Performance Analysis of PEM Fuel Cell Using Pulsation Approach

Abstract

Fuel cell operation with a dead-ended systems anode reduces fuel cell system cost, weight, and volume because the anode external humidification and recirculation hardware can be eliminated. However, water accumulation is one of the key factors which influence the stability of its performance. Generally, the anode flooding of PEMFC with anodic dead-end operating mode can be avoided by using periodic purge process. But such an operating method can lower the utilization efficiency of hydrogen because small amount of hydrogen is expelled out of fuel cell and wasted. In order to improve the utilization efficiency of hydrogen, the pulsating technique at anode has been proposed. In this paper, the investigation of the hydrogen pulsation effects for PEMFC stack has been made, with only continuous hydrogen supply, with between continuous hydrogen and pulsation hydrogen at different positions, such as the inlet or outlet of anode. The results shows that the performance of a PEMFC stack has been improved significantly when the pulsation hydrogen flow introduced from the outlet at anode.