Volume 49

Analysis operational characteristics and potential faults of PEMFC in PEMFC -battery powered bulldozers Yang Xiaomei, Tan Piqiang, Liu Xiaoyang, Tian Congfeng, Lou Diming, Hu Zhiyuan

Abstract

Research on Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) bulldozers is currently in its infancy. Performing crucial investgation of fuel cell operation characteristics and potential faults based on the bulldozer operating conditions is beneficial for the promotion of fuel cell applications. In this work, with a 110 kW PEMFC and a 90 kW battery used as the power system for the bulldozer. The contents are threefold. Firstly, a numerical model integrating the bulldozer, cabin, motor and power system is established, and the accuracy and reliability of the model is evaluated. After that, based on the operating conditions of bulldozer including no-load, soil-cutting, soil-transportation and unloading soil stage, the operation characteristics of the fuel cell system are analyzed. To detailed analyze the variation patterns of the various parameters inside the fuel cell under the aforementioned operating conditions, a three-dimensional numerical model of fuel cell is established. The results indicate that PEMFC power and current density rapidly increase to 110 kW and 1.513 A/cm² during the soil-cutting phase, and then decrease rapidly to 50 kW and 0.551 A/cm² during the unloading soil phase, showing significant rate of change. The PEMFC stack temperature can reach a maximum of 346 K. The average liquid saturation in gas diffusion layer reaches a maximum of 0.30 at the end of the soil-transport phase, and the uneven distribution of internal liquid is significant. There is significant uneven distribution of liquid, which could lead to localized flooding issues at the end of soil-transport. Appropriate strategies need to be implemented to control.

Keywords Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), Potential faults, Bulldozer, construction machinery, Typical operating conditions