Fuel Cell

Fuel cell electrical system

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Libraries:
Simscape / Electrical / Sources

Description

The Fuel Cell block models a fuel cell that converts the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy.

This chemical reaction defines the electrical conversion:

$$H_2+\frac{1}{2}{O}_2\to H_{2}O+heat$$

which occurs due to these anode and cathode half-reactions:

$$\begin{array}{l}{H}_2\to 2H^{+}+2e^{-}\\ \frac{1}{2}{O}_2+2H^{+}+2e^{-}\to H_{2}O\end{array}$$

A fuel cell stack comprises several series-connected fuel cells. This figure shows the equivalent circuit of a single fuel cell that this block uses

where:

• V_FC is the cell voltage.

• R_i is the Nominal internal resistance.

• R_d is the Sum of activation and concentration resistances.

• C_dl is the parallel RC capacitance that accounts for time dynamics in the cell.

Equations

You can use the Model fidelity parameter to set the Fuel Cell block to two different levels of fidelity:

• Simplified - nominal conditions — The block calculates the Nernst voltage at the nominal condition of temperature and pressure.

• Detailed with physical inputs — The block calculates the Nernst voltage by considering the pressures and flow rates of fuel and air.

Simplified Electrical Model

When Model fidelity is set to Simplified - nominal conditions, the Fuel Cell block calculates the Nernst voltage, E, at the nominal condition of temperature and pressure, as defined by these equations:

$$\begin{array}{l}E=E_{oc}-NAln\left(\frac{i_{FC}}{i_0}\right)-R_i{i}_{FC}-v_d\\ v_{FC}=N_{unit}E\\ \frac{1}{R_d}\left(\tau \frac{d{v}_d}{dt}+v_d\right)=i_{FC}\end{array}$$

where:

• E_oc is the Nominal open-circuit voltage.

• N is the Number of cells per stack.

• i_FC is the current that the fuel cell generates.

• v_FC is the voltage across the fuel cell terminals.

• N_unit is the Number of stacks in module (series).

• v_d is the voltage drop that accounts for fuel cell dynamics.

• A is the Tafel slope, in volts.

• i₀ is the Exchange current.

• $$\tau =R_d{C}_{dl}$$.

Detailed Electrical Model

When Model fidelity is set to Detailed with physical inputs, the Fuel Cell block calculates the Nernst voltage, E, by considering the pressures and flow rates of fuel and air.

These equations determine the rates of utilization of hydrogen, U_H2, and oxygen, U_O2

$$\begin{array}{l}{U}_{H_2}=\frac{N{i}_{FC}RT}{2F\cdot p_{fuel}{q}_{fuel}{x}_{H_2}}\\ U_{O_2}=\frac{N{i}_{FC}R{T}_e}{4F\cdot p_{air}{q}_{air}{x}_{O_2}}\end{array}$$

where:

• N is the Number of cells per stack.

• i_FC is the current that the fuel cell generates.

• R is the universal gas constant.

• T is the operating temperature of the fuel cell.

• F is the Faraday's constant.

• p_fuel is the supply pressure of the fuel, in bar.

• q_fuel is the fuel flow rate.

• x_H2 is the concentration of hydrogen in the fuel, in percent.

• p_air is the supply pressure of air, in bar.

• q_air is the air flow rate.

• x_O2 is the concentration of oxygen in the air, in percent.

These equations define the partial pressures:

$$\begin{array}{l}{p}_{H_2}=p_{fuel}{x}_{H_2}\left(1-\frac{U_{H_2}}{2}\right)\\ p_{O_2}=p_{air}{x}_{O_2}\left(1-\frac{U_{O_2}}{2}\right)\\ p_{H_{2}O}=p_{air}{x}_{H_{2}O}\left(1+U_{O_2}\right)\end{array}$$

where x_H2O is the concentration of vapor in air, in percent.

