Startup (and Shutdown) Model for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This paper presents a model which goal is to simulate startups and shutdowns of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell, that is to say operation stages where a hydrogen-air front is propagating in the anode compartment from the inlet