Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The challenges in energy constraints, environmental deterioration, and climate change have accelerated the development of low-carbon and decarbonized technologies in many countries. The thermal-related effect is the key to the successful application of these technologies as it significantly affects the capital and the operating costs. In the process of energy conversion, the management of heat source terms (generation, consumption, transfer and dissipation) is the key to achieve a high energy efficiency and to ensure a stable long-term operation.

This Topic aims to provide a collection of the latest research and findings in the field of thermal effects on advanced energy conversion and storage technologies. Both research and review papers are welcome. Potential research topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Thermal management of fuel cell, electrolyzer, and batteries;
• Thermochemical energy storage;
• Thermomechanical fatigue failure of energy devices;
• Waste heat utilization.

Dr. Haoran Xu
Dr. Rui Cheng
Dr. Meiting Guo
Dr. Guangming Yang
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.3	2011	18.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Batteries batteries	4.6	4.0	2015	19.7 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Clean Technologies cleantechnol	4.1	6.1	2019	33.5 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Energies energies	3.0	6.2	2008	16.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Materials materials	3.1	5.8	2008	13.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (11 papers)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Applied Sciences Batteries Clean Technol. Energies Materials

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

15 pages, 2720 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Ion Implantation Combined with Heat Treatment Enables Excellent Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plate Anode for Hydrogen Fuel Cells

by Li Ding, Chaoqin Ren, Ruijuan Wang, Meng Yang and Yong Pan

Materials 2025, 18(7), 1483; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071483 - 26 Mar 2025

Viewed by 209

Abstract

The broad use of (stainless steel) SS 316 L bipolar plates (BPs) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells relies (PEMFC) on high conductivity and corrosion resistance. To enhance the properties of stainless steel, this study applies ion implantation and heat treatment to form [...] Read more.

The broad use of (stainless steel) SS 316 L bipolar plates (BPs) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells relies (PEMFC) on high conductivity and corrosion resistance. To enhance the properties of stainless steel, this study applies ion implantation and heat treatment to form a non-homogeneous modified layer on SS 316 L. The injection of C and Mo ions on the SS 316 L surface caused irradiation damage, producing holes. But with the heat treatment of the ion-implanted samples, the irradiation-damaged surface will be repaired to a certain extent. The corrosion current density (I_corr) of the 600 °C sample in the kinetic potential test (5.32 × 10⁻⁴ A/cm²) was 54% lower than that of the naked SS 316 L (1.17 × 10⁻³ A/cm²). In the electrostatic potential test, the corrosion current of the 600 °C sample stabilized at a low value (about 0.26 μA/cm²), with the lowest concentration of dissolved metal ions (Fe²⁺ 2.908 mg/L). After anodic electrostatic potential polarization, the interfacial contact resistance (ICR) of (Mo+C)_600-1 was much lower than that of the untreated SS 316 L. Heat treatment experiments show that samples treated at 600 °C for 1 h exhibit significantly higher conductivity and anodic corrosion resistance than naked SS 316 L. This improvement is mainly due to the heat treatment under these conditions, which facilitated the formation of Mo carbides from the implanted C and Mo elements. Ion implantation and heat treatment enhance stainless steel surface conductivity and passive film corrosion resistance. These findings are useful in altering stainless steel BPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 8926 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Modelling and Temperature Estimation of a Cylindrical Lithium Iron Phosphate Cell Subjected to an Automotive Duty Cycle

by Simha Sreekar Achanta, Abbas Fotouhi, Hanwen Zhang and Daniel J. Auger

Batteries 2025, 11(4), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11040119 - 22 Mar 2025

Viewed by 331

Abstract

Li ion batteries are emerging as the mainstream source for propulsion in the automotive industry. Subjecting a battery to extreme conditions of charging and discharging can negatively impact its performance and reduce its cycle life. Assessing a battery’s electrical and thermal behaviour is [...] Read more.

