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Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
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Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D2: Electrochem: Batteries, Fuel Cells, Capacitors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 July 2023) | Viewed by 17228

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Tabbi Wilberforce

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering and Design, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
Interests: renewable energy systems; fuel cells and electrolysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fuel cells are energy-converting devices that generate electricity via an electrochemical process using fuel and oxygen. Water and heat are the by-product of the reaction, hence making this energy-generating medium environmentally friendly. There are several types of fuel cells, and each of them differs from one another based on the type of membrane used and their operating temperature. Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells are one of the types of fuel cells that are gaining much interest because of their suitability for the automotive industry; in particular, they have a number of portable and stationary applications. Cost remains a major setback for this technology, impeding their commercialization.

This Special Issue, therefore, invites novel contributions in terms of numerical and experimental research activities championed to accelerate the commercialization of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.

Research activities from material characterization of various components in the cell to experimental and numerical investigation aimed at improving the overall performance of the cell are highly welcomed in this Special Issue. Research and review articles are therefore invited in this Special Issue to meet the growing demand for the development of novel, sustainable and environmentally friendly—but less expensive—proton-exchange membrane fuel cells for automotive and stationary applications.

Dr. Tabbi Wilberforce
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • proton-exchange membrane fuel cells
  • material characterization
  • bipolar plate
  • membrane optimization

