Membrane and cathode catalyst layer numerical simulation of PEMFCs

A transient, one-dimension numerical simulation approaches presented to evaluation proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The model is applied to simulate the membrane and the cathodic catalyst layer of a PEMFC. The numerical model is created using an advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique, combines the electrochemistry process and mass transfer in the PEMFC. It is developed to predict transient behaviors of a PEMFC. The computer simulation result is validated by electrode polarization theory. The simulative results reveal that: (1) at high current densities, the back portion of the cathodic catalyst layer (near xlc=0) is depleted of the dissolved-oxygen; (2) when the thickness of cathodic catalyst layer is decreased, the electrode potential is increase; (3) when the oxygen mole ratio in the fuel cell's entrance is increased, the electrode potential is increase.