Low-temperature characteristics and optimization of the proton exchange membrane fuel cells with anode ejector

Abstract

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are regarded as the ideal power source for electric vehicles due to their high energy density and environmental friendliness. However, the anode injectors commonly used in PEMFCs may not perform optimally in low-temperature operating environments. Through in-depth analysis of structure and performance, we have established an accurate anode injector model for low-temperature operating conditions. This model has detailed the characteristics of low-temperature water vapor liquefaction within the anode injector and validated its impact on the fuel cell system through low-temperature testing. Based on these findings, we propose a control strategy for fuel cells under low-temperature conditions, which not only increases the voltage of individual cells by 33 mV and the overall voltage by 7 V but also significantly enhances the overall performance of the fuel cell (by 4.53%), thereby greatly improving the efficiency of energy conversion and utilization.