Quantum mechanics

Phase (matter)

Engineering

Materials science

Chromatography

Cathode

Fuel cells

Biochemistry

Chemical engineering

Current (fluid)

Physical chemistry

Polarization (electrochemistry)

Thermodynamics

Physics

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Nuclear engineering

Organic chemistry

Membrane

Oxygen

Environmental science

Analytical Chemistry (journal)

Isothermal process

Chemistry

Current density

Mechanics

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) multi-phase non-isothermal model of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is present to investigate the current density spatial distributions under different output voltages, temperatures, current densities and relative humidities (RH). Two sets of experimental data are selected for validation, including those from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States and the University of Waterloo in Canada. Reasonable agreements are achieved between the model prediction and experimental measurements, indicative of the validity of this 3D model. In addition, it is found that under a higher RH of 50%, most electric current is produced near the cathode inlet, which is primarily due to the local availability of abundant oxygen and hence small transport polarization. Low current occurs near the outlet of the cathode air flow, as a result of oxygen consumption by the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Under a lower RH of 25%, the high current density region shifts to the middle of the fuel cell, which is primarily attributed to hydration of the dry membrane by water production. In our case study, the operating temperature has little impact on the current density distribution.

Investigation of current density spatial distribution in PEM fuel cells using a comprehensively validated multi-phase non-isothermal model