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4321 KiB  
Article
LCA of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Considering Different Power System Architectures
by Gianmarco Gottardo, Andrea Basso Peressut, Silvia Colnago, Saverio Latorrata, Luigi Piegari and Giovanni Dotelli
Energies 2023, 16(19), 6782; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16196782 - 23 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1516
Abstract
Fuel cell electric vehicles are a promising solution for reducing the environmental impacts of the automotive sector; however, there are still some key points to address in finding the most efficient and less impactful implementation of this technology. In this work, three electrical [...] Read more.
Fuel cell electric vehicles are a promising solution for reducing the environmental impacts of the automotive sector; however, there are still some key points to address in finding the most efficient and less impactful implementation of this technology. In this work, three electrical architectures of fuel cell electric vehicles were modeled and compared in terms of the environmental impacts of their manufacturing and use phases. The three architectures differ in terms of the number and position of the DC/DC converters connecting the battery and the fuel cell to the electric motor. The life cycle assessment methodology was employed to compute and compare the impacts of the three vehicles. A model of the production of the main components of vehicles and fuel cell stacks, as well as of the production of hydrogen fuel, was constructed, and the impacts were calculated using the program SimaPro. Eleven impact categories were considered when adopting the ReCiPe 2016 midpoint method, and the EF (adapted) method was exploited for a final comparison. The results highlighted the importance of the converters and their influence on fuel consumption, which was identified as the main factor in the comparison of the environmental impacts of the vehicle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)
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13 pages, 1693 KiB  
Article
Innovative Approaches to Enhance the Performance and Durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
by Ahmed G. Abokhalil, Mohammad Alobaid and Ahmed Al Makky
Energies 2023, 16(14), 5572; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145572 - 24 Jul 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2498
Abstract
PEMFCs, or proton exchange membrane fuel cells, have enormous potential for clean energy and environmentally friendly transportation. PEMFCs’ cost, performance, and durability, however, continue to be major obstacles to their mainstream deployment. This study examines recent developments in PEMFC technology with an emphasis [...] Read more.
PEMFCs, or proton exchange membrane fuel cells, have enormous potential for clean energy and environmentally friendly transportation. PEMFCs’ cost, performance, and durability, however, continue to be major obstacles to their mainstream deployment. This study examines recent developments in PEMFC technology with an emphasis on novel oxygen reduction reaction catalysts, creative flow field designs, methods for reducing degradation processes, and system-level optimization and integration. The results show that innovative studies in these fields have significantly increased the performance and longevity of PEMFCs while lowering expenses. For PEMFC technology to evolve further, be successfully implemented in a variety of applications, and contribute to a more sustainable future, more research and development must be put forward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)
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20 pages, 4716 KiB  
Article
Optimal Parameter Identification of a PEM Fuel Cell Using Recent Optimization Algorithms
by Hegazy Rezk, Tabbi Wilberforce, A. G. Olabi, Rania M. Ghoniem, Enas Taha Sayed and Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem
Energies 2023, 16(14), 5246; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145246 - 8 Jul 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2338
Abstract
The parameter identification of a PEMFC is the process of using optimization algorithms to determine the ideal unknown variables suitable for the development of an accurate fuel-cell-performance prediction model. These parameters are not always available from the manufacturer’s datasheet, so they need to [...] Read more.
The parameter identification of a PEMFC is the process of using optimization algorithms to determine the ideal unknown variables suitable for the development of an accurate fuel-cell-performance prediction model. These parameters are not always available from the manufacturer’s datasheet, so they need to be determined to accurately model and predict the fuel cell’s performance. Five optimization methods—bald eagle search (BES) algorithm, equilibrium optimizer (EO), coot (COOT) algorithm, antlion optimizer (ALO), and heap-based optimizer (HBO)—are used to compute seven unknown parameters of a PEMFC. During optimization, these seven parameters are used as decision variables, and the fitness function to be minimized is the sum square error (SSE) between the estimated cell voltage and the actual measured cell voltage. The SSE obtained for the BES algorithm was noted to be 0.035102. The COOT algorithm recorded an SSE of 0.04155, followed by ALO with an SSE of 0.04022 and HBO with an SSE of 0.056021. BES predicted the performance of the fuel cell accurately; hence, it is suitable for the development of a digital twin for fuel-cell applications and control systems for the automotive industry. Furthermore, it was deduced that the convergence speed for BES was faster compared to the other algorithms investigated. This study aims to use metaheuristic algorithms to predict fuel-cell performance for the development and commercialization of digital twins in the automotive industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)
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16 pages, 6333 KiB  
Article
Fuzzy Modelling and Optimization to Decide Optimal Parameters of the PEMFC
by Hegazy Rezk, Tabbi Wilberforce, A. G. Olabi, Rania M. Ghoniem, Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem and Enas Taha Sayed
Energies 2023, 16(12), 4743; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124743 - 15 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1035
Abstract
The main target is the maximization of the output power of PEM “proton exchange membrane” fuel cell via fuzzy modelling and optimization. In the beginning, using the experimental data, a robust fuzzy model is designed for simulating the PEM fuel cell using the [...] Read more.
The main target is the maximization of the output power of PEM “proton exchange membrane” fuel cell via fuzzy modelling and optimization. In the beginning, using the experimental data, a robust fuzzy model is designed for simulating the PEM fuel cell using the relative humidity (%) and stoichiometric ratio at the anode and cathode. Then, the artificial ecosystem optimiser (AEO) is applied to determine the best values of the controlling input parameters. During the optimization process, the four controlling input parameters of the PEMFC are used as the decision variables, whereas as the cost function is required to be at the maximum of the output power density of the PEMFC. For the fuzzy model of the power, the RMSE values are 1.5588 and 3.1906, respectively, for training and testing data. The coefficient of determination values are 0.9826 and 0.8743 for training and testing, respectively. This confirms a successful modelling phase. Finally, the integration between fuzzy and AEO boosted the power of the PEMFC from 57.95 W to 78.44 W (by around 35%). Under this optimal condition, the controlling input parameters values are 26.65%, 56.77%, 1.14, and 1.68, respectively, for anode relative humidity, cathode relative humidity, anode stoichiometric ratio and cathode stoichiometric ratio. The present study, however, intends to highlight the importance of fuzzy modelling and metaheuristic algorithms in the development of digital twins to accelerate the commercialization of fuel cells as well as its applicability in diverse global economic sectors where a higher power requirement is needed. It is also aimed at informing the fuel cell research community and policy makers on strategies that could be adopted in boosting fuel cell performance and therefore could be a good reference source in decision-making for fuel cell commercialization and its practical implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)
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17 pages, 7437 KiB  
Article
Experimental Analysis of Catalyst Layer Operation in a High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
by Andrea Baricci and Andrea Casalegno
Energies 2023, 16(12), 4671; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124671 - 12 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1879
Abstract
High-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) directly convert hydrogen and oxygen to produce electric power at a temperature significantly higher than conventional low-temperature fuel cells. This achievement is due to the use of a phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole membrane that can safely operate [...] Read more.
High-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) directly convert hydrogen and oxygen to produce electric power at a temperature significantly higher than conventional low-temperature fuel cells. This achievement is due to the use of a phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole membrane that can safely operate up to 200 °C. PBI-based HT-PEMFCs suffer severe performance limitations, despite the expectation that a higher operating temperature should positively impact both fuel cell efficiency and power density, e.g., improved ORR electrocatalyst activity or absence of liquid water flooding. These limitations must be overcome to comply with the requirements in mobility and stationary applications. In this work a systematic analysis of an HT-PEMFC is performed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), aiming to individuate the contributions of components, isolate physical phenomena, and understand the role of the operating conditions. The EIS analysis indicates that increases in both the charge transfer and mass transport impedances in the spectrum are negatively impacted by air humidification and consistently introduce a loss in performance. These findings suggest that water vapor reduces phosphoric acid density, which in turn leads to liquid flooding of the catalyst layers and increases the poisoning of the electrocatalyst by phosphoric acid anions, thus hindering performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)
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21 pages, 7330 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Multiple Degradation Mechanisms of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell under Dynamic Operation
by Huu Linh Nguyen, Jaesu Han, Hoang Nghia Vu and Sangseok Yu
Energies 2022, 15(24), 9574; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249574 - 16 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2257
Abstract
In this paper, a new voltage aging model for the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which includes multiple degradation mechanisms for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, is proposed. The model parameters are identified using a curve-fitting procedure based on long-term experimental data [...] Read more.
In this paper, a new voltage aging model for the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which includes multiple degradation mechanisms for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, is proposed. The model parameters are identified using a curve-fitting procedure based on long-term experimental data for the modular stack under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). A good fit was found between the model and experimental data, with R-squared values greater than 0.99 for all simulation cases. Moreover, according to the model sensitivity analysis, the voltage degradation model is most sensitive to load current, followed by time. The effect of operating temperature on performance, voltage degradation, and lifetime is investigated. After 300 h, significant performance loss was detected. When the temperature is raised to 75 °C, voltage degradation becomes worse. Based on the simulated voltage degradation profiles at 55 °C and 75 °C, PEMFCs have reached the end of their useful lives at 1100 h and 600 h, respectively. The simulation model indicates that the model is capable of forecasting how long the fuel cell will last under specified operational conditions and drive cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)
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Review

