• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.401-410
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• 2019

The operating conditions greatly impact the efficiency and performance of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems and must be properly managed to ensure better performance and efficiency. In particular, small variations in operating conditions interact with each other and affect the performance and efficiency of PEM fuel cell systems. Thus, a systematic study is needed to understand how small changes in operating conditions affect the system performance and efficiency. In this paper, an automotive fuel cell system (including cell stack and balance of plant [BOP]) with a turbo-blower was modeled using MATLAB/Simulink platform and the sensitivity analyses of main operating parameters were performed using the developed system model. Effects of small variations in four main parameters (stack temperature, cathode air stoichiometry, cathode pressure, and cathode relative humidity) on the system efficiency were investigated. The results show that cathode pressure has the greatest potential impact on the sensitivity of fuel cell system efficiency. It is expected that this study can be used as a basic guidance to understand the importance of achieving accurate control of the fuel cell operating conditions for the robust operation of automotive PEM fuel cell systems.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2017

Temperature and humidity regulations of an open-cathode PEM fuel cell with balance of plant (BOP) are developed in this study. The axial fan, a bubble humidifier, set of solenoid valves and a controller are used to perform temperature and humidity control simultaneously. A fuzzy controller is designed, and it shows its superiority in real-time controlling for strong non-linear dynamical fuel cell system. The axial fan speed is used for temperature control and solenoid valve on/off signal of the bubble humidifier is used for humidity control. The axial fan speed is controlled to keep the fuel cell temperature within the desired point. Meanwhile, the bubble humidifier is utilized to moisture hydrogen to manage the water content of membrane. The results show that the proposed fuzzy controller effectively increases the output power of 10% for a PEM fuel cell.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.504-511
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• 2018

In Lithuania, all spent nuclear fuel (SNF) resulted from the operation of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP), which had two Russian Acronym for "Channelized Large Power Reactor"-type reactors. After the final shutdown, the total amount of SNF at the INPP was approximately 22,000 fuel assemblies. All these assemblies will be stored for about 50 years and disposed of after that. The decision to shut down and decommission both reactors in Lithuania before termination of design period raises a significant challenge for the treatment of accumulated SNF. Therefore, various techniques and technologies for SNF management were developed and justified for that specific case, and a set of special equipment was installed at the INPP, the effectiveness of which was demonstrated during its operation. This article presents unique techniques related to the management of SNF adopted and commissioned at the INPP after its operation shutdown, namely fuel rod cladding leak tightness control system and special equipment for collection of possible spillage during handling of SNF assembly in the hot cell. The operational experience and measurement results of fuel rod cladding leak tightness control system are presented.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.5-14
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• 2008

The target for the reduction of $CO_2$ emissions, as specified in the Kyoto Protocol, can only be achieved by an extended use of renewable fuels and the increasing of the energy efficiency. The energy generation from waste gases with a reasonable content of methane like biogas can significantly contribute to reach this target. A further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is possible by increasing the electrical efficiency using progressive technologies. Fuel cells can be highly energy conversion devices. Utilizing biogas as the fuel for fuel cell systems offers an option that is technically feasible, potentially economically attractive and greenhouse gas neutral. High temperature fuel cells that are able to operate with carbon monoxide in the feed are well suited to these applications. Furthermore, because they do not require noble metal catalysts, the cost of high-temperature fuel cells has the greatest potential to become competitive in the near future compared to other types of fuel cells.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.3 no.2 s.10
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• pp.60-67
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• 2007

This paper describes the design and integration of the wind-fuel cell hybrid system. The hybrid system components included a wind turbine, an electrolyzer (for generation of H2), a PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell), hydrogen storage tank and BOP (Balance of Plant) system. The energy input is entirely provided by a wind turbine. A DC-DC converter controls the power input to the electrolyzer, which produces hydrogen and oxygen form water. The hydrogen used the fuel for the PEMFC. Hydrogen may be produced and stored in high pressure tank by hydrogen gas booster system. Wind conditions are changing with time of day, season and year. So, wind power is a variable energy source. The main purpose with these WT-FC hybrid system is to store hydrogen by electrolysis of water when wind conditions are good and release the stored hydrog en to supply the fuelcell when wind is low.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.423-431
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• 2011

Recentincreasing awareness of the environmental damage caused by the $CO_2$ emission of fossil fuelsstimulated the interest in alternative and renewable sources of energy. Fuel cell is a representative example of hydrogen energy utilization. In this study, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell system is simulated by using $Aspen^{TM}$. Stack model is consisted of equilibrium reaction equations using $ACM^{TM}$(Aspen Custom Modeler). Balance of process of fuel cell system is developed in Aspen $Plus^{TM}$ and simulated at steady-state. Analysis of performance of the system is carried out by using sensitivity analysis tool with main operating parameters such as current density, S/C ratio, and fuel utilization and recycle ratio.In Aspen $Dynamics^{TM}$, dynamics of MCFC system is simulated with PID control loops. From the simulation, we proposed operation range which generated maximum power and efficiency in MCFC power plant.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.645-668
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• 2022

Hydrogen energy is emerging as an important means of carbon neutrality in the various sectors including power, transportation, storage, and industrial processes. Fuel cell power plants are the fastest spreading in the hydrogen ecosystem and are one of the key power sources among means of implementing carbon neutrality in 2050. However, high volatility in system marginal price (SMP) and renewable energy certificate (REC) prices, which affect the profits of fuel cell power plants, delay the investment timing and deployment. This study applied the real option methodology to analyze how the dual uncertainties in both SMP and REC prices affect the investment trigger price level in the irreversible investment decision of fuel cell power plants. The analysis is summarized into the following three. First, under the current Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), dual price uncertainties passed on to plant owners has significantly increased the investment trigger price relative to one under the deterministic price case. Second, reducing the volatility of REC price by half of the current level caused a significant drop in investment trigger prices and its investment trigger price is similar to one caused by offering one additional REC multiplier. Third, investment trigger price based on gray hydrogen and green hydrogen were analyzed along with the existing byproduct hydrogen-based fuel cells, and in the case of gray hydrogen, economic feasibility were narrowed significantly with green hydrogen when carbon costs were applied. The results of this study suggest that the current RPS system works as an obstacle to the deployment of fuel cell power plants, and policy that provides more stable revenue to plants is needed to build a more cost-effective and stable hydrogen ecosystem.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2023

This study shows the summary of the economic performance of excess electricity conversion to hydrogen as well as methane and returned conversion to electricity using a fuel cell. The methane production process has been examined in a previous study. Here, this study focuses on the conversion of methane to electricity. As a part of this study, capital expenditure (CAPEX) is estimated under various sized plants (0.3, 3, 9, and 30 MW). The study shows a method for economic optimization of electricity generation using a fuel cell. The CAPEX and operating expenditure (OPEX) as well as the feed cost are used to calculate the discounted cash flow. Then the levelized cost of returned electricity (LCORE) is estimated from the discounted cash flow. This study found the LCORE value was ¢10.2/kWh electricity when a 9 MW electricity generating fuel cell was used. A methane production plant size of 1,500 Nm³/hr, a methane production cost of $11.47/mcf, a storage cost of $1/mcf, and a fuel cell efficiency of 54% were used as a baseline. A sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the storage cost, fuel cell efficiency, and excess electricity cost by ±20%, and fuel cell efficiency was found as the most dominating parameter in terms of the LCORE sensitivity. Therefore, for the best cost-performance, fuel cell manufacturing and efficiency need to be carefully evaluated. This study provides a general guideline for cost performance comparison with LCORE.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.563-567
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• 2009

The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) with the advantages of low-operating temperature, high current density, low cost and volume, fast start-up ability, and suitability for discontinuous operation becomes the most reasonable and attractive power system for transportation vehicle and micro-grid power plant in a household. 200W PEM-type FCs system was integrated by this study, then the electrical characteristics and diagnosis of the fuel cell were analyzed with variations on mass flow rate and stack temperature. The ranges of the variations are 1~8L/min on $H_2$ volume and $20{\sim}70^{\circ}C$ on stack temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.58-63
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• 2009

The global restriction on pollutant emissions and the soaring of crude oil price are expected to result in the change of future transportation system. Hydrogen is considered to be the leading candidate as an alternative energy source before other new alternative energy sources emerge. Scientists anticipate that hydrogen fuel gas turbine engine and fuel cell will be the power plant of the aircraft in the near future. To realize the aircraft powered by fuel cell system in the future, the technologies such as fuel cell with higher energy density, compressed gas or liquid storage system of hydrogen fuel, and efficient and lightweight electric motor have to be developed first.