Performance Degradation Analysis of DMFC Under Different Operating Conditions Based on Relaxation Times

doi:10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2024.110

Abstract

Abstract:

To investigate the performance degradation characteristics of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) under two different operating conditions, the worldwide harmonized light vehicle test cycle (WLTC) and China light vehicle test cycle (CLTC), a combined method of polarization curves, equivalent circuit models, and the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) is adopted to analyze the performance degradation characteristics of DMFC. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the degradation behavior of DMFC is characterized during the polarization process by calculating the variation in DRT based on the evolution of the waveforms. The results show that the degradation in the WLTC condition is more severe than in the CLTC condition. The obstruction of the mass transfer process resistance plays a dominant role in the performance degradation of DMFC under both operating conditions. The rate of change of the mass transfer process resistance is 2.39 mΩ/h under WLTC and 0.764 mΩ/h under CLTC. Meanwhile, the oxygen reduction reaction resistance is not affected by the operating conditions. The significant dynamic fluctuations and abundant transient states of CLTC operating conditions pose greater hindrance to proton transport, thereby effectively reducing the membrane-bound water content. However, it exerts a minor impact on the mass transfer resistance and promotes an increase in the rate of oxygen diffusion. A fuel cell degradation model is developed to characterize the ageing state of DMFCs based on the distribution of relaxation times hindered by the oxygen reduction reaction, which provides a reference for the health state assessment and optimization in DMFC operation.

Key words: different operating conditions, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), equivalent circuit model, distribution of relaxation times (DRT), performance degradation characteristics

CLC Number:

TM911.4

WANG Yangda, WANG Jianguo, LIAN Guan, ZHANG Dacheng. Performance Degradation Analysis of DMFC Under Different Operating Conditions Based on Relaxation Times[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2026, 60(2): 289-299.

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WLTC工况	工况占比/%	输出功率/kW	负载电流/A
加速	35.4	35	0.093
匀速	31.9	21	0.030
低速	32.7	10	0.011

CLTC工况	特征	工况占比/%	平均车速/ (km·h^-1)	负载电流/A
低速	减速	11.7	11.85	0.018
	匀速	10.6	24.91	0.038
	加速	11.0	35.02	0.053
中速	减速	10.8	44.52	0.068
	匀速	11.5	55.53	0.089
	加速	11.1	62.49	0.096
高速	减速	6.8	75.13	0.114
	匀速	19.7	87.71	0.133
	加速	6.8	90.92	0.138

运行工况	模型	决定系数R²
CLTC	一阶多项式	0.913
	二阶多项式	0.937
	指数	0.872
	对数	0.652
WLTC	一阶多项式	0.929
	二阶多项式	0.945
	指数	0.898
	对数	0.594