Design and evaluation of dual passive hydrogen recovery subsystem for 10 kW PEMFC

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2024-02, Vol.54, p.483-490
• Main Authors: Huang, Pei-Hsing, Kuo, Jenn-Kun, Wu, Cheng-Bi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Passive hydrogen recovery; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Three-way valve; Vacuum ejector
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.01.337

Many active hydrogen recovery systems have been proposed for medium-to-large scale proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, relatively few passive solutions for hydrogen recovery in PEMFC systems of such size are available. Accordingly, the present study proposes a novel passive hydrogen recovery system incorporating two vacuum ejectors (one high-flow rate and one low-flow rate) for a 10 kW PEMFC. MATLAB/Simulink models are constructed of the PEMFC system and all its major components. The validity of the simulation model is confirmed via a comparison with the experimental data reported in the literature. Further simulations are then performed to investigate the effects of the fuel stack active area and working temperature on the hydrogen recirculation performance and hydrogen stoichiometric ratio. Overall, the results show that the proposed dual vacuum ejector system increases the fuel cell efficiency to 52.16% and maintains the average fuel cell efficiency at 52.12%. •Under a high flow rate of the secondary hydrogen gas stream, the recovery ratio increases with a lower active area of the PEMFC.•Hydrogen stoichiometric ratio both increase with an increasing temperature of the primary flow working fluid.•The dual passive hydrogen recovery system results in a maximum system efficiency of 52.16%.