Mathematical model to evaluate the effect of key operating conditions on proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance

Do, Tan-Thich
Vi, Trung-Kien
Pham, Cong-Son

International Journal of Renewable Energy Development
Accepted Articles

Nowadays, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are regarded as a promising energy source for future applications due to their high power density, high efficiency, relatively low operating temperature, fast start-up capability, and zero emissions. During PEMFC operation, performance is influenced by numerous factors. Therefore, developing a mathematical model to evaluate the effects of key operating conditions on PEMFC performance and energy efficiency is both necessary and significant in the field of fuel cells. In this study, a mathematical model was developed using MATLAB/Simulink and subsequently validated through a series of experiments to assess its accuracy. The results demonstrate that PEMFC performance is strongly affected by operating conditions, including operating temperature, operating pressure, membrane thickness, cathode gas type, cell active area, and the number of cells in the stack. In addition, water, heat generation, energy efficiency, and gas consumption were also considered in the model. The findings indicate that operating temperature and pressure are the most influential parameters affecting PEMFC performance and energy efficiency. When the operating temperature increased, the cell performance improved due to enhanced electrochemical reaction kinetics and improved electrical conductivity. However, when the PEMFC operates at temperatures above 70 oC, a deterioration in performance is observed. This behavior can be attributed to membrane dehydration at elevated temperatures, which reduces proton conductivity and, consequently, lowers the output cell voltage. Increasing pressure reduces membrane resistance and interface contact resistance, leading to a decrease in voltage losses and an improvement in cell voltage. At a current density of 0.5 A cm−2, the cell voltages are 0.550, 0.559, 0.564, 0.568, 0.571, and 0.574 V for anode operating pressures of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 atm, respectively. Overall, this study provides a reliable and precise tool for predicting PEMFC performance under varying operating conditions.