Computational Modeling and Parametric Analysis of Pem Fuel Cell

Fuel cells are devices for direct conversion of the chemical energy of fuels into electricity by electrochemical reactions. Among the various types of fuel cells, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are considered to be the most suitable system for portable and automobile applications because of their compactness, robustness and operational simplicity. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack forms the heart of such a system.

Understanding the mechanisms inside a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack and designing a typical system are highly involved tasks due to interdependent and complex phenomena involved. This includes electrochemical reactions, gas and water transport through specially designed channels, electrical potential. Nowadays, numerical modeling is used extensively to study these internal phenomena and their design level implications.

This thesis mainly aims at computational modeling and parametric analysis of a typical PEM Fuel Cell. MATLAB and COMSOL software are planned to be used for the purpose. Experimental results will be used to confirm the theoretical understanding.