Simulation Examination of the Impact of Operating Parameters on a High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract

In this research, a three-dimensional model has been developed in COMSOL Multiphysics software for numerical simulation to assess the high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance across various parameters.The results of the simulation and the data from experiments correspond closely when the values of the temperature, the thicknesses of the electrode layer and the membrane are 453.15K,50e-6m and 100e-6m, respectively.Polarization curves at different cell temperatures, operating pressures, different porosities of gas diffusion layer, membrane conductivities, membrane thicknesses and porous electrode thicknesses are examined.The obtained results indicate that the fuel cell performance decreases when the cell runs at temperatures from 393.15K to 453.15K.Moreover, it is found that the cell performance is improved when the gas diffusion layer porosity increases from 0.1 to 0.6.Furthermore, the investigation of the fuel cell thickness membrane effect shows that a thinner membrane of 25e-6m gives the best performance.The simulation using the present developed model can be useful for optimization of the cell design and the operating conditions.