Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods

Freeze start is a challenge in the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. In this study, ice formation in cell layers is investigated through experiments and simulations. Segmentation of the fuel cell on the test bench allows to determine the local distributions of current density and high frequency r...

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Main Authors: Maximilian Schmitz, Matthias Bahr, Sönke Gößling, Stefan Pischinger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/18/6534
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author Maximilian Schmitz
Matthias Bahr
Sönke Gößling
Stefan Pischinger
author_facet Maximilian Schmitz
Matthias Bahr
Sönke Gößling
Stefan Pischinger
author_sort Maximilian Schmitz
collection DOAJ
description Freeze start is a challenge in the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. In this study, ice formation in cell layers is investigated through experiments and simulations. Segmentation of the fuel cell on the test bench allows to determine the local distributions of current density and high frequency resistance over the active cell area. The location and timing of ice formation are analyzed in the experiments. It is shown that the formation of ice lenses can be detected by local measurements of the high frequency resistances. Then, a multiphysical CFD model is built and validated with the measurements and the commonalities and differences between the model results and the experiments are studied. It is shown that the model determines the freeze start behavior very well in wide operating ranges. Together with the findings from the experimental investigations, the model will finally be used to investigate local ice formation in detail.
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spelling doaj.art-f6bc31956ed44828b8bb1f0e4d0209292023-11-19T10:26:33ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-09-011618653410.3390/en16186534Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative MethodsMaximilian Schmitz0Matthias Bahr1Sönke Gößling2Stefan Pischinger3Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, GermanyThe Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center (ZBT), Carl-Benz-Straße 201, 47057 Duisburg, GermanyThe Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center (ZBT), Carl-Benz-Straße 201, 47057 Duisburg, GermanyChair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, GermanyFreeze start is a challenge in the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. In this study, ice formation in cell layers is investigated through experiments and simulations. Segmentation of the fuel cell on the test bench allows to determine the local distributions of current density and high frequency resistance over the active cell area. The location and timing of ice formation are analyzed in the experiments. It is shown that the formation of ice lenses can be detected by local measurements of the high frequency resistances. Then, a multiphysical CFD model is built and validated with the measurements and the commonalities and differences between the model results and the experiments are studied. It is shown that the model determines the freeze start behavior very well in wide operating ranges. Together with the findings from the experimental investigations, the model will finally be used to investigate local ice formation in detail.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/18/6534PEM fuel cellfrost start behaviorsegmented measurementsice formationhigh frequency resistancemeasurement and simulation
spellingShingle Maximilian Schmitz
Matthias Bahr
Sönke Gößling
Stefan Pischinger
Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods
Energies
PEM fuel cell
frost start behavior
segmented measurements
ice formation
high frequency resistance
measurement and simulation
title Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods
title_full Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods
title_fullStr Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods
title_short Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods
title_sort analysis of ice formation during start up of pem fuel cells at subzero temperatures using experimental and simulative methods
topic PEM fuel cell
frost start behavior
segmented measurements
ice formation
high frequency resistance
measurement and simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/18/6534
work_keys_str_mv AT maximilianschmitz analysisoficeformationduringstartupofpemfuelcellsatsubzerotemperaturesusingexperimentalandsimulativemethods
AT matthiasbahr analysisoficeformationduringstartupofpemfuelcellsatsubzerotemperaturesusingexperimentalandsimulativemethods
AT sonkegoßling analysisoficeformationduringstartupofpemfuelcellsatsubzerotemperaturesusingexperimentalandsimulativemethods
AT stefanpischinger analysisoficeformationduringstartupofpemfuelcellsatsubzerotemperaturesusingexperimentalandsimulativemethods