Performance Simulation of 100kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell for Heavy Commercial Vehicle Applications

As the sustainable fuel of the future, hydrogen will significantly reduce dependence on fossil energy sources and the amount of exhaust gases emitted by vehicles. Accordingly, the development of commercial vehicles with fuel cell technology using hydrogen as a fuel will play a key role in commercialization. Today, there are an abundance of fuel cell types on the market for a wide range of applications, including transportation, stationary power, portable power, and emergency backup power. Among these fuel cells, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has potential for automotive applications due to its low operating temperature and high power density. Although the concept of a fuel cell system is a global technology, it cannot be directly implemented in the Indian CV (utility vehicle) market. A certain level of technology can only be transferred. Considering the aforementioned scenario, FC system technology selection should be carefully considered along with BOP design requirements and mitigation methods without compromising the quality of FC vehicle performance. Additionally, these PEMFC power supplies are available in different power ranges and capacities for various vehicle applications. However, selecting an optimized fuel cell power configuration for heavy-duty applications is a daunting task due to the cost sensitivity and competitiveness of the Indian market. Hence, it is necessary to conduct simulation studies to understand the performance of the PEMFC as a function of the vehicle operating conditions in order to determine the power capacity of the fuel cell. For this purpose, an FCEV truck model with a load range of >20–40 tons was developed using GT-SUITE software. From the steady state and transient conditions simulation performances, the 100-kW FC system selection is adequate for the selected vehicle tonnage.