Modeling and simulation of PEM Used for Automotive Applications

Not only are Fuel cell vehicles one of the significant options to replace gasoline engines, but they also come with a multitude number of benefits; For instance, fuel cell efficiency is more than about three times the efficiency of engines with internal combustion. According to the specific complexities of modeling the behavior of PEMFC, determining the performance of this system in case of its structural characteristics is considered as one of the parameters needed to better know of behavior the PEMFC. The present study attempts to find and examine a polymer membrane fuel cell for utilizing in a vehicle. To examine the performance of fuel cells, the modeling process was done by addressing diverse production-consumption heat in the anode and cathode positions and waterflood conditions. Using quadratic method, the flow channels were meshed and based on the finite difference method the mathematical equations were numerically discretized in the steady-state. Based on the simulation results, all heat values decrease over the channel of flow. By evaluating the relative humidity effect, it was obvious that the cathode relative humidity didn’t change considerably along the channel of flow and at the same time, the relative humidity of the anode decreased along the channel of flow. There was a significantly low membrane layer velocity given the fact that this layer had a lower permeability coefficient in comparison with reactant layers and gas diffusion (Average Reynolds number: 612).