Low temperature start-up technology of proton exchange membrane fuel cells system

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell electric vehicles have the advantages of long cruising range and environmental-friendly, but there are problems in starting difficulties or even failures in low temperature environments. This problem seriously restricts the development of proton exchange membrane fuel cell electric vehicles. The study investigated the principle of icing inside the proton exchange membrane, and briefly described the damage to the proton exchange membrane itself, the catalytic layer, the gas diffusion layer and the membrane electrode as a whole by the start-up process in the sub-zero temperature environment. It focuses on the analysis of low-temperature start strategies for proton exchange membrane fuel cell electric vehicles, which can be roughly divided into three categories: shutdown and purge control strategies, external auxiliary heating and no auxiliary heating. The analysis shows that each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, but in general, a single starting method is not enough for the low-temperature starting effect of proton exchange membrane fuel cell electric vehicles. The mixed use of multiple methods has an ideal effect. In the future, the low-temperature start-up technology of fuel cell electric vehicles will develop towards a trend of mutual assistance in a variety of ways. © 2021, Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd.. All rights reserved.