Simulation of PEMFC performance

Abstract

Throughout literature, there are two approaches to estimate fuel cells (FC) performance, by the evaluation of polarization curve. One includes, physical modelling of heat and mass transfer with electrochemical phenomena; the second is based on semiempirical equation used in order to analysis the effect of different physical perturbation on the polarization curve and consider FC as a black box. The aim of this study is to present a simple but enhanced and accurate expression of PEMFC output voltage. The model includes operative conditions, current density and geometric parameter of the FC.

Keywords

• hydrogen
• fuel cells
• proton exchange membrane
• butler-volmer equation
• computer simulation
• electrochemical model
• over potential