Then, the block computes the fuel cell voltage as

$$E=\left\{\begin{array}{cc}N\left(E_0+\frac{RT}{2F}\ln \left(p_{H_2}{p}_{O_2}{}^{\frac{1}{2}}\right)\right)-E_{\text{Tafel}}-E_{\text{conc}}-i_{FC}{R}_{i,}& \text{when T < 373}\text{.15 K}\\ N\left(E_0+\frac{RT}{2F}\ln \left(\frac{p_{H_2}{p}_{O_2}{}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{p_{H_{2}O}}\right)\right)-E_{\text{Tafel}}-E_{\text{conc}}-i_{FC}{R}_{i,}& \text{when T }\ge \text{ 373}\text{.15 K}\end{array}\right\}$$

where:

• $$E_0=\left\{\begin{array}{cc}\frac{E_{oc}}{N}-\frac{R{T}_{\text{nom}}}{2F}\ln \left(\left(x_{H_2}{p}_{n{H}_2}\right){\left(x_{O_2}{p}_{n{O}_2}\right)}^{\frac{1}{2}}\right),& {\text{when T}}_{\text{nom}}<373.15K\\ \frac{E_{oc}}{N}-\frac{R{T}_{\text{nom}}}{2F}\ln \left(\frac{\left(x_{H_2}{p}_{n{H}_2}\right){\left(x_{O_2}{p}_{n{O}_2}\right)}^{\frac{1}{2}}}{x_{H_{2}O}{p}_{n{O}_2}}\right),& {\text{when T}}_{\text{nom}}\ge 373.15K\end{array}\right\}$$.

• $$E_{Tafel}=N{A}_{T}ln\left(\frac{i_{FC}}{i_0}\right)$$ is the electrokinetic term for the activation.

• $$A_T=A\frac{T}{T_{\text{nom}}}$$ is the Tafel slope as a function of the temperature.

• T is the operating temperature of the fuel cell.

• T_nom is the value of the Nominal temperature parameter.

• $$E_{conc}=N\frac{RT}{2F}\ln \left(\frac{i_{lim}}{i_{lim}-i_{FC}}\right)$$ is the electrokinetic term for the concentration.

• F is the Faraday constant.

• R is the universal gas constant.

• p_nH2 is the nominal hydrogen pressure, in bar.

• p_nO2 is the nominal oxygen pressure, in bar.

• i_lim is the minimum value between:

  • The value of the Collapse current parameter.

  • The maximum current possible with the fuel flowrate q_fuel: $$i_{\text{max,Fuel}}=\frac{2F\cdot p_{\text{fuel}}{q}_{\text{fuel}}{x}_{H_2}}{NRT}.$$

  • The maximum current possible with the air flowrate q_air: $$i_{\text{max,Air}}=\frac{4F\cdot p_{\text{air}}{q}_{\text{air}}{x}_{O_2}}{NRT}.$$

The block computes the power dissipated, or the heat released in the fuel cell, by using this equation:

$$P_{\text{dissipated}}=N_{unit}\left(i_{FC}\left(E_{\text{Tafel}}+E_{\text{conc}}+i_{FC}{R}_i\right)+\frac{v_d^2}{R_d}\right).$$

Variables

To set the priority and initial target values for the block variables before simulation, use the Initial Targets section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see Set Priority and Initial Target for Block Variables.

Use nominal values to specify the expected magnitude of a variable in a model. Using system scaling based on nominal values increases the simulation robustness. Nominal values can come from different sources. One of these sources is the Nominal Values section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see System Scaling by Nominal Values.

Examples

Analyze Fuel Cell Performance

A Fuel Cell block with nominal parameters that operates at constant voltage and varying fuel flow rates at different hydrogen pressures. The power delivered varies as a function of the hydrogen pressure.

• Open Model

Validate Fuel Cell I-V Characteristic

This model represents a harness for the validation of fuel cell (FC) parameters. This example extracts I-V and power characteristic curves from the model at controlled conditions and compares them to a datasheet. The datasheet also contains specific properties such as the stack size, limiting current, and the flow rates of hydrogen and air.

• Open Model

Limitations

The Fuel Cell block does not allow electrolysis.

Ports

Input

pfuel — Supply absolute pressure of fuel, bar

physical signal

Physical signal port associated with the supply absolute pressure of the fuel, in bar, specified as a physical signal.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

pair — Supply gauge pressure of air, bar

physical signal

Physical signal port associated with the supply gauge pressure of air, in bar, specified as a physical signal.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

qfuel — Fuel flow rate, l/min

physical signal

Physical signal port associated with the fuel flow rate, specified as a physical signal.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

qair — Air flow rate, l/min

physical signal

Physical signal port associated with the air flow rate, specified as a physical signal.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Conserving

+ — Positive terminal

electrical

Electrical conserving port associated with the fuel cell positive terminal.

- — Negative terminal

electrical

Electrical conserving port associated with the fuel cell negative terminal.

