Development and testing of a PEM fuel cell stack envisioning unmanned aerial vehicles applications

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Rui Ferreira (Author) FEUP; Diogo Santos (Author) FEUP; Alexandra M. F. R. Pinto (Author) FEUP; Daniela Falcão (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Vol. 51 No. Part D

Pages: 1345-1353

ISSN: 0360-3199

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Y-H29

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.05.090

Abstract (EN): This work deals with a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Its performance and the effects of operating conditions are investigated. The 3-cell stack, each with 25 cm2 active area, has an open-cathode and a dead-end anode. It is cooled by the air supply fan and humidified by short-circuits. The stack power reaches 21 W at 15 A. Its individual cell voltages are similar up to 7.5 A but deviate as the current increases. The stack temperature rises with current, reaching close to 45 degrees C. Fan speed regulation should mainly target temperature control, as little effect on the stack power was found. Higher short-circuit duration and frequency improves the stack performance. Increasing H2 purge duration shows no significant effect. Increasing the interval between purges above a certain value causes the stack performance to decline. Below that, changing the purge interval has no effect. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9