Investigating the combinations of operating parameters of PEMFC computational results using the Taguchi Method

Abstract

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) is considered a promising energy source due to higher energy efficiency, low pollution, fast startup time, and low operating temperature. Under simplified conditions of constant temperature and one-dimensional flow, through the channel, and zero-flux boundaries the model was solved. The model was validated using COMSOL Multiphysics software and experimental results with a 4.22 % and 5.5 % deviation. The Taguchi Method was used to study the operating parameters of PEMFCs and to identify optimal combinations for best output along with developing equations to predict maximum power density. The delta i.e. the difference between the mean of high- and low-level Signal to Noise (S/N) ratios was calculated and found that the relative humidity was significant with value 11.07. The optimum combination is found with the help of the S/N ratio graph based on the larger the better for the performance application. The maximum power density value was predicted using the equation and found to be deviated by 16.5 % with the help of an L8 orthogonal array. Modified Taguchi approach with L4 orthogonal array with a fixed level of higher derivation parameter, reduced the error deviation further to 6.5 % with respect to the simulation results. The approach will be handy for predicting the performance with fewer trials.