Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) with Different Fuel Flow Rate in Improving Fuel Cell Performance

Abstract

The PEM fuel cell was examined using numerical simulation in varied circumstances. To restore the fuel cell performance, a 3D-based PEMFC model was designed employing COMSOL Multiphysics 5.1. The analysis validity was confirmed using the V-I curves derived from data analysis in varied operational circumstances. The continuity, momentum, species transport and charge equations were used to represent the cell transport phenomenon. The flow of permeable medium in the gas diffusion layer was defined by employing Brinkman equations. V-I curves were obtained using the Butler-Volmer equations. According to findings, the current supply in the cathode catalyst layer achieves an optimum one, functioning as mass transport, ionic and charge transport resistances. It indicates optimum current supply in the cell holds a feature of highest oxygen deprivation on the channel's output side.