Numerical Modeling and Evaluation of PEM Used for Fuel Cell Vehicles

Abstract

The present study sought to analyze a novel type of polymer membrane fuel cell to be used in vehicles. The performance of the fuel cell was evaluated by modeling the types of production–consumption heat in the anode and cathode (including half-reaction heat, activation heat, and absorption/desorption heat) and waterflood conditions. The meshing of flow channels was carried out by square cells and the governing equations were numerically discretized in the steady mode using the finite difference method followed by solving in MATLAB software. Based on the simulation results, the anodic absorption/desorption heat, anodic half-reaction heat, and cathodic activation heat are positive while the cathodic absorption/desorption heat and cathodic half-reaction heat show negative values. All heat values exhibit a decremental trend over the flow channel. Considering the effect of relative humidity, the relative humidity of the cathode showed no significant change while the anode relative humidity decreased along the flow channel. The velocity at the membrane layer was considerably lower, due to the smaller permeability coefficient of this layer compared to the gas diffusion and reactants (cathode) layers.