Improved polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems through failure mode analysis and incorporation of degradation into fuel cell hybrid power systems & control strategies

聚合物电解质膜燃料电池（PEM）有望在未来提供更高效、更清洁的能源。PEM燃料电池的独特之处在于其电解质由一层固体聚合物组成，这使得质子可以从一面传输到另一面。它基本上需要加湿的氢气和氧气（或空气）作为输入。它的工作温度比其他燃料电池低得多，因为膜本身的热性能所施加的限制，以及对水合膜的要求（即高于100摄氏度，水将不是液体）。 燃料电池在“寿命开始”时的性能是很好理解的，并且已经以许多不同的方式进行了建模。 然而，电力系统中最重要的两个考虑因素是可靠性和寿命，因此“寿命终止”时的性能很重要。 本研究的目的是建立一个质子交换膜燃料电池堆和系统的可靠性模型，并将失效模式与材料退化现象联系起来。可靠性分析可以被视为部件有效性总体研究的一部分，具体定义为部件在特定条件下运行时在给定时间内成功满足运行需求的概率。

The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEM) hold the promise of more energy efficient and cleaner power in the future. The PEM fuel cell is unique in that its electrolyte consists of a layer of solid polymer, which allows protons to be transmitted from one face to the other. It basically requires humidified hydrogen and oxygen (or air) as its inputs. It operates at a temperature much lower than other fuel cells because of the limitations imposed by the thermal properties of the membrane itself, and the requirement to hydrate the membrane (i.e. above 100 degrees C the water will not be a liquid). Fuel cell performance at the 'beginning of life' is well understood and has been modeled in a number of different manners. However, two of the most important considerations in an electrical power system are reliability and life, therefore performance at 'end-of-life' is of interest. The objective of this research is to develop a reliability model for a PEM fuel cell stack and system, and link the failure modes to material degradation phenomenon. Reliability analysis can be regarded as part of the overall study of component effectiveness, specifically defined as the probability that the component can successfully meet operational demand within a given time, when operated under specific conditions.