Modeling and Simulation of a PEMFC Using Three-Dimensional Multi-Phase Computational Fluid Dynamics Model

Abstract

The objective of this study is to develop the numerical, full three-dimensional, non-isothermal computational fluid dynamics model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with straight flow field channels. A steady-state and single-phase model are employed in order to locate the optimal dimensions of the studied fuel cell that deliver the optimum performance and stationary modeling of a PEM fuel cell to study mass concentration, velocity distribution, and current density distribution. The model includes gas transport and charge transport in the diffusion layers.The performance of the fuel cell under various working conditions has been analyzed in detail and reviewed. The analysis allowed the identification of relevant critical parameters and an understanding of the physical mechanisms behind the performance of fuel cells under various operating conditions. All model equations are solved by the finite element method using commercial physical software ANSYS Fluent. Comprehensive analyses of fuel cell performance under various operating situations have been carried out and examined.