Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Modeling
1. Edition December 2011
256 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
The fuel cell is a potential candidate for energy storage and
conversion in our future energy mix. It is able to directly convert
the chemical energy stored in fuel (e.g. hydrogen) into
electricity, without undergoing different intermediary conversion
steps. In the field of mobile and stationary applications, it is
considered to be one of the future energy solutions.
Among the different fuel cell types, the proton exchange membrane
(PEM) fuel cell has shown great potential in mobile applications,
due to its low operating temperature, solid-state electrolyte and
compactness.
This book presents a detailed state of art of PEM fuel cell
modeling, with very detailed physical phenomena equations in
different physical domains. Examples and a fully coupled
multi-physical 1.2 kW PEMFC model are given help the reader better
understand how to use the equations.
Nomenclature xiii
Part 1: State of the Art: Of Fuel Cells Modeling 1
Chapter 1. General Introduction 3
1.1. What is a fuel cell? 3
1.2. Types of fuel cells 5
Chapter 2. PEMFC Structure 13
2.1. Bipolar plates 15
2.2. Membrane electrode assembly 16
Chapter 3. Why Model a Fuel Cell? 21
3.1. Advantages of modeling and simulation 22
3.2. Complex system modeling methods 23
3.3. Modeling goals 26
Chapter 4. How Can a Fuel Cell be Modeled? 31
4.1. Space dimension: 0D, 1D, 2D, 3D 31
4.2. Temporal behavior: static or dynamic 32
4.3. Type: analytical, semi-empirical, empirical 33
4.4. Modeled areas: stack, single cell, individual layer 34
4.5. Modeled phenomena 35
Chapter 5. Literature Models Synthesis 37
5.1. 50 models published in the literature 37
5.2. Model classification 42
Part 2: Modeling of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell 47
Chapter 6. Model Structural and Functional Approaches 49
Chapter 7. Stack-Level Modeling 53
7.1. Electrical domain 53
7.2. Fluidic domain 54
7.3. Thermal domain 61
Chapter 8. Cell-Level Modeling (Membrane-Electrode Assembly, MEA) 69
8.1. Electrical domain 69
8.2. Fluidic domain 85
8.3. Thermal domain 89
Chapter 9. Individual Layer Level Modeling 91
9.1. Electrical domain 91
9.2. Fluidic domain 104
9.3. Thermal domain 134
Chapter 10. Finite Element and Finite Volume Approach 141
10.1. Conservation of mass 141
10.2. Conservation of momentum 142
10.3. Conservation of matter 143
10.4. Conservation of charge 143
10.5. Conservation of energy 144
Part 3: 1D Dynamic Model of a Nexa Fuel Cell Stack 147
Chapter 11. Detailed Nexa Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack Modeling 149
11.1. Modeling hypotheses 149
11.2. Modeling in the electrical domain 150
11.3. Modeling in the fluidic domain 159
11.4. Thermal domain modeling 179
11.5. Set of adjustable parameters 201
Chapter 12. Model Experimental Validation 205
12.1. Multiphysical model validation with a 1.2 kW fuel cell stack 205
Bibliography 227
Index 235
A. Miraoui is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Transport and Systems Laboratory (SeT), Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM), Belfort Cedex, France.