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32 pages, 8059 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review of Degradation Prediction Methods for an Automotive Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
by Huu-Linh Nguyen, Sang-Min Lee and Sangseok Yu
Energies 2023, 16(12), 4772; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124772 - 16 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4823
Abstract
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are an alternative power source for automobiles that are capable of being cleaner and emission-free. As of yet, long-term durability is a core issue to be resolved for the mass production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that [...] Read more.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are an alternative power source for automobiles that are capable of being cleaner and emission-free. As of yet, long-term durability is a core issue to be resolved for the mass production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that requires varied research in the range from sustainable materials to the optimal operating strategy. The capacity to accurately estimate performance degradation is critical for developing reliable and durable PEMFCs. This review investigates various PEMFC performance degradation modeling techniques, such as model-based, data-driven, and hybrid models. The pros and cons of each approach are explored, as well as the challenges in adequately predicting performance degradation. Physics-based models are capable of simulating the physical and electrochemical processes which occur in fuel cell components. However, these models tend to be computationally demanding and can vary in terms of parameters between different studies. On the other hand, data-driven models provide rapid and accurate predictions based on historical data, but they may struggle to generalize effectively to new operating conditions or scenarios. Hybrid prediction approaches combine the strengths of both types of models, offering improved accuracy but also introducing increased computational complexity to the calculations. The review closes with recommendations for future research in this area, highlighting the need for more extensive and accurate prediction models to increase the reliability and durability of PEMFCs for fuel cell electric vehicles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell)
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