Abstract
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) of heavy-duty truck is operated in very harsh conditions, but it requires more longevity than a passenger vehicle. The current durability strategy for vehicular fuel cells is geared towards passenger vehicles, hence this study employs response surface analysis to develop a durability strategy for heavy-duty fuel cell trucks. The study uses a physics-based model to predict the degradation of PEMFC under truck operation mode. The model is validated using experimental data from a 20-cell PEMFC stack, which is operated for 2000 hours under the world harmonized vehicle cycle (WHVC) mode. The study employs a response surface method (RSM) to select the power output and degradation rate as object functions. Results indicated that as the operating temperature increases, the power output increases, but the degradation is accelerated. By contrast, increasing gas inlet temperature decreases power output and degradation rate. Higher relative humidity at the cathode and anode leads to increase fuel cell and lower voltage degradation. Therefore, the optimal operating conditions for the fuel cell to minimize voltage degradation are high levels of humidity, moderate cell temperatures, and moderate gas inlet temperatures. The study suggests that the optimal operating conditions are anode and cathode relative humidity of 100%, a fuel cell temperature of 61°C, and a gas inlet temperature of 57°C.
