Abstract

DE LA TORRE VALDES, Raciel; GARCIA PARRA, Lázaro Roger  and  GONZALEZ RODRIGUEZ, Daniel. Analysis and optimization of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell using modeling techniques. Energética [online]. 2015, vol.36, n.1, pp. 113-124. ISSN 1815-5901.

This paper proposes a three-dimensional, non-isothermal and steady-state model of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell using Computational Fluid Dynamic techniques, specifically ANSYS FLUENT 14.5. It's considered multicomponent diffusion and two-phasic flow. The model was compared with experimental published data and with another model. The operation parameters: reactants pressure and temperature, gases flow direction, gas diffusion layer and catalyst layer porosity, reactants humidification and oxygen concentration are analyzed. The model allows the fuel cell design optimization taking in consideration the channels dimensions, the channels length and the membrane thickness. Furthermore, fuel cell performance is analyzed working with SPEEK membrane, an alternative electrolyte to Nafion. In order to carry on membrane material study, it's necessary to modify the expression that describes the electrolyte ionic conductivity. It's found that the device performance has got a great sensibility to pressure, temperature, reactant humidification and oxygen concentration variations.

Keywords : computational fluid dynamics; hydrogen; polymeric electrolyte membrane; fuel cell modeling.

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