Analysis of stack operating conditions for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

SAKA K., Orhan M. F.

ENERGY, cilt.258, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 258
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124858
  • Dergi Adı: ENERGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Computer & Applied Sciences, Environment Index, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Fuel cells, Operating conditions, Proton exchange membrane, Water management, Reactant flow rates, RELATIVE-HUMIDITY, PERFORMANCE, PRESSURE, PARAMETERS
  • Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is investigated in this study to assess its efficiency. In this regard, various operating conditions such as cell temperature, pressure, reactant/product flow rates and humidity affects are investigated analytically, and their interrelationships are discussed. The stack water management, mass transport phenomenon, ionic and electrical conductivity are also evaluated. The results are experimentally verified using a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with an active surface area of 100 centimeters square. The membrane electrode assembly consists of Nafion (R) HP membrane. Also, AvCarb EP40 gas diffusion layers with 200 mu m thicknesses are used. Results confirm that the overall stack efficiency can increase remarkably with the optimization of its operating parameters. The highest efficiencies are achieved around 100% humidity ratio of reactants at both cathode and anode. While high operating pressures improves individual cell efficiency, there are contradictory concerns at the stack level such as parasitic loads, losses, leakages and manufacturing costs.