PEMFC anode side system optimization studies

PEMFC systems are usually operated in dead-end mode with hydrogen recirculation and periodic purge. This enables high hydrogen utilization, but also makes the system prone to accumulation of inert gases, condensed water and fuel contaminants. Optimizing the anode balance of plant (BoP) and developing a control strategy to manage these drawbacks is essential to PEMFC system performance, life-time and cost. The most important parameters to optimize from the view of anode control strategy are: i) purging cycle to remove inert gases and excess water from the anode; and ii) anode gas recirculation rate to humidify inlet gas and reduce mass transfer losses. These parameters are always system dependent. In this work, a PEMFC test bench equipped with an on-line hydrogen concentration sensor has been built to facilitate different system level studies, with emphasis on anode side BoP and control strategy optimization. Some preliminary results needed for anode purge cycle optimization are presented