IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v166y2016icp165-173.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analysis of the system efficiency of an intermediate temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell at elevated temperature and relative humidity conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Jeon, Seung Won
  • Cha, Dowon
  • Kim, Hyung Soon
  • Kim, Yongchan

Abstract

Humidification of the membrane is very important in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), to maintain high ionic conductivity. At an elevated temperature, a large amount of thermal energy is required for humidification because of the exponentially increased saturation vapor pressure. In this study, the system efficiency of a PEMFC was evaluated by considering the heat required for preheating/humidification and compression work. Three-dimensional steady-state simulations were conducted using Fluent 14 to simulate the electrochemical reactions. The operating conditions were optimized using response surface methodology by considering both the fuel cell output and system efficiency. In addition, the effects of operating parameters such as the temperature, relative humidity, and stoichiometric ratio were investigated. The system efficiency can be improved more effectively by increasing relative humidity rather than increasing operating temperature because the ionic conductivity of the membrane was strongly influenced by the relative humidity.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:166:y:2016:i:c:p:165-173
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.123
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030626191600009X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.123?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. Han, Hun Sik & Cho, Changhwan & Kim, Seo Young & Hyun, Jae Min, 2013. "Performance evaluation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system for powering portable freezer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 125-137.
    2. Jannelli, Elio & Minutillo, Mariagiovanna & Perna, Alessandra, 2013. "Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 82-91.
    3. Jian, Qi-fei & Ma, Guang-qing & Qiu, Xiao-liang, 2014. "Influences of gas relative humidity on the temperature of membrane in PEMFC with interdigitated flow field," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 129-136.
    4. Zuliani, Nicola & Taccani, Rodolfo, 2012. "Microcogeneration system based on HTPEM fuel cell fueled with natural gas: Performance analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 802-808.
    5. Cao, Tao-Feng & Lin, Hong & Chen, Li & He, Ya-Ling & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2013. "Numerical investigation of the coupled water and thermal management in PEM fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1115-1125.
    6. Barelli, L. & Bidini, G. & Gallorini, F. & Ottaviano, A., 2011. "An energetic–exergetic analysis of a residential CHP system based on PEM fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 4334-4342.
    7. Wang, Yun & Chen, Ken S. & Mishler, Jeffrey & Cho, Sung Chan & Adroher, Xavier Cordobes, 2011. "A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications, and needs on fundamental research," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 981-1007, April.
    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. Yang, Wonseok & Cha, Dowon & Kim, Yongchan, 2019. "Effects of flow direction on dynamic response and stability of nonhumidification PEM fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 386-395.
    2. Martin, S. & Garcia-Ybarra, P.L. & Castillo, J.L., 2017. "Long-term operation of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell without external humidification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 1012-1020.
    3. 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).
    4. Tan, P. & Shyy, W. & Zhao, T.S. & Zhang, R.H. & Zhu, X.B., 2016. "Effects of moist air on the cycling performance of non-aqueous lithium-air batteries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 569-575.
    5. 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.
    6. Zhang, Jikai & Wang, Changjian & Zhang, Aifeng, 2022. "Experimental study on temperature and performance of an open-cathode PEMFC stack under thermal radiation environment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(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. Wu, Horng-Wen, 2016. "A review of recent development: Transport and performance modeling of PEM fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 81-106.
    2. Arsalis, Alexandros, 2019. "A comprehensive review of fuel cell-based micro-combined-heat-and-power systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 391-414.
    3. Di Marcoberardino, G. & Chiarabaglio, L. & Manzolini, G. & Campanari, S., 2019. "A Techno-economic comparison of micro-cogeneration systems based on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for residential applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 692-705.
    4. Haghighat Mamaghani, Alireza & Najafi, Behzad & Casalegno, Andrea & Rinaldi, Fabio, 2017. "Predictive modelling and adaptive long-term performance optimization of an HT-PEM fuel cell based micro combined heat and power (CHP) plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 519-529.
    5. Gabriele Loreti & Andrea Luigi Facci & Stefano Ubertini, 2021. "High-Efficiency Combined Heat and Power through a High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell and Gas Turbine Hybrid System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
    6. Saeidfar, Asal & Yesilyurt, Serhat, 2023. "Numerical investigation of the effects of catalyst layer composition and channel to rib width ratios for low platinum loaded PEMFCs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    7. Pei, Pucheng & Jia, Xiaoning & Xu, Huachi & Li, Pengcheng & Wu, Ziyao & Li, Yuehua & Ren, Peng & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Shangwei, 2018. "The recovery mechanism of proton exchange membrane fuel cell in micro-current operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 1-9.
    8. Zuliani, Nicola & Taccani, Rodolfo, 2012. "Microcogeneration system based on HTPEM fuel cell fueled with natural gas: Performance analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 802-808.
    9. Asensio, F.J. & San Martín, J.I. & Zamora, I. & Oñederra, O., 2018. "Model for optimal management of the cooling system of a fuel cell-based combined heat and power system for developing optimization control strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 413-430.
    10. Bizon, Nicu, 2014. "Tracking the maximum efficiency point for the FC system based on extremum seeking scheme to control the air flow," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 147-157.
    11. Guida, D. & Minutillo, M., 2017. "Design methodology for a PEM fuel cell power system in a more electrical aircraft," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 446-456.
    12. Viorel Ionescu & Adriana Elena Balan & Alexandra Maria Isabel Trefilov & Ioan Stamatin, 2021. "Exergetic Performance of a PEM Fuel Cell with Laser-Induced Graphene as the Microporous Layer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Jannelli, Elio & Minutillo, Mariagiovanna & Perna, Alessandra, 2013. "Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 82-91.
    14. Han, Hun Sik & Cho, Changhwan & Kim, Seo Young & Hyun, Jae Min, 2013. "Performance evaluation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system for powering portable freezer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 125-137.
    15. Chen Li & Ashanti M. Sallee & Xiaoyu Zhang & Sandeep Kumar, 2018. "Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Acetone to Produce Isopropanol Using a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Reactor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    16. Nandan, Ravi & Goswami, Gopal Krishna & Nanda, Karuna Kar, 2017. "Direct synthesis of Pt-free catalyst on gas diffusion layer of fuel cell and usage of high boiling point fuels for efficient utilization of waste heat," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 1050-1058.
    17. Bae, Suk Joo & Kim, Seong-Joon & Lee, Jin-Hwa & Song, Inseob & Kim, Nam-In & Seo, Yongho & Kim, Ki Buem & Lee, Naesung & Park, Jun-Young, 2014. "Degradation pattern prediction of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack with series reliability structure via durability data of single cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 48-55.
    18. Pei, Pucheng & Wu, Ziyao & Li, Yuehua & Jia, Xiaoning & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Shangwei, 2018. "Improved methods to measure hydrogen crossover current in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 338-347.
    19. Kim, Sung Han & Miesse, Craig M. & Lee, Hee Bum & Chang, Ik Whang & Hwang, Yong Sheen & Jang, Jae Hyuk & Cha, Suk Won, 2014. "Ultra compact direct hydrogen fuel cell prototype using a metal hydride hydrogen storage tank for a mobile phone," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 382-391.
    20. Ahmad Baroutaji & Arun Arjunan & John Robinson & Tabbi Wilberforce & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem & Abdul Ghani Olabi, 2021. "PEMFC Poly-Generation Systems: Developments, Merits, and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-31, October.

    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:appene:v:166:y:2016:i:c:p:165-173. 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.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    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.