Li ion batteries are emerging as the mainstream source for propulsion in the automotive industry. Subjecting a battery to extreme conditions of charging and discharging can negatively impact its performance and reduce its cycle life. Assessing a battery’s electrical and thermal behaviour is critical in the later stages of developing battery management systems (BMSs). The present study aims at the thermal modelling of a 3.3 Ah cylindrical 26650 lithium iron phosphate cell using ANSYS 2024 R1 software. The modelling phase involves iterating two geometries of the cell design to evaluate the cell’s surface temperature. The multi-scale multi-domain solution method, coupled with the equivalent circuit model (ECM) solver, is used to determine the temperature characteristics of the cell. Area-weighted average values of the temperature are obtained using a homogeneous and isotropic assembly. A differential equation is implemented to estimate the temperature due to the electrochemical reactions and potential differences. During the discharge tests, the cell is subjected to a load current emulating the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). The results from the finite element model indicate strikingly similar trends in temperature variations to the ones obtained from the experimental tests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 4980 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Extracting Accurate Parameters from a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Model Using the Differential Evolution Ameliorated Meta-Heuristics Algorithm

by Badreddine Kanouni and Abdelbaset Laib

Energies 2024, 17(10), 2333; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102333 - 12 May 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1506

Abstract

The electrochemical proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an electrical generator that utilizes a chemical reaction mechanism to produce electricity, serving as a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source. To thoroughly analyze and develop the features and performance of a PEMFC, it [...] Read more.

The electrochemical proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an electrical generator that utilizes a chemical reaction mechanism to produce electricity, serving as a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source. To thoroughly analyze and develop the features and performance of a PEMFC, it is essential to use a precise model that incorporates exact parameters to effectively suit the polarization curve. In addition, parameter extraction plays a crucial role in the simulation analysis, evaluation, optimum control, and fault detection of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system. Despite the development of many algorithms for parameter extraction in PEMFC, obtaining accurate and trustworthy results rapidly remains a challenge. This study presents a hybridized algorithm, namely differential evolution ameliorated (DEA) for reliably estimating PEMFC model parameters. To evaluate the proposed DEA-based parameter identification, a comparison analysis with previously published methods is conducted using MATLAB/Simulink^TM (R2016b, MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) in terms of system correctness and convergence process. The proposed DEA algorithm is tested to extract the parameters of two PEMFC models: SR-12 500 W and 250 W. The sum of the squared errors (SSE) between the experimental and the obtained voltage data is defined as an objective function. The simulation results prove that the suggested DEA algorithm is capable of identifying the optimal PEMFC parameters rapidly and accurately in comparison with other optimization algorithms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5875 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Simulation of a Novel Integrated Multi-Stack Fuel Cell System Based on a Double-Layer Multi-Objective Optimal Allocation Approach

by Jianhua Gao, Su Zhou, Yanda Lu and Wei Shen

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 2961; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072961 - 31 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1877

Abstract

A multi-stack fuel cell system (MFCS) is a promising solution for high-power PEM fuel cell applications. This paper proposes an optimized stack allocation approach for power allocation, considering economy and dynamics to establish integrated subsystems with added functional components. The results show that [...] Read more.

A multi-stack fuel cell system (MFCS) is a promising solution for high-power PEM fuel cell applications. This paper proposes an optimized stack allocation approach for power allocation, considering economy and dynamics to establish integrated subsystems with added functional components. The results show that an MFCS with target powers of 20 kW, 70 kW, and 120 kW satisfies lifetime and efficiency factors. The common rail buffer at the air supply subsystem inlet stabilizes pressure, buffers, and diverts. By adjusting the volume of the common rail buffer, it is possible to reduce the maximum instantaneous power and consumption of the air compressor. The integrated hydrogen supply subsystem improves hydrogen utilization and reduces parasitic power consumption. However, the integrated thermal subsystem does not have the advantages of integrated gas supply subsystems, and its thermal management performance is worse than that of a distributed thermal subsystem. This MFCS provides a solution for high-power non-average distribution PEM fuel cell systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 4961 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Performance Assessment and Optimization of the Ultra-High Speed Air Compressor in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

by Ting Shi and Xueyuan Peng

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14031232 - 1 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1920

Abstract

Air compressors in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles play a crucial role in ensuring the stability of the cathode air system. However, they currently face challenges related to low efficiency and poor stability. To address these issues, the experimental setup for the pneumatic performance [...] Read more.

Air compressors in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles play a crucial role in ensuring the stability of the cathode air system. However, they currently face challenges related to low efficiency and poor stability. To address these issues, the experimental setup for the pneumatic performance of air compressors is established. The effects of operational parameters on energy consumption, efficiency, and mass flow rate of the air compressor are revealed based on a Morris global sensitivity analysis. Considering a higher flow rate, larger efficiency, and lower energy consumption simultaneously, the optimal operating combination of the air compressor is determined based on grey relational multi-objective optimization. The optimal combination of operational parameters consisted of a speed of 80,000 rpm, a pressure ratio of 1.8, and an inlet temperature of 18.3 °C. Compared to the average values, the isentropic efficiency achieved a 48.23% increase, and the mass flow rate rose by 78.88% under the optimal operational combination. These findings hold significant value in guiding the efficient and stable operation of air compressors. The comprehensive methodology employed in this study is applicable further to investigate air compressors for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 6837 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study of Contact Pressure Distribution in Bolted Encapsulated Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Membrane Electrode Assembly

by Gui Ren, Yanfeng Xing, Juyong Cao, Ying Wang, Linfa Peng and Xuelong Miao

Energies 2023, 16(18), 6487; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16186487 - 8 Sep 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2361

Abstract

The distribution of contact pressure on the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) significantly affects the performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). This paper establishes a PEM fuel cell model to investigate the impact of bolt load and its distribution, sealing gasket [...] Read more.

