Proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance investigation considering internal heterogeneity of current density - A novel method study

摘要

The remaining useful lifetime (RUL) of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been influenced by the heterogeneous distribution. In this presented paper, a novel method considering the internal heterogeneity is proposed and investigated to manage the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operation thus prolonging the remaining useful lifetime. This method including the mathematic steps of quantification, normalization, and coordinate transformation, converts the conventional power-current density curve into a novel power-heterogeneity curve. The electro-thermal mapping device is applied to measure the physical-field heterogeneity of a single cell during the polarization curve tests under different temperature conditions. This method is validated by the results in the current region of 750-860 mA cm(-2) of the polarization curves under temperature conditions of 50 degrees C and 60 degrees C. The novel method shows the effectiveness to make the fuel cell operate at a lower heterogeneity extent meanwhile a similar performance. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.