A major issue of polymer-electrolyte-membrane (PEM) fuel cell operation is the water management of the cells. This article tries to contribute to an improved understanding of flooding/drying out effects by performing a analysis for a rigorous two-phase PEM fuel cell model. The model is examined by means of a bifurcation analysis. This investigation is performed numerically with parameter continuation methods. The nonlinear behavior is qualified and possible instabilities are detected. A steady state multiplicity is found. The multiplicity is physically explained and the influence of selected fuel cell parameters is investigated. The multiplicity is finally verified in a dynamic simulation. The future work aims at a model reduction of the analyzed fuel cell model to gain a low order model suitable for model-based control strategies.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
bifurcation, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, PEM fuel cell, flooding/drying out, multiplicity, nonlinear analysis
Topics:
Bifurcation, Catalysts, Fuel cells, Gas diffusion layers, Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Steady state, Water, Simulation, Permeability, Porosity, Anodes, Membranes, Drying, Floods
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Copyright © 2008
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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