Sensitivity analysis of structural parameters for PEMFCs based on 1D transient model and elementary effect method

Abstract

ABSTRACT To investigate the influences of structural parameters on output performances and further quantify the degree of influences, a one-dimensional transient multiphase proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) model and a global sensitivity analysis model were established. After rigorous model validation, structural parameters such as the thickness of proton exchange membrane (MEM), catalytic layer (CL), micro-porous layer (MPL), and gas diffusion layer (GDL) as well as the porosity of CL, MPL, and GDL were studied. The ionomer volume fraction of cathode and anode were also studied. Increasing the thickness of MEM and CL decreases the membrane water content and increases the ohmic voltage loss. The increase of thickness leads to longer reaction gas transfer path and increase of transfer resistance. The increase of porosity increases the concentration of the reaction gas . However, too high porosity will reduce the effective ion conductivity . The increase of ionomer volume fraction is beneficial to electrochemical reaction. Based on quantitative sensitivity analysis, the MEM thickness and the anode ionomer volume fraction are defined as highly sensitive parameters. The MPL thickness and the GDL porosity are defined as insensitive parameters. The sensitivity of MEM thickness, CL thickness, and anode ionomer volume fraction become more prominent in large current density regions.