Fuel cell flooding diagnosis based on time-constant spectrum analysis. (5th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Génevé, Thomas; Régnier, Jérémi; Turpin, Christophe
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 41:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 516
• Page End: 523
• Publication Date: 2016-01-05
• Subjects: Fuel cell -- Diagnosis -- Current step -- Time-constant spectrum -- Flooding; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.10.089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell is a key component for the exploitation of hydrogen energy. Its diagnosis relies on several in-situ diagnosis tools. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is a major one. But this technic has some drawbacks, among which the complexity of the required equipment and the measurement time. An alternative method for diagnosis is developed in this work. A time-constant spectrum (or relaxation-time distribution) is extracted from the fuel cell voltage response to small current steps. This spectrum can be read as a distribution of series RC cell representing, such as an impedance spectrum, the whole dynamic of the voltage response to a given current excitation. In order to demonstrate the ability of the method to diagnose flooding, different simulations of voltage responses are first performed using appropriated parameters' variations in a fuel cell model. The resulting time-constant spectrums are analyzed to underline the sensitivity to the flooding effect. Then, experiments are achieved to confirm the potentiality of this technic to diagnose flooding. Highlights: Current steps are applied on a PEM fuel cell. A time-constant spectrum is extracted from the voltage response. Flooding can be diagnosed thanks to the evolution of this spectrum.