Application of self-adaptive temperature recognition in cold-start of an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack

Abstract

The Self-adaptive control of the temperature can achieve the start of fuel cell at different operating temperatures, which is very important for the successful cold-start of the air-cooled PEMFC. The temperature distribution characteristics during the cold-start process were analyzed based on adaptive temperature recognition control in this paper. Preheating model and cold-start model were established and the optimal balance between the hot air flow rate and the temperature required to promote a uniform temperature distribution in the stack was explored in the preheating stage. Finally, the non-equilibrium mass transfer, as well as the temperature rise in the catalyst layer and gas diffusion layer with different current densities, were analyzed in the start-up stage. The results indicate that the air-cooled PEMFC stack can be successfully started up at -40 °C within 10 min by means of external gas heating. The current density and air velocity have significant impacts on the temperature of air-cooled PEMFC stack. Dynamic analysis of air-cooled PEMFCs and real-time monitoring are suitable for machine learning and self-adaptive control to set the operation parameters to achieve successful cold start. Optimize the matching of load current and cathode inlet speed to achieve thermal management in low temperature environment.

Keywords

• Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
• Air-cooled stack
• Metallic bipolar plate
• Cold-start
• Gas heating