The distribution of contact pressure on the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) significantly affects the performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). This paper establishes a PEM fuel cell model to investigate the impact of bolt load and its distribution, sealing gasket hardness, and size on the magnitude and distribution of contact pressure on the MEA during assembly. Thermal–mechanical coupling is employed to simulate the thermal effects resulting from chemical reactions under operational conditions. The findings reveal that there is an extremum of pressure uniformity in the range of 5000 to 6250 N for bolt loads. When the average bolt load is lower than this extremum, altering the distribution of the load can effectively enhance the uniform distribution of contact pressure. Stiffer gaskets reduce the contact pressure on the MEA while increasing the pressure on the gasket itself, resulting in reduced deformation. A rational matching relationship among gaskets, Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs), and seal grooves is proposed. During operational conditions, thermal effects decrease the sealing performance and also impact the magnitude and distribution of contact pressure on the MEA. These outcomes provide significant guidance for the assembly and performance evaluation of PEMFCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 6631 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Liquid Water Characteristics in the Compressed Gradient Porosity Gas Diffusion Layer of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

by Song Yan, Mingyang Yang, Chuanyu Sun and Sichuan Xu

Energies 2023, 16(16), 6010; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16166010 - 16 Aug 2023

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 2310

Abstract

The mitigation of water flooding in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) at relatively high current densities is indispensable for enhancing the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this paper, a 2D multicomponent LBM model is developed to investigate the effects [...] Read more.

The mitigation of water flooding in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) at relatively high current densities is indispensable for enhancing the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this paper, a 2D multicomponent LBM model is developed to investigate the effects of porosity distribution and compression on the liquid water dynamic behaviors and distribution. The results suggest that adopting the gradient GDL structure with increasing porosity along the thickness direction significantly reduces the breakthrough time and steady–state total water saturation inside the GDL. Moreover, the positive gradient structure reaches the highest breakthrough time and water saturation at 10% compression ratio (CR) when the GDL is compressed, and the corresponding values decrease with further increase of the CR. Considering the breakthrough time, total water saturation and water distribution at the entrance of the GDL at the same time, the gradient structure with continuously increasing porosity can perform better water management capacity at 30% CR. This paper is useful for understanding the two–phase process in a gradient GDL structure and provides guidance for future design and manufacturing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 12934 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Liquid Water Transport Characteristics and Droplet Dynamics of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with 3D Wave Channel

by Zijun Li, Jianguo Wang, Shubo Wang, Weiwei Li and Xiaofeng Xie

Energies 2023, 16(16), 5892; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16165892 - 9 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2780

Abstract

Water management is a crucial aspect in the efficient functioning of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The presence of a two-phase flow, consisting of water and reactive gas, in the channel of the PEMFC is of utmost importance for effective water management. [...] Read more.

Water management is a crucial aspect in the efficient functioning of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The presence of a two-phase flow, consisting of water and reactive gas, in the channel of the PEMFC is of utmost importance for effective water management. This study focuses on investigating the removal of liquid water in 3D wave channels and 2D straight channels using the volume of fluid method. The study analyzes the dynamic behavior of droplets emerging from the gas diffusion layer (GDL) into the channel under the influence of gas flow. The study also explores the effects of droplet growth, deformation, detachment, force, and pore size on critical water behavior and water content in the channel. The results indicate that the 3D wave channel is more effective in removing liquid water compared to the 2D straight channel. It is observed that increasing the velocity facilitates the discharge of liquid water. However, excessively high velocities lead to parasitic power losses. Furthermore, while larger pore sizes in the GDL are not advantageous for PEMFC performance, a moderate increase in pore size aids in the discharge of liquid water. The knowledge gained through this study deepens the understanding of droplet dynamics in PEMFC gas channels and assists in optimizing the design and operational conditions of these channels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1531 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Performance Assessment of the Heat Recovery System of a 12 MW SOFC-Based Generator on Board a Cruise Ship through a 0D Model

by Luca Micoli, Roberta Russo, Tommaso Coppola and Andrea Pietra

Energies 2023, 16(8), 3334; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083334 - 9 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2386

Abstract

The present work considers a 12 MW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power plant integrated with a heat recovery system installed on board an LNG-fuelled cruise ship of about 175,000 gross tonnes and 345 m in length. The SOFC plant is fed by [...] Read more.

