Optimizing Hydrogen Recirculation Systems for Fuel Cells: A Study of Pump-Ejector Coupling
Key Ideas
  • Proton exchange membrane fuel cells offer zero emissions, high efficiency, and fast start-up, making them ideal for automotive and various industries.
  • Hydrogen recirculation systems play a crucial role in enhancing electrochemical reactions within fuel cell stacks for efficient operation.
  • Roots pumps are proposed as advantageous alternatives to hydrogen pumps in recirculation systems, offering high efficiency and compact size.
  • The coupling of hydrogen pumps and ejectors is a promising trend in high-power fuel cell systems, aiming to simplify designs, broaden power ranges, and lower costs.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are being extensively researched for their zero emissions, high energy efficiency, and quick startup benefits, especially in the automotive sector. Hydrogen recirculation systems are pivotal in improving the electrochemical reactions within these fuel cells, with components like hydrogen pumps and ejectors playing crucial roles. While hydrogen pumps regulate flow rates but introduce parasitic power, ejectors provide specialized compression without power consumption, each suitable for different power levels. Roots pumps have emerged as more efficient alternatives to hydrogen pumps, especially in managing lower pressure rises. Various research works have focused on optimizing Roots pumps and proposing control methods for hydrogen recirculation systems to enhance overall performance. The coupling of hydrogen pumps and ejectors has gained traction due to its potential to simplify systems, increase power ranges, and reduce costs. By studying different coupling modes and conducting simulations, researchers aim to improve system economy and energy conversion efficiency. This study contributes to selecting and designing optimal recirculation systems for high-power fuel cells, ultimately advancing hydrogen technology in various industries.
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