PEM Fuel Cells – Assessing degradation during dynamic operation

Abstract

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a key technology in the development of eco-friendly vehicles, helping to reduce emissions and promote sustainable transportation. However, to ensure their long-term reliability, it is important to monitor how the fuel cells degrade over time. We present a novel monitoring algorithm that keeps track of the internal conditions and health of PEM fuel cells during highly dynamic operation. By separating the fast-changing conditions (like hydrogen concentration and membrane humidity) from the slower-degrading components (like the catalyst layers and membrane), the monitoring system’s stability and accuracy is improved. The monitoring algorithm uses only readily available measurements of a fuel cell system (like voltage, pressure and temperature), which are processed in real time – a necessity for further usage in control strategies that minimize degradation and prolong the lifetime of fuel cells. It periodically checks for changes in key components to detect any signs of degradation. Unlike other methods that provide only a general idea of the system's health, our approach offers precise monitoring of critical components, such as the membrane and the catalyst layer. The system has been tested using both simulated scenarios and real-world data, proving its usefulness for monitoring the degradation processes inside a fuel cell during highly dynamic operation.