Three dimensional multi-physics modeling and simulation for assessment of mass transport impact on the performance of a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Abstract

The impact of multi-species transports on the performance of a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HTPEMFC) is studied by incorporating multi-physics electro-kinetics in a 3D model at 180 °C. A base-case 3D model simulation was carried-out and the validation results showed a very good agreement with the experimental results. The results showed overall performance improvements in HTPEMFC at various parametric conditions. Higher membrane thickness has reduced the cell performance significantly due to increased membrane resistance to the proton flow whereas higher membrane conductivity produced the largest performance improvements among all operating conditions considered. The results showed that the electrolyte ionic current transport is higher close to the channel and lower in the center regions. The hydrogen concentrations went down significantly at the outlet due to uniform consumption of hydrogen throughout the porous electrode. A non-uniform oxygen concentration pattern was observed within the HTPEMFC due to non-homogeneous transport and consumption of oxygen from inlet to the outlet. The water vapor concentration is higher at the outlet, since more water vapor production through increased electro-chemical reactions, as the reactants transported from inlet to the outlet. The 3D model simulation results will be advantageous for further diagnostic analysis of the HTPEMFC systems.