HZwo-DigiTwin

F&E-Projekte

Scalable digital twin for flexible operational management of PEM fuel cells and electrolysers

Overview

In the publicly funded project HZwo-DigiTwin, the operational management and drive concepts consisting of a fuel cell stack and battery are being further developed in simulation models and digital twins. Current obstacles to the widespread commercialisation of hydrogen technology include the shorter lifetime of fuel cells for dynamic applications (c. f. Automotive). Improved, developed operational management algorithms of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems should minimise irreversible damage to cell components and power losses due to rapidly progressing degradation of the membrane. In this way, a lifetime reduced by a factor of up to 10 in dynamic operation can be avoided compared to use in stationary applications.

 

Motivation:

  • Further development of the “HZwo: OSCar” as an open-source experimental platform for PEM fuel cell systems
  • Investigation of the thermo-mechanical expansion of stacks in operation
  • Contributing to the fulfilment of Germany’s national hydrogen strategy 2020 and to achieving climate neutrality in the EU by 2045

 

Aims of the project:

  • Creation of multi-body simulation models, electrochemical, CFD models and control engineering models
  • Coupling the sub-models to modular digital twins for testing operational management strategies
  • Validation and optimisation of created models on test benches and on the “HZwo: OSCar” mock-up vehicle
  • Development of a condition monitoring system with the aim of increasing the service life of PEM fuel cells in dynamic applications
  • Increasing the economic efficiency, operational safety and user acceptance of fuel cell technology

 

Duration:

1st of February 2023 until 31st of January 2025

 

Project funding organisation and project executing organisation:

BMWK: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz / PtJ: Projektträger Jülich

 

project partners:

Consortium leader: Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Umformtechnik IWU

ICM – Institut Chemnitzer Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V., Albert Schmutzler Schnitt- und Stanzwerkzeuge, HQM Induserv GmbH, Capgemini Deutschland GmbH

Associated partner: Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH

Contact: Rico Löser, Rico.Loeser@iwu.fraunhofer.de

Homepage: https://www.xeidana.de/de/forschung/hzwo-digitwin.html