Pressurized Gasoline-Fueled Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Systems: Effect Of Operating Pressure

摘要

In a pressurized gasoline-fueled polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) system, a compressor is needed to pressurize the air for the fuel cell cathode and the autothermal fuel processor. An expander may also be used to recover some of the mechanical and chemical energy in the spent anode and cathode streams. The existing and projected performance data for different air management devices were evaluated for pressure ratio, compressor and expander efficiencies, and the net shaft power. In-depth analyses were carried out to quantify the effects of operating pressure on the efficiency of the gasoline fuel processor, stack performance, and the overall system efficiency at the rated power point. For one selected compressor/expander module, complete sets of performance curves were used to determine system efficiency at part load as a function of the full load pressure ratio. Detailed component models were used to investigate the effects of the operating pressure on the sizes of the fuel processor (autothermal reactor, high- and low-temperature water-gas shift reactors), CO removal device, PEFC stack, and the heat rejection and water recovery subsystems. It was determined that an operating pressure of 2-3.2 atm can meet the system efficiency targets set for 100% and 25% of rated power.