Optimizing Structural Parameters of PEMFC Based on Taguchi Method

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has become one of the new energy vehicle powertrains due to its special advantages, such as no pollution to the environment, high energy efficiency and power density. In order to improve the performance, a three-dimensional simulation model of the actual PEMFC is constructed. Combined with the mathematical models such as the electrochemical model and current conservation model, the model is calibrated by experiments. When the working voltage is 0.64 V, the error of the simulation results is 0.73%, compared with the experimental data. Then, the Taguchi method is used to design a multi-factor and multi-level orthogonal experimental scheme of PEMFC. Based on the orthogonal experimental table, the effects of different anode wave channel distortion, gas diffusion layer thickness and gas diffusion layer porosity on the current density are studied with a simulation experiment. The influence of the above factors on the orthogonal experiment results is analyzed by the signal-to-noise ratio. The regression equation is obtained by calculating the orthogonal experimental data. The t-test results are greater than 3.49, which indicates that each independent variable in the regression equation is important. R2 test is 0.915, and the F test is 53.508, indicating that the regression equation is significant and the optimal and worst structural parameter combinations are predicted. The current density reaches 14,190.18 A/m2 under the optimal structure combination, which is 6.14% higher than the calibrated model. Single factor experiments are carried out on these three different structural parameters to verify the effectiveness of the Taguchi method, and the best combination of structural parameters is obtained.