H — Thermal port

thermal

Thermal conserving port.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Parameters

Main

Model fidelity — Fuel cell fidelity

Detailed with physical inputs (default) | Simplified - nominal conditions

Level of fidelity of the fuel cell model.

Nominal open-circuit voltage — Nominal open-circuit voltage

65 V (default) | positive scalar

Nominal open-circuit voltage.

When the amount of flow is very low or close to zero and the values of the fuel and air pressures are equal to their nominal values, the output voltage of the fuel cell is equal to the nominal open-circuit voltage multiplied by the number of module units. The current that flows out of the fuel cell is negligible. This figure shows how to set the open-circuit test:

Tafel slope — Tafel slope

0.024 V (default) | positive scalar

Amount of overpotential required to increase the reaction rate by a factor ten.

Nominal internal resistance — Nominal internal resistance

0.078 Ohm (default) | positive scalar

Nominal internal resistance.

Exchange current — Exchange current

0.3 A (default) | positive scalar

Exchange current at the nominal temperature.

At the nominal exchange current, the fuel cell leaves the region of activation polarization and enters the region of ohmic polarization.

Collapse current — Collapse current

225 A (default) | positive scalar

Value of current at which the fuel cell voltage becomes zero. As the fuel cell enters the region of concentration polarization and the current continues to increase, the voltage starts decreasing at a faster rate.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Number of cells per stack — Number of cells per stack

65 (default) | positive scalar

Number of cells per stack.

The cell count value in this block is consistent with the fuel cell delivering its maximum output power for specified set points of flow and H2 pressure.

Number of stacks in module (series) — Stack of module units in series

10 (default) | positive scalar

Stack of module units in series.

Stack module in series to scale up voltage. For example, 10 module units in series with an open-circuit voltage of 65 V deliver a voltage of 650V.

Supply

To enable these parameters, in the Main tab, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Nominal H2 pressure — Nominal hydrogen pressure

1.5e5 Pa (default) | positive scalar

Hydrogen gauge pressure at nominal temperature.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Nominal O2 pressure — Nominal oxygen pressure

1.0e5 Pa (default) | positive scalar

Oxygen gauge pressure at nominal temperature.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Concentration H2 in fuel (%) — Hydrogen concentration in fuel

99 (default) | integer between 0 and 100

Molar fraction concentration of hydrogen in fuel, in percent.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Concentration O2 in air (%) — Oxygen concentration in fuel

21 (default) | integer between 0 and 100

Molar fraction concentration of oxygen in fuel, in percent.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Concentration vapor in air (%) — Vapor concentration in air

1 (default) | integer between 0 and 100

Molar fraction concentration of vapor in air, in percent.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Dynamics

Model activation delay — Activation delay modeling option

No (default) | Yes

Whether to model the activation delay of the fuel cell.

Sum of dynamic resistances — Sum of activation and concentration resistance

0.005 Ohm (default) | positive scalar

Sum of the activation resistance and concentration resistance.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model activation delay to Yes.

Time constant — Time constant

10 s (default) | positive scalar

Time constant.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model activation delay to Yes.

Thermal

To enable these parameters, in the Main tab, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Nominal temperature — Nominal temperature

338.15 K (default) | scalar

Temperature at which the nominal parameters are measured.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

Thermal mass — Thermal mass associated with thermal port H

30000 J/K (default) | positive scalar

Thermal mass associated with the thermal port, H. This value represents the energy required to raise the temperature of the thermal port by one degree.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Model fidelity to Detailed with physical inputs.

References

[1] Do, T.C., et al. “Energy Management Strategy of a PEM Fuel Cell Excavator with a Supercapacitor/Battery Hybrid Power Source”. Energies 12, no. 22, (November 2019). DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.3390/en13010136.

[2] Motapon, Souleman N., O. Tremblay and L. Dessaint, “A generic fuel cell model for the simulation of fuel cell vehicles.” 2009 IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference, Dearborn, MI, 2009, pp. 1722-1729, doi: 10.1109/VPPC.2009.5289692

[3] Hirschenhofer, J. H.,, D.B. Stauffer, R.R. Engleman, and M.G. Klett. Fuel Cell Handbook (4th Ed). U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy, 1988.

[4] Larminie, James, and Andrew Dicks. Fuel Cell Systems Explained. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd,., 2003. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118878330.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2021a