Session: 03-03 Hydrogen Sustainability, Affordability and Safety

Paper Number: 103634

103634 - Analysis and Optimization of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (Pemfc) 

Increased focus on net-zero carbon emission in various industries has called for diversification of sustainable energy sources to limit the dependency on fossil fuels. Hydrogen fuel cells have thus become a promising technology offering zero emission and high efficiency. A fuel cell is a simple device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy with by-products being water and heat. It has a myriad of applications in the portable, stationary, automotive and aviation industries. Intense development in fuel cell technology makes use of extensive CFD modelling to produce more efficient PEMFC cells which also have reduced weight, and cost. The purpose of this paper is first to simulate and analyse in detail the distribution of reactant species along the channels, water content, and temperature distribution This is carried out by conducting a multiphase simulation over a 22-channel serpentine Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) using commercial CAE software (ANSYS) with a PEMFC add-on module integrated with the electrochemistry solver. The simulation results are validated by comparing the resultant polarization curve to the available experimental data. The analysis is then extended to the optimization of fuel cells by parameterising the PEMFC fuel and air passages, and then conducting a Design of Experiment (DOE) which can  be used to produce an optimal combination of parameters influencing the performance of the fuel cell.

 

Presenting Author: Neha Singh Rolls-Royce

Presenting Author Biography: Engineering and Technology Intern working at Rolls-Royce in Derby.

Authors:

Neha Singh Rolls-Royce
Shahpar Shahrokh Rolls-Royce
Tristanto Indi Rolls-Royce