Modeling and Simulation of High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells in Parallel Hybrid Electric Turboprop Aircraft With Multi Whale Optimization Algorithms
Abstract
Integrating renewable energies, particularly hydrogen and fuel cells, into new sustainable aircraft configurations is essential to achieving the 2050 target of zero carbon emissions. This study presents a model for different power management controls of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFC) in a parallel hybrid electric turboprop aircraft (Dash 8 Q300), utilizing multi-whale optimization algorithms (WOA). This paper corrects errors in the equation of ohmic overpotential identified in previous HT-PEMFC literature and proposes two new correlations between parameters and operating temperature to achieve dynamic power output viaWOAs. Real-time mission profile data, including the speed and altitude of a flight mission from YUL to YQL, are used to estimate power requirement profiles (max power: 3077 kW) and construct the extended cruise mission to reach the range with maximum payload. Furthermore, the study examines the design and configuration of liquid hydrogen cryogenic tanks, investigating their shape and displacement within the aircraft. It analyzes the conditions for minimum mass and volume of the entire system for payload, establishing a correlation between tank size and passenger capacity under different HT-PEMFC operating conditions. Additionally, various power split scenarios are simulated to estimate fuel consumption for the parallel hybrid electric system. Results indicate that HT-PEMFCs should avoid operating at high current density to maximize power output. Instead, operating at moderate current density can conserve fuel and optimize the correlation between payload and passenger capacity. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of performance enhancements from fuel systems, power systems, and power management strategies in new sustainable aircraft design.
Yi-Chih "Arenas" Wang
PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant
Arenas Wang is a PhD student and graduate research assistant in the IDEAS Lab at the University of Michigan.
