A three-dimensional steady-state electrochemical mathematical model is developed where the mass, fluid, and thermal transport processes are considered, as well as the electrochemical reaction phenomena. The influences of the parameters of interest, which include porosity, permeability, and the thickness of the gas diffusion layer, and the inlet gas stoichiometric ratio on the performance of fuel cells are identified. By applying the Powell algorithm, the optimum values of multiple parameters are obtained while optimizing the potential of the electrolyte phase at the membrane/cathode interface at a typical value of the cell voltage. Compared with the reference case, the optimized results, such as the oxygen mole fraction and the local current density distribution, provide useful information for a better design of fuel cells.
Issue Section:
Research Papers
1.
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.2.
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.5.
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, and Nguyen
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,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
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.6.
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,” AIChE J.
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.7.
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, J. S.
, and Nguyen
, T. V.
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,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
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, pp. 38
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.8.
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, S.
, Wang
, C. Y.
, and Chen
, K. S.
, 2000, “Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
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, pp. 4485
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.9.
Dutta
, S.
, Shimpalee
, S.
, and Vanzee
, J. W.
, 2000, “Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Straight Channel Pem Fuel Cells
,” J. Appl. Electrochem.
0021-891X, 30
, pp. 135
–146
.10.
Natarajan
, D.
, and Nguyen
, T. V.
, 2003, “Three-Dimensional Effects of Liquid Water Flooding in the Cathode of a Pem Fuel Cell
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 115
, pp. 66
–80
.11.
Hwang
, J. J.
, Chen
, C. K.
, Savinell
, R. F.
, Liu
, C. C.
, and Wainright
, J.
, 2004, “A Three Dimensional Numerical Simulation of the Transport Phenomena in the Cathodic Side of a PEMFC
,” J. Appl. Electrochem.
0021-891X, 34
, pp. 217
–224
.12.
Um
, S.
, and Wang
, C. Y.
, 2004, “Three-Dimensional Analysis of Transport and Electrochemical Reactions in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 125
, pp. 40
–51
.13.
Nguyen
, P. T.
, Berning
, T.
, and Djilali
, N.
, 2004, “Computational Model of a Pem Fuel Cell With Serpentine Gas Flow Channels
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 130
, pp. 149
–157
.14.
Lum
, K. W.
, and McGuirk
, J. J.
, 2005, “Three-Dimensional Model of a Complete Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell—Model Formulation Validation and Parametric Studies
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 143
, pp. 103
–124
.15.
Ying
, W.
, Sohn
, Y.-J.
, Lee
, W.-Y.
, Ke
, J.
, and Kim
, C.-S.
, 2005, “Three-Dimensional Modeling and Experimental Investigation for an Air-Breathing Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 145
(2
), pp. 563
–571
.16.
Tuber
, K.
, Pocza
, D.
, and Hebling
, C.
, 2003, “Visualization of Water Buildup in the Cathode of a Transparent Pem Fuel Cell
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 124
, pp. 403
–414
.17.
Chen
, J. H.
, Matsuura
, T.
, and Hori
, M.
, 2004, “Novel Gas Diffusion Layer With Water Management Function for PEMFC
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 131
, pp. 155
–161
.18.
Hottinen
, T.
, Noponen
, M.
, Mennola
, T.
, Himanen
, O.
, Mikkola
, M.
, and Lund
, P.
, 2003, “Effect of Ambient Conditions on Performance and Current Distribution of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
,” J. Appl. Electrochem.
0021-891X, 34
, pp. 265
–271
.19.
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, M. V.
, Kunz
, H. R.
, and Fenton
, J. M.
, 2004, “Operation of Nafion-Based PEM Fuel Cells With No External Humidification: Influence of Operating Conditions and Gas Diffusion Layers
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 135
, pp. 122
–134
.20.
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, H. K.
, Park
, J. H.
, Kim
, D. Y.
, and Lee
, T. H.
, 2004, “A Study on the Characteristics of the Diffusion Layer Thickness and Porosity of the PEMFC
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 131
, pp. 200
–206
.21.
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, M.
, and Chittajallu
, K. M.
, 2004, “Optimization of the Cathode Geometry in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
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, pp. 5883
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, J. G.
, 2005, “On the Permeability of Gas Diffusion Media Used in PEM Fuel Cells
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 144
, pp. 77
–82
.24.
Um
, S.
, Wang
, C. Y.
, and Chen
, K. S.
, 2000, “Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 147
, pp. 4485
–4493
.25.
Chu
, H.-S.
, Yeh
, C.
, and Chen
, F.
, 2003, “Effects of Porosity Change of Gas Diffuser on Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 123
, pp. 1
–9
.26.
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–301
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