The present work considers a 12 MW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power plant integrated with a heat recovery system installed on board an LNG-fuelled cruise ship of about 175,000 gross tonnes and 345 m in length. The SOFC plant is fed by LNG and generates electrical power within an integrated power system configuration; additionally, it provides part of the thermal energy demand. A zero-dimensional (0D) Aspen Plus model has been built-up to simulate the SOFC power plant and to assess the performances of the proposed heat recovery system. The model has been validated by comparing the results obtained with data from the literature and commercial SOFC modules. The integrated system has been optimized in order to maximize steam production since it is the most requested thermal source on board. The main design outcome is that the steam produced is made by the recovered water from the SOFC exhaust by about 50–60%, thus reducing the onboard water storage or production. Additionally, results indicate that such an integrated system could save up to about 14.4% of LNG. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 16579 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Optimization of Triple-Phase Components in Order-Structured Cathode Catalyst Layer of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

by Miao Ye, Long Rong, Xu Ma and Weiwei Yang

Energies 2023, 16(4), 1623; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041623 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1786

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is generally regarded as a promising energy conversion device due to its low noise, high efficiency, low pollution, and quick startup. The design of the catalyst layer structure is crucial in boosting cell performance. The traditional catalyst [...] Read more.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is generally regarded as a promising energy conversion device due to its low noise, high efficiency, low pollution, and quick startup. The design of the catalyst layer structure is crucial in boosting cell performance. The traditional catalyst layer has high oxygen transmission resistance, low utilization rate of Pt particles and high production cost. In this study, we offer a sub-model for an order-structured cathode catalyst layer coupled to a three-dimensional (3D) two-phase macroscopic PEMFC model. In the sub-model of the cathode catalyst layer, it is assumed that carbon nanowires are vertically arranged into the catalyst layer structure, platinum particles and ionomers adhere to the surface, and water films cover the cylindrical electrode. The impacts of triple-phase contents in the catalyst layer on cell performance are investigated and discussed in detail after the model has been validated using data from existing studies. The results show that when the triple-phase contents ratio of the order-structured cathode catalyst layer is the best, the overall cell power density of the cell can be maximized, that is, the Pt loading of 0.15 mg cm⁻², carbon loading of 1.0 mg cm⁻², and ionomer volume fraction of 0.2. The above study may provide guidance for constructing the PEMFC catalyst layer with high catalyst utilization and high performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3214 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Performance Study of Gravity-Type Heat Pipe Applied to Fuel Cell Heat Dissipation

by Lei Jin, Shaohua Wang, Jiachao Guo, Haopeng Li and Xiaoliang Tian

Energies 2023, 16(1), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010563 - 3 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2139

Abstract

A gravity-type heat pipe boiling characteristics test rig was constructed to solve the heat dissipation problem of fuel cells during operation. The boiling heat transfer characteristics of water in a parallel plate under negative pressure at different inclination angles and heat flow density [...] Read more.

A gravity-type heat pipe boiling characteristics test rig was constructed to solve the heat dissipation problem of fuel cells during operation. The boiling heat transfer characteristics of water in a parallel plate under negative pressure at different inclination angles and heat flow density input are investigated. The results show that: First, the gravity-type heat pipe can dissipate some heat and it is possible to use it for fuel cell heat dissipation. Second, with a certain range of heat flow density, the temperature of all parts of the plate is about 80 °C, with a small temperature difference, which is conducive to the safe operation of the fuel cell. Third, the heat flow density is in the range of 2222~3111 W·m⁻², the temperature difference is large, and the outlet temperature is greater than 80 °C, which exceeds the operating temperature of the fuel cell, and the power-type heat pipe should be used for heat dissipation. Fourth, the average temperature of the plate placed at an inclination angle of 45°~60° is lower compared to other angles, and the temperature is evenly distributed. On the one hand, the conclusions reveal the characteristics of boiling heat exchange under negative pressure conditions of water inside the flat plate and, on the other hand, provide a reference for designing heat pipe systems for fuel cell heat dissipation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Thermal-Related Design, Application, and Optimization of Fuel Cells and Batteries)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-11