Fast start-up, high efficiency, no toxic emissions into the atmosphere and good modularity are the key advantages of fuel cell applications. Despite the merits associated with fuel cells, the high cost of the technology remains a key factor impeding its widespread commercialization. Therefore, this review presents detailed information into the best operating conditions that yield maximum fuel cell performance. The paper recommends future research geared towards robust fuel cell geometry designs, as this determines the cell losses, and material characterization of the various cell components. When this is done properly, it will support a total reduction in the cost of the cell which in effect will reduce the total cost of the system. Despite the strides made by the fuel cell research community, there is a need for public sensitization as some people have reservations regarding the safety of the technology. This hurdle can be overcome if there is a well-documented risk assessment, which also needs to be considered in future research activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems)

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