Effect of temperature uncertainty on polymer electrolyte fuel cell performance

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• 作者：Mozhdeh Noorkami ; James B. Robinson ; Quentin Meyer ; Oluwamayowa A. Obeisun ; Eric S. Fraga ; Tobias Reisch ; Paul R. Shearing ; Daniel J.L. Brett
• 关键词：Polymer electrolyte fuel cell ; Polarisation area ; Temperature uncertainty ; Monte Carlo sampling ; Thermal imaging
• 刊名：International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
• 出版年：16 January, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：39
• 期：3
• 页码：1439-1448
• 全文大小：1705 K

文摘

The temperature of operation is a key parameter in determining the performance and durability of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). Controlling temperature and understanding its distribution and dynamic response is vital for effective operation and design of better systems. The sensitivity to temperature means that uncertainty in this parameter leads to variable response and can mask other factors affecting performance. It is important to be able to determine the impact of temperature uncertainly and quantify how much PEFC operation is influenced under different operating conditions. Here, a simple lumped mathematical model is used to describe PEFC performance under temperature uncertainty. An analytical approach gives a measure of the sensitivity of performance to temperature at different nominal operating temperatures and electrical loadings. Whereas a statistical approach, using Monte Carlo stochastic sampling, provides a 鈥榩robability map鈥?of PEFC polarisation behaviour. As such, a polarisation 鈥榓rea鈥?or 鈥榖and鈥?is considered as opposed to a polarisation 鈥榗urve鈥? Results show that temperature variation has the greatest effect at higher currents and lower nominal operating temperatures. Thermal imaging of a commercial air-cooled stack is included to illustrate the temporal and spatial temperature variation experienced in real systems.