Comparative and sensitivity analysis of operating conditions on the performance of a high temperature PEM fuel cell

Abstract

This study conducts experiments at combinations of cell temperature, cathode pressure, and fuel-air stoichiometry to determine the combined effects on cell performance. Two flow field combinations are used: serpentine-serpentine and serpentine-interdigitated. A sensitivity analysis determines the main effects and interactions. Regardless of flow field combination, temperature and pressure are the most important variables. The main effect of these variables are orders of magnitude greater than the interactions. Thus, better performance is obtained when operating at a temperature of 160 °C and cathode back pressure of 1.5 bar. Stoichiometry does not impact the performance for serpentine-serpentine while for the serpentine-interdigitated combination, slight improvements occur at higher air stoichiometry in particular when operating at maximum power. Thus, for serpentine-interdigitated, better performance occurs at high temperature and pressure and a stoichiometry of 1.5:2.5. For both flow field combinations, the interaction between variables on current density at 0.6 V and max power is negligible.