Work

Cold start performance analysis of PEMFC with different assisted heating strategies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A three-dimensional, transient, multiphase flow cold-start model is established to investigate the effects of different assisted heating strategies on the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) at low-temperature conditions. The time variations of ice volume fraction and temperature distribution of catalyst layer and their influences on the cold-start performance are discussed in detail, under the coolant-assisted heating strategy, air-assisted heating strategy and the combination of two strategies at -20℃. The results show that coolant-assisted heating strategy plays a major role in the successful cold-starting of the PEMFC from -20℃. Coolant flow rate mainly affects the consistency of the cell temperature. Air-assisted heating strategy has a relatively limited effect on the success of PEMFC cold starting from -20°C, but the combination of two strategies reduces the cold-start time significantly compared with coolant-assisted heating strategy, because the characteristic of ionomer within proton exchange membrane is nonlinear with the change of temperature. Based on coolant-assisted heating strategy, fuel cell temperature is already relatively high, at this moment the heat brought by the air although not much makes the fuel cell temperature rise slightly, which can effectively improve the water storage capacity of the ionomer and therefore significantly improves the cold-start performance of PEMFC.

Source: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.csite.2025.106178

Authors: Wenhao Li, Jianjun Yang, Changqing Du, Jie Zhao, Qianqian Xin, Fuwu Yan

Institution: Wuhan University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Fuel Cells and Related Materials

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,620