Hydrogen Storage and Supply System for Fuel Cell Stack

BACKGROUND: This paper discusses the relevant issues of using hydrogen energy for marine vehicles, including hydrogen storage and feeding to a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack. Currently, the most proven hydrogen storage systems are titanium and composite cylinders. They compete with intermetallic devices. Each storage system has its own advantages and disadvantages. Contemporary composite cylinders can accommodate gas pressure of up to 400 atmospheres. Reducing hydrogen from 400 atmospheres to several units or tens of bars is a solvable problem. However, it should be considered that changing the gas pressure significantly decreases the fuel temperature at the inlet of the fuel cell stack. Cold dry hydrogen reduces the performance of the electrochemical generator. To increase the performance, it must be heated and humidified. METHODS: The method used is a hydrogen recirculation system consisting of a jet device, a heat exchanger, a microprocessor-based fuel recirculation control system, sensors, and pipelines. The purpose of the hydrogen recirculation system is to maintain the water balance in the battery and recirculate unused hydrogen in the reaction. The modified electropneumatic converter ITV with feedback is used to maintain constant pressure in the pressure line of the fuel cell battery. RESULTS: We build a system that maintains constant hydrogen pressure at the inlet of the fuel cell battery and allows for more efficient use of fuel. CONCLUSION: The hydrogen recirculation system allows to increase in the efficiency of the plant and the modified electropneumatic converter ITV allows maintaining a constant fuel pressure upstream of the fuel cell stack.