Experimental and numerical investigation of a PEMFC single cell and stack analysis

Abstract

The present paper describes the work being done by INTA and University of Seville – AICIA in the framework of a joint research project in the field of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). The main objective of the project is to develop a novel methodology for the characterization and investigation of fuel cell stacks, that combines experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. A CFD model based on the PEMFC Module implemented in FLUENT software is being developed for a single cell, and the polarization curve obtained is being validated against experimental results obtained at INTA facilities. At a second stage of the investigation, a method for the extrapolation of CFD single cell results to the complete stack is developed. The extrapolation method is being validated against experimental results obtained for the fuel cell stack with different numbers of cells. This paper describes the results of the early stages of the investigation and presents the methodology developed for the project. The developed model would allow researchers to use CFD for the complete fuel cell stack with reasonable computing facilities.