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By: Karthikeyan Subramanian, Parthiban Siva Gurunathan, and Venkatesh Kumar Velmurugan.
1-3 Fuel Cell Team Lead, Department of Advanced Engineering, Ashok leyland, Chennai, India
AbstractThe Low-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (LT-PEMFC) has gained prominence as a promising solution for clean and efficient energy generation, particularly in the automotive industry, where stringent emission norms and sustainability goals are driving innovation. LT-PEMFC systems offer several inherent advantages, including high energy conversion efficiency, low operational temperature, rapid start-up capability, and compatibility with hydrogen as a renewable fuel source. These characteristics make them attractive for commercial vehicle applications, where reliability and performance are critical. Despite these benefits, large-scale commercialization of LT-PEMFC technology remains challenging due to the complexity of system integration and cost considerations. The fuel cell stack must operate in conjunction with multiple Balance of Plant (BoP) components, such as air compressors, humidifiers, heat exchangers, and cooling circuits, which are essential for maintaining optimal operating conditions. Additionally, the selection of catalytic materials and membrane properties significantly influences electrochemical performance and durability. The interdependence of these subsystems often results in increased design complexity, higher manufacturing costs, and reliability concerns, limiting competitiveness against conventional internal combustion engines. To address these challenges, dynamic performance evaluation under realistic operating conditions is crucial. This study focuses on modeling and simulation of an LT-PEMFC system integrated with its BoP components using AVL CRUISE™ M, a widely adopted 1D simulation platform for automotive applications. The primary objective is to analyze system behavior and performance parameters to achieve a target power output of 45 kW, suitable for commercial vehicles. The simulation incorporates real-world duty cycles to evaluate transient responses, thermal management strategies, and hydrogen consumption patterns. The findings of this work aim to provide insights into improving system efficiency, reducing development time, and enhancing cost-effectiveness through virtual prototyping. Furthermore, the study highlights the role of advanced modeling techniques in accelerating LT-PEMFC adoption for sustainable transportation solutions, contributing to global efforts toward decarbonization and clean energy deployment.
Keywords: Fuel cell; PEM; Bop; Simulation; Stack area.
Citation:
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