• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.8-18
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• 2012

This paper presents a three-dimensional, transient cold-start polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) model to numerically evaluate the effects of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) design and cell location in a PEFC stack on PEFC cold start behaviors. The cold-start simulations show that the end cell experiences significant heat loss to the sub-freezing ambient and thus finally cold-start failure due to considerable ice filling in the cathode catalyst layer. On the other hand, the middle cells in the stack successfully start from $-30^{\circ}C$ sub-freezing temperature due to rapid cell temperature rise owing to the efficient use of waste heat generated during the cold-start. In addition, the simulation results clearly indicate that the cathode catalyst layer (CL) composition and thickness have an substantial influence on PEFC cold-start behaviors while membrane thickness has limited effect mainly due to inefficient water absorption and transport capability at subzero temperatures.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.859-867
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• 2011

The cold start problem is one of major obstacles to overcome for the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. However, the cold start characteristics of fuel cell systems are very complicated since various phenomena, i.e. ice-blocking, electro-chemical reactions, heat transfer, and defrosting of BOP components, are involved in them. This paper presents a framework to approach the problem at a full stack scale using Axiomatic Design (AD). It was characterized in terms of Functional Requirements (FRs) and Design Parameters (DPs) while their relations were established in a design matrix. Considering the design matrix, the endplates should have low thermal conductivity and capacity without increase in weight or decrease in structural stiffness. Consequently, composite sandwich endplates were proposed and examined both through finite element analyses and experiments simulating cold start conditions. From the examinations, it was found that the composite sandwich endplates significantly contributed to improving the cold start characteristics of PEMFC.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2005년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.357-360
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• 2005

Hyundai Motor Company developed the second generation of fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle based on Tucson SUV in 2004. This vehicle has cold start capability below -10C and its driving performances including maximum speed and accelerating time are almost similar to conventional Tucson SUV's performances without any sacrifice in terms of cabin space. Especially. the cold start capability was realized by utilizing only internal power sources such as fuel cell power and high voltage lithium ion polymer battery. In this paper, we will briefly introduce specifications of Tucson FCEV and its driving performances based on field test and simulations.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2008년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.17-20
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• 2008

Cold start of a fuel cell system is a major obstacle should be overcome as to commercialize it, especially for passenger vehicle applications. However, the cold start characteristics is so complicated since it involves various phenomenon such as ice-blocking in GDL, ionic conductivity in membrane affected by water activity with phase change, heat transfer through components such as bipolarplates or endplates, electro-chemical reactions affected by circumferential temperature and humidity as well. Axiomatic design provides a systematic method to investigate the complex phenomenon although it was developed as a methodology to establish logical design procedure by Nam P. Suh in 1990s. This paper presents a framework to approach the complex cold start problem using Axiomatic Design which features simplifying a problem through hierarchical decomposition and decoupling from the view of functional requirements and design parameters.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.224-231
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• 2009

The improvement of cold start capability is one of the most challenging tasks to be solved for commercialization of fuel cell vehicle. In this study, cold start test and ice blocking test(IBT) of fuel cell stack were carried out under various operating conditions. This fuel cell stack can be thawed from -20$^{\circ}$C within 25s and the voltage change was found to be comprised of 4 steps; the first step is the voltage decrease by overpotential, the second step is the voltage increase by the cell temperature increase, the third step is the voltage decrease by ice blocking, and the last step is the voltage increase by thawing. Bootstrap startup was failed after shutdown at temperature under 40$^{\circ}$C because of much condensed water in the fuel cell. Quantitative estimation of cold start capability have been demonstrated by ice blocking test(IBT). In the results, it was found that cold start capability was improved double every 10$^{\circ}$C from 30$^{\circ}$C to 65$^{\circ}$C and enhanced by 30% at the condition of SR 3/4 compared to SR 1.5/2.0 and enhanced by 20% with dry purge condition compared to with RH 50% purge condition.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2008년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.47-50
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• 2008

The sub-zero cold is a major environmental consideration for the operational readiness of FCEVs because fuel cells produce water and utilize wet air with varying water content to generate electricity. Typical fuel cells thus have a fatal flaw in freezing conditions at startup. This drawback becomes more serious with the outsourced fuel cell that is entirely water-based for its internal humidification. In this background, the HMC's self-designed fuel cell was developed as an alternative and was employed in the Tucson-based FCEV in 2006 demonstrating its good cold-startup characteristics. The cold-startup capacity of the vehicle was validated through tests in the cold chamber and on the road, resulting in 50% stack power achieved in 250 seconds at $-15^{\circ}C$.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2008년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.29-32
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• 2008

Testing was conducted to determine the performance of a residential fuel cell system when subjected to DSS and WSS operation, especially for start-up and shut-down characteristics. In terms of start-up time, it took about 70min to start output power generation and stably to reach 1kW at cold start. Measurement of the characteristics of heat and power generation were carried out at start-up and shut-down time. Fuel gas is used for heating both reformer and stack from start-up to the beginning of power generation. In terms of start-up and shut-down characteristics, it was important to control the reformer temperature precisely. The average output water temperature during the rated output operation(960W) was $63.2^{\circ}C$ constantly. The results of the investigation are being used to develop a new test protocols for residential fuel cell system.

• 한국자동차공학회논문집
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.66-72
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• 2008

Fuel reforming technology for the fuel cell vehicles could be adopted to internal combustion engine for the reduction of engine out emissions. Since syngas which is reformed from fossil fuel has hydrogen as a major component, it has abilities to enhance the combustion characteristics with wide flammability and high speed flame propagation. In this paper, syngas was feed to 2.0 liter gasoline engine during the cold start and early state of idle condition. Not only cold start HC emission but also $NO_x$ emission could be dramatically reduced due to the fact that syngas has no HC and has nitrogen up to 50% as components. Exhaust gas temperature was lower than that of gasoline feeding condition. Delayed ignition timing, however, resulted in increased exhaust gas temperature approximated to gasoline condition. It is supposed that the usage of syngas in the gasoline internal combustion engine is an effective solution to meet the future strict emission regulations by the reduction of cold start THC and $NO_x$ emissions.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.429-436
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• 2016

Currently, many studies on green ships are under way. Fuel cell (FC) ships are of interest as future low-emission, fuel-efficient vessels. In this paper, a hybrid power management system for an FC ship was designed. The system consists of an FC, a battery, a unidirectional DC/DC converter, a bidirectional DC/DC converter, a filter, an inverter, and a propulsion component. To design the system, we analyze electric sources and converters, and create PLECS models of hybrid power management system. Then, we check the cold start sequence and perform a simulation to understand the characteristics of the hybrid power management system in an FC ship.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2008년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.33-36
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• 2008

Cell degradation when anode channels are blocked during cold start up was tested and measured. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks with several configurations of channel blockages were operated and decay in performance was analyzed. When only channels near hydrogen inlet were blocked, performance was rarely changed. In contrast, significant cell reversal occurred and considerable amount of $CO_2$ was produced when all channels near inlet and outlet were blocked. In the case, it was also observed that performance was severely decreased in the area where hydrogen was not supplied sufficiently.