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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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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Series: | Energies |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:49:46Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-f6bc31956ed44828b8bb1f0e4d020929 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1996-1073 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:49:46Z |
publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Energies |
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 |
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