International Journal of Automotive Technology

The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers (한국자동차공학회)
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SIMULATION OF UNIT CELL PERFORMANCE IN THE POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL

  • Kim, H.G. (Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Jeonju University) ;
  • Kim, Y.S. (Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Jeonju University) ;
  • Shu, Z. (Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Jeonju University)
  • Published : 2006.12.01
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Abstract

Fuel cells are devices that convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy. Owing to the high efficiency of the fuel cells, a large number of research work have been done during these years. Among many kinds of the fuel cells, a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is such kind of thing which works under low temperature. Because of the specialty, it stimulated intense global R&D competition. Most of the major world automakers are racing to develop polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, there are still many problems to be solved in order to make them into the commercial use, such as the thermal and water management in working process of PEMFCs. To solve the difficulites facing the researcher, the analysis of the inner mechanism of PEMFC should be implemented as much as possible and mathematical modeling is an important tool for the research of the fuel cell especially with the combination of experiment. By regarding some of the assumptions and simplifications, using the finite element technique, a two-dimensional electrochemical mode is presented in this paper for the further comparison with experimental data. Based on the principals of the problem, the equations of electronic charge conservation equation, gas-phase continuity equation, and mass balance equation are used in calculating. Finally, modeling results indicate some of the phenomenon in a unit cell, and the relationships between potential and current density.

Keywords

References

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