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A Review on Cold Start of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

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  • Zhongmin Wan

    (College of Information & Communication Engineering, Hunan Institution of Science and Technology, Yueyang 414006, Hunan, China
    School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China)

  • Huawei Chang

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China)

  • Shuiming Shu

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China)

  • Yongxiang Wang

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China)

  • Haolin Tang

    (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China)

Abstract

Successful and rapid startup of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) at subfreezing temperatures (also called cold start) is of great importance for their commercialization in automotive and portable devices. In order to maintain good proton conductivity, the water content in the membrane must be kept at a certain level to ensure that the membrane remains fully hydrated. However, the water in the pores of the catalyst layer (CL), gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the membrane may freeze once the cell temperature decreases below the freezing point ( T f ). Thus, methods which could enable the fuel cell startup without or with slight performance degradation at subfreezing temperature need to be studied. This paper presents an extensive review on cold start of PEMFCs, including the state and phase changes of water in PEMFCs, impacts of water freezing on PEMFCs, numerical and experimental studies on PEMFCs, and cold start strategies. The impacts on each component of the fuel cell are discussed in detail. Related numerical and experimental work is also discussed. It should be mentioned that the cold start strategies, especially the enumerated patents, are of great reference value on the practical cold start process.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhongmin Wan & Huawei Chang & Shuiming Shu & Yongxiang Wang & Haolin Tang, 2014. "A Review on Cold Start of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:7:y:2014:i:5:p:3179-3203:d:36031
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Yang, Luo & Nik-Ghazali, Nik-Nazri & Ali, Mohammed A.H. & Chong, Wen Tong & Yang, Zhenzhong & Liu, Haichao, 2023. "A review on thermal management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Temperature distribution and control," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    4. Knorr, Florian & Sanchez, Daniel Garcia & Schirmer, Johannes & Gazdzicki, Pawel & Friedrich, K.A., 2019. "Methanol as antifreeze agent for cold start of automotive polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Wang, Junye, 2017. "System integration, durability and reliability of fuel cells: Challenges and solutions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 460-479.
    6. Amamou, A. & Kandidayeni, M. & Boulon, L. & Kelouwani, S., 2018. "Real time adaptive efficient cold start strategy for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 21-30.
    7. Anggito P. Tetuko & Bahman Shabani & John Andrews, 2018. "Passive Fuel Cell Heat Recovery Using Heat Pipes to Enhance Metal Hydride Canisters Hydrogen Discharge Rate: An Experimental Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, April.
    8. Shantanu Pardhi & Sajib Chakraborty & Dai-Duong Tran & Mohamed El Baghdadi & Steven Wilkins & Omar Hegazy, 2022. "A Review of Fuel Cell Powertrains for Long-Haul Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Technology, Hydrogen, Energy and Thermal Management Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-55, December.
    9. Mohammed Yousri Silaa & Mohamed Derbeli & Oscar Barambones & Cristian Napole & Ali Cheknane & José María Gonzalez De Durana, 2021. "An Efficient and Robust Current Control for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Power System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    10. Xiaokang Yang & Jiaqi Sun & Guang Jiang & Shucheng Sun & Zhigang Shao & Hongmei Yu & Fangwei Duan & Yingxuan Yang, 2021. "Experimental Study on Critical Membrane Water Content of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells for Cold Storage at −50 °C," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    11. Tian, Pengjie & Liu, Xuejun & Luo, Kaiyao & Li, Hongkun & Wang, Yun, 2021. "Deep learning from three-dimensional multiphysics simulation in operational optimization and control of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for maximum power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    12. Guozhuo Wang & Yoshio Utaka & Shixue Wang, 2020. "Effect of Dual Porous Layers with Patterned Wettability on Low-Temperature Start Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    13. Jin Hyun Kim & Gwang Goo Lee & Woo Tae Kim, 2017. "Comparison of Liquid Water Dynamics in Bent Gas Channels of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell with Different Channel Cross Sections in a Channel Flooding Situation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, May.
    14. Sun-Joon Byun & Zhen Huan Wang & Jun Son & Dong-Kurl Kwak & Young-Chul Kwon, 2018. "Experimental Study on Improvement of Performance by Wave Form Cathode Channels in a PEM Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-14, February.
    15. Chen, Qin & Zhang, Guobin & Zhang, Xuzhong & Sun, Cheng & Jiao, Kui & Wang, Yun, 2021. "Thermal management of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: A review of cooling methods, material properties, and durability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    16. Ahmed Mohmed Dafalla & Lin Wei & Bereket Tsegai Habte & Jian Guo & Fangming Jiang, 2022. "Membrane Electrode Assembly Degradation Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-26, December.
    17. Lin, Rui & Zhu, Yike & Ni, Meng & Jiang, Zhenghua & Lou, Diming & Han, Lihang & Zhong, Di, 2019. "Consistency analysis of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack during cold start," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 420-432.
    18. Riccardo Balzarotti & Saverio Latorrata & Marco Mariani & Paola Gallo Stampino & Giovanni Dotelli, 2020. "Optimization of Perfluoropolyether-Based Gas Diffusion Media Preparation for PEM Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, April.
    19. Qiu, Diankai & Peng, Linfa & Lai, Xinmin & Ni, Meng & Lehnert, Werner, 2019. "Mechanical failure and mitigation strategies for the membrane in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    20. Devin Fowler & Vladimir Gurau & Daniel Cox, 2019. "Bridging the Gap between Automated Manufacturing of Fuel Cell Components and Robotic Assembly of Fuel Cell Stacks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-14, September.

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