Modeling of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell based on a generic experimental method

Water management is an important factor in the optimal performance of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). In this paper, a PEFC model that facilitates the control of PEFC membrane humidity is presented. We propose an efficient modeling procedure using a combination of mathematical and experimental techniques. We have adopted a simple mathematical structure for the model and performed experiments to measure the PEFC output voltage and the net water transport across the membrane. The modeling procedure we have proposed can be generally used for modeling the water transport within a PEFC regardless of its membrane type. The PEFC model we have developed effectively predicts the steady state water transport behavior and quantifies the irreversibilities in the PEFC output voltage.