Performance Evaluation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Under Different Operating Conditions for Aircraft Applications

Abstract

under various operating conditions. The originality of this work lies in the detailed investigation of both single and dual parameter variations on system output power, conducted through a MATLAB/Simulink based model. The key parameters examined include temperature, pressure, relative humidity, and contact resistance, each systematically varied individually and in pairs within specified ranges. The isolated effects of each variable and parameter pair on fuel cell performance are thoroughly evaluated. The novelty of this study lies in the modeling approach, which significantly reduces experimental costs and time, while enabling the determination of optimal operating parameters. The results provide valuable guidance for identifying the optimal power region and corresponding operating parameters for PEMFC integration in aviation. This comprehensive analysis contributes to the advancement of fuel cell based aviation applications and the improvement of system design processes. Furthermore, a system-level assessment is conducted by integrating a simplified Balance of Plant (BoP) model, which quantifies parasitic loads and reveals their impact on net power and overall efficiency at the 250 W operating point. Quantitatively, at the 250 W operating point, the modeled gross stack efficiency is 54.96%, while inclusion of the BoP reduces the net system efficiency to 46.55%. This reduction arises from the combined effect of parasitic loads, predominantly the air compressor, along with the humidifier, cooling pump, fan, and power electronics.