Study of the influence of directed gas-dynamic oscillations on the operation of a fuel cell in a shipboard power plant
The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of existing active and passive methods for water management in fuel cells. The study aims to experimentally evaluate the effect of directed gas-dynamic oscillations in the audible frequency range on the performance of a single fuel cell, as well as to develop recommendations for improving such systems for shipboard power plants. The configuration of the developed laboratory test bench for in situ testing under electrochemical reaction conditions is described using a prototype cell with an active area of 25 cm² and an external gas-dynamic generator. It was found that gas-dynamic excitation at the fundamental frequency of 1.68 kHz increases the power density of the studied cell by more than 25% due to the intensification of mass transfer processes and the efficient removal of excess moisture. The obtained results experimentally confirm the prospects for integrating gas-dynamic control systems into shipboard fuel cell power plants. A distinctive feature of this study compared with similar studies is the implementation of in situ tests using an external gas-dynamic generator operating in the audible frequency range. For the first time in the Russian scientific literature, the resonant mechanism of gas-dynamic action on gaseous reactants and the membrane electrode assembly is experimentally substantiated, and the possibility of a significant increase in fuel cell output power using the proposed method is demonstrated. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to decarbonize waterborne transport in accordance with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization, as well as by the absence of active gas-dynamic water management systems for shipboard fuel cell power plants in Russia. The results obtained can be used as a basis for developing adaptive moisture removal systems operating under actual operating conditions.