Local Temperature in the MEA and Performance in the PEMFC

Abstract

In this study, local temperature in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) are investigated by numerical studies and experiments. The performance of a lab-scale PEMFC is measured with the load changes for three different cell temperatures (40°, 50°, and 60°) at a relative humidity of 100%. In order to observe the local temperature in the MEA and analyze the performance of the PEMFC, the numerical studies using the CFD module of STAR-CD, which are based on experimental data, are conducted. The results show that the cell condition at a cell temperature of 50° gives the highest performance and the maximum temperature in the MEA dramatically increases with increasing cell temperature and current density. These results might be used to design the PEMFC system and channel flow-field.