Simulation Analysis of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) by using Computational Fluid Dynamics

A full three-dimensional, single phase computational fluid dynamics model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with both gas distribution flow channels and Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) has been developed. A single set of conservation equations which are valid for the flow channels, gas-diffusion electrodes, catalyst layers, and the membrane region are developed and numerically solved using a finite volume based computational fluid dynamics technique. In this research, some parameters such as oxygen consumption, water production, temperature distribution, ohmic losses, anode water activity, cathode over-potential and the fuel cell performance for straight single cell were investigated in more detail. The numerical simulations reveal that these important operating parameters are highly dependent on each other and the fuel cell efficiency is affected by kind of species distribution. 3D computational model for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells has been developed, and implemented into a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code. The model allows parallel computing, thus making it practical to perform well-resolved simulations for large computational domains. So for, especial uses in desirable voltages, for preventing from the unwilling losses, these numerical results can be useful.