Accelerated Stress Tests Oriented Load Profile for PEM Fuel Cells Durability in Automotive Applications

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) appear nowadays to be promising devices to face energy transition challenges in automotive applications. Nevertheless, the impact of the dynamic operations on their durability represents the main constraint for FC electric vehicles (FCEV) deployment. As a consequence, research and industry mainly focus on the ageing characterization of stack components, aiming at system lifetime prediction and enhancement. In this framework, to reduce test duration and costs, developing suited accelerated stress test (AST) procedures is the main challenge. To this purpose a new procedure able to accelerate the real ageing induced by driving cycle operations is investigated. In this paper the effects of load variations and start and stop conditions are presented. The aim of this work is to observe the lifetime dependence on load profile amplitude and frequency (dynamics) in order to deduce basic rules to develop ad-hoc AST procedures. The presented methodology is based on mixed load cycling and on produced energy conservation.

[1]  P. Pei,et al.  A quick evaluating method for automotive fuel cell lifetime , 2008 .

[2]  Noureddine Zerhouni,et al.  Long-term tests duration reduction for PEMFC μ-CHP application , 2017 .

[3]  Jun Shen,et al.  A review of PEM fuel cell durability: Degradation mechanisms and mitigation strategies , 2008 .

[4]  R. Gouriveau,et al.  Fuel Cells Remaining Useful Lifetime Forecasting Using Echo State Network , 2014, 2014 IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference (VPPC).

[5]  Huicui Chen,et al.  Lifetime prediction and the economic lifetime of Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells , 2015 .

[6]  R. Borup.  Scientific Aspects of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Durability and Degradation , 2007 .

[7]  Bing Li,et al.  Investigation of dynamic driving cycle effect on performance degradation and micro-structure change of PEM fuel cell , 2009 .

[8]  B. Wahdame,et al.  Comparison between two PEM fuel cell durability tests performed at constant current and under solicitations linked to transport mission profile , 2007 .

[9]  Linda Barelli,et al.  Optimization of a PEMFC/battery pack power system for a bus application , 2012 .

[10]  Xu Sichuan,et al.  The characteristics of voltage degradation of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell under a road operating environment , 2014 .

[11]  Daniel Hissel,et al.  Accelerated stress test procedures for PEM fuel cells under actual load constraints: State-of-art and proposals , 2015 .

[12]  F. de Bruijn,et al.  Review: Durability and Degradation Issues of PEM Fuel Cell Components , 2008 .

[13]  A. Sasmito,et al.  Investigation of the purging effect on a dead-end anode PEM fuel cell-powered vehicle during segments of a European driving cycle , 2015 .

[14]  A. Vahidi,et al.  A review of the main parameters influencing long-term performance and durability of PEM fuel cells , 2008 .

[15]  D. Candusso,et al.  PEMFC Durability Test under Specific Dynamic Current Solicitation, Linked to a Vehicle Road Cycle , 2007 .

[16]  Andrea Casalegno,et al.  Experimental investigation on DMFC temporary degradation , 2014 .