A comprehensive PEMFC system model integrating metal hydride hydrogen storage tank

A novel approach to constructing an integrated thermal management system (ITMS) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and metal hydride (MH) tanks was proposed. The MH will release hydrogen when absorbing heat. Fuel cell waste heat could be used to heat the MH tank, reducing the load on the radiator and making the system more efficient. Based on the fuel cell system’s vital reaction process and core components, a comprehensive system simulation model with gas-heat-electricity coupling was built. The PEMFC stack, MH hydrogen supply, air supply, stack temperature management, MH tank temperature management, and charge air temperature management are all represented in this model. With the system integrated, different thermal processes were coordinated through rational and effective control of the power unit and thermal components. Finally, the dynamic response analysis of the system showed that the model could effectively simulate the thermal and hydraulic behaviour of the fuel cell system, including how critical parameters like mass flow, pressure, and temperature spread out. The constructed model laid the foundation for developing efficiency-optimized thermoelectric control strategies and fault detection. Also, the performance parameters of the stack and thermal components can be changed to create a system model with higher power output.