Multi‐stack fuel cell efficiency enhancement based on thermal management. Issue 1 (1st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohamed Ramadan, Haitham Saad; de Bortoli, Quentin; Becherif, Mohamed; Claude, Frederic
• Is Part Of: IET electrical systems in transportation. Volume 7:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 73
• Publication Date: 2017-03-01
• Subjects: fuel cell vehicles -- thermal management (packaging) -- energy conservation -- automotive engineering -- power engineering computing; multistack fuel cell efficiency enhancement -- novel thermal management technique -- expected fossil fuel depletion -- emitted pollutants -- combustion -- fuel cell vehicle -- sustainable transportation -- technological constraints -- technical barriers -- electric vehicles -- start‐up time minimisation -- heating problem -- cooling problem -- cycling problem -- MTCSim software; Electric vehicles -- Periodicals; Electricity in transportation -- Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-est.2016.0027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-9738

Abstract

Abstract : Automotive manufacturers face serious difficulties concerning the expected fossil fuel depletion and the emitted pollutants during combustion. The fuel cell (FC) vehicle is considered a promising solution for greener and sustainable transportation. The integration of FC in vehicles is limited by some technological constraints and technical barriers which can be partially met by splitting the power and energy into different 'downsized' FCs named multi‐stack FCs. This study aims at proposing a multi‐stack FC configuration for electric vehicles (EVs) to minimise its start‐up time, heating/cooling and cycling problems. To properly reach such desired operating conditions, a novel thermal management technique is proposed. Using the modularity provided by multi‐stack solution, each FC is activated depending on the FCs temperature and the required vehicle power. Simulation results, using MTCSim © software, demonstrate the capability of the proposed thermal management approach to effectively enhance the EV's multi‐stack FC's life span, cycling and efficiency, besides optimising its operation performance.