Development of a 240 kW PEMFC system model for a ship

Abstract

In this study, a system model of a marine 240-kW-class fuel cell using oxygen in a liquefied oxygen tank and compressed hydrogen as fuel was developed. The voltage and output characteristic data of the stack according to the change in fuel-cell loads were compared with the experimental results to validate the system. In addition, the system efficiency of the fuel-cell stack, the change in the coolant temperature of the stack, and the discharged-gas temperature on the cathode side were reviewed under various operating loads. As a result, the fuel-cell stack voltage was found to be up to ~4 V below the experimental results in some load areas within the range considered in this study; however, the obtained voltage was almost the same as that observed in the experimental results. The total stack output was calculated to be 250 kW at a maximum load of 530 A, the individual stack efficiency was 59%, and the system efficiency was 53%. Moreover, the PI controller was appropriately operated to maintain an average value of 343 K for the stack coolant temperature from fuel cell No. 1 stack and No. 2 stack.