Three-dimensional modeling and experimental validation of air-breathing PEM fuel cell
The air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most competitive candidates for future portable-power applications. To predict the performance of air-breathing PEMFCs and promote its commercialization, a three-dimensional mathematical model was developed,including full governing equations for fluid dynamics, electrode kinetics, and water transport in membrane. The model was numerically solved with commercial CFD tool STAR-CD and user-defined subroutine in FORTRAN code using the finite-difference technique. According to the numerical results, the experiment system was designed. The performance of an air-breathing PEMFC and temperature distribution on the surface of diffusion layer was tested. The calculated cell performance curve was in good agreement with experimental results.It was demonstrated that the oxygen mass transfer rate by natural convection played a major role in cell performance and the interaction of velocity, temperature, current density, water concentration. The model could be used as a computer-aided design tool for an air-breathing PEMFC to obtain better cell performance.