A Fuel Cell Control System for Performance Improvement under Variable Atmospheric Pressure Conditions
Carlos Armenta-Déu
AI summary
70% confidenceA control unit is designed to improve PEMFC performance under variable atmospheric pressure conditions, resulting in an 8.5% improvement in fuel cell performance, a 7.8% increase in driving range, and a prolongation of fuel cell lifespan.
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- System
- MFC
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Abstract
This work focuses on designing a control unit for improving Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) performance powering electric vehicles when operating in variable atmospheric pressure conditions, a current situation in mountainous countries with sudden changes in road altitude. The paper studies and analyzes the PEM fuel cell behavior working with hydrogen supply from a pressurized tank and oxygen input from atmospheric air supply in journeys with continuous variation of road level due to the orography. The work proposes a control unit that regulates hydrogen and oxygen partial pressure to match each other, assuring correct fuel cell operation and improving performance. A simulation for a fuel cell powering a standard electric vehicle shows that fuel cell performance improves by 8.5%, enlarging the driving range by 7.8% and prolonging the fuel cell lifespan. The control unit is adaptive to all-electric vehicles powered by a PEM fuel cell. Although the simulation test runs for altitudes between sea level and 2000 m, it is valid for any altitude variation from sea level to 6000 meters, representing the practical totality of world roads.
Key findings
- PEMFC performance improves by 8.5% under variable atmospheric pressure conditions.
- Driving range increases by 7.8% with improved fuel cell performance.
- Fuel cell lifespan is prolonged with the proposed control unit.
Keywords
Identifiers
- Journal
- Recent Progress in Science and Engineering
- Year
- 2025