Modelling Analysis of MEA Dynamic Operation Under Real-World Automotive Driving Cycle
Authors: Grimaldi Amedeo , Verducci Francesco , Colombo Elena , Casalegno Andrea , Baricci Andrea 
Published: February 2024

In last years, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) have received an increasing interest as a candidate for light and heavy-duty vehicle application1. To guarantee an efficient and durable operation of PEMFC, the understanding of local conditions, experienced by MEA, during dynamic operation is highly important. Effective numerical modelling can help to gain insights on the local heterogeneity linked to water and thermal management of the cell.

A 1 + 1D multiphase dynamic non isothermal PEMFC model, implemented into MATLAB Simulink environment, was used to investigate experimental data obtained on a segmented cell hardware 2. Particular attention was paid to properly model the mass transport and kinetic related phenomena in catalyst layer(CL), as the local oxygen transport resistance through the ionomer thin film3 and the platinum oxide formation/reduction reaction, and their mutual interaction. Exploiting experimental data, obtained from tests on the segmented cell hardware, it was possible to give a robust validation to the 1+1D model, both at global and local level, thanks to the spatially-resolved information available. By simulating real-world driving cycle (DLC) protocol, developed within the ID-FAST project4, drying-up periods of ionomer contained in catalyst layers and in membrane, as well as flooding periods of porous layers and channels, were identified and analyzed during low-load and high-load operation.

The performance model was coupled with a catalyst durability model, such to investigate the effect of ageing on dynamic performance of PEMFC. An innovative semi-empirical electrochemical surface area (ECSA) loss model was developed, based on the platinum dissolution mechanism, and validated initially on accelerated stress tests on different operating conditions5. The simulated load profile and local operating conditions in CLs were processed by a proper algorithm, to convert a driving cycle into a combination of elementary steps and to associate a loss factor for the ECSA to each of the identified elements, thus to estimate the retained local and global ECSA. Exploiting experimental database made up of 1000 operating hours performing ID-FAST DLC, the effect of local operating conditions on PEMFC degradation and performance was furtherly comprehended, focusing mainly on the effect of reactant humidification. The developed model framework succeeded in estimating performance loss during driving cycle operation, as visible in Figure 1(a-b). Simulated and experimental ECSA decay over time is shown in Figure 1(c), demonstrating good model prediction capability. The obtained results showed the potentiality of the model to capture complex two-phase and non-isothermal transport phenomena both in the along channel and through-MEA direction, consistently with a large set of experimental data.

Experimental data on single cell were collected under ID-FAST project (Grant Agreement No 779565, Joint Undertaking, EU Horizon 2020).

References

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F. Wilhelm et al., ID-FAST -D4.3 – Analysis of coupling between mechanisms and definition of combined ASTs, p. 49, (2021) https://www.id-fast.eu/uploads/media/ID-FAST_D4-3_Analysis_of_coupling_between_mechanisms_and_definition_of_combined_ASTs_OK.pdf.

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Figure 1