Experimental Study and Performance Analysis on High Power Fuel Cell System

Power density is one of the most significant bottlenecks of vehicular polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems. In order to be suitable for commercial vehicles in the future, high-power fuel cell engines need to be developed. This paper presents an experimental study on a domestic high-power fuel cell engine. The test system consists of a 100-kW class fuel cell stack, accessory subsystems, a DC/DC converter and an electronic load. A rated working condition test and a cycle condition test stipulated by national standard. Key parameters, e.g., system current, system voltage, temperature and pressure at the inlet and outlet, hydrogen consumption rate are measured. Results show that the rated output power of the fuel cell engine is about 80 kW, and the peak power exceeds 100 kW, reaching the international advanced level. This fuel cell engine will be used in heavy-duty buses with long driving distance in the severe cold environment in the future.