Performance Study of PEM Fuel Cell under Different Loading Conditions

Abstract

The effects of different operating parameters on the performance of a 1200W polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell have been studied experimentally using pure hydrogen (H2) on the anode side and air on the cathode side. The experimental results are obtained in the form of polarization curves for two kinds of electronic loading such as constant current mode and constant power mode. Various characteristic curves of the fuel cell, such as voltage vs. current density, power vs. current density, current vs. H2 flow, efficiency vs. current density, efficiency vs. temperature and efficiency vs. pressure are determined experimentally. The experimental results are compared with the theoretical determined values. For the theoretical calculation of voltage, the Tafel equation and Nernst equation are used. The effective exchange current density at any temperature or pressures is determined by the Butler-Volmer equation. The comparison shows good agreements between the theoretical and the experimental data.