PEMFC model development for designing MEA: Model Validation and a Parameter Study for Low Humidity Operations

摘要

We have developed mathematical models of PEMFC to design MEA. For quantitative simulations, a model is required to reflect the effects of the physical properties of each component and the operating conditions of a cell accurately. Therefore, the model was constructed with as many principal physical equations as possible and was validated with experimental data from a wide range of conditions. Here, we examined the effect of some physical parameters of membrane for low-humidity operation. The importance of water diffusion as well as proton conductivity was shown. The orders of performance for small-size cells with high gas stoichiometry are often different from that of large-size cells with the same parameters. The reason for this discrepancy is explained.