Evaluation of Generation Current inside Membrane Electrode Assembly in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Using Static Magnetic Field around Fuel Cell

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is one of desired clean energy converters. In order to raise the power generation efficiency of PEFC, it is necessary to monitor the generation of current inside MEA (membrane electrode assembly) in PEFC. In this paper, a non-contacting technique for detecting the distribution of power generation current inside the MEA using the static magnetic field around the PEFC is examined. The estimating method of the generation current distribution using the extended evolution strategy by 3D FEM (finite element method) is proposed, and the effectiveness of the method is investigated by verification experiment using an actual fuel cell.