During the operation of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, significant variation of the local current density could exist across the cell causing sharp temperature and stress gradients in certain points, and affecting the water management, all of which severely impact the cell performance and reliability. The variation of local current density is a critical issue in the performance of PEM fuel cell, and is influenced by the operating conditions. This article presents a model-assisted parametric design with the objective of determining the operating conditions which maximize the fuel cell performance while maintaining a level of uniformity in the current density distribution. A comprehensive two-dimensional model is adopted to simulate the species transport and electrochemical phenomena in a PEM fuel cell. Numerical simulations are performed for over a wide range of operating conditions to analyze the effects of various operating parameters on the variation of local current density of the fuel cell, and to develop design windows which serve as guideline in the design for maximum power density, minimum reactant stoichiometry, and uniform current density distribution.
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November 2006
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
Effects of Operating Parameters on the Current Density Distribution in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Y. Zhang,
Y. Zhang
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
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A. Mawardi,
A. Mawardi
Member, ASME
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Search for other works by this author on:
R. Pitchumani
R. Pitchumani
Fellow, ASME
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Search for other works by this author on:
Y. Zhang
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
A. Mawardi
Member, ASME
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
R. Pitchumani
Fellow, ASME
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Nov 2006, 3(4): 464-476 (13 pages)
Published Online: March 15, 2006
Article history
Received:
December 8, 2005
Revised:
March 15, 2006
Citation
Zhang, Y., Mawardi, A., and Pitchumani, R. (March 15, 2006). "Effects of Operating Parameters on the Current Density Distribution in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. November 2006; 3(4): 464–476. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2349531
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