A multi-resolution simulation method was developed for the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell simulation: a full 3D model was employed for the membrane and diffusion layer; a 1D+2D model was applied to the catalyst layer, that is, at each location of the fuel cell plate, the governing equations were integrated only in the direction perpendicular to the fuel cell plate; and a quasi-1D model with high numerical efficiency and reasonable accuracy was employed for the flow channels. The simulation accuracy was assessed in terms of the fuel cell polarization curves and membrane Ohmic overpotential. Overall, good agreements between the simulated results and the experimental data were obtained. However, at large current densities, with high relative humidity reactant inputs, the simulation under-predicted the fuel cell performance due to the single-phase assumption; the simulation slightly over-predicted the fuel cell performance for a dry cathode input, possibly due to the nonlinearity of the membrane properties in dehydration case. Further, a parameter study was performed under both fully humidified and relatively dry conditions for the parameters related to the cathode catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer (GDL). It is found that the effects of liquid water in both the GDL and catalyst layer on the cell performance, and the accurate identification of the cathode catalyst layer parameters such as the cathodic transfer coefficient should be focused for future studies in order to further improve the model accuracy.
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e-mail: jwu@cavs.msstate.edu
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February 2006
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
Multi-Resolution PEM Fuel Cell Model Validation and Accuracy Analysis
Qingyun Liu,
Qingyun Liu
Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems,
Mississippi State University
, Box 5405, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-5405
Search for other works by this author on:
Junxiao Wu
Junxiao Wu
Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems,
e-mail: jwu@cavs.msstate.edu
Mississippi State University
, Box 5405, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-5405
Search for other works by this author on:
Qingyun Liu
Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems,
Mississippi State University
, Box 5405, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-5405
Junxiao Wu
Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems,
Mississippi State University
, Box 5405, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-5405e-mail: jwu@cavs.msstate.edu
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Feb 2006, 3(1): 51-61 (11 pages)
Published Online: August 2, 2005
Article history
Received:
May 19, 2005
Revised:
August 2, 2005
Citation
Liu, Q., and Wu, J. (August 2, 2005). "Multi-Resolution PEM Fuel Cell Model Validation and Accuracy Analysis." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. February 2006; 3(1): 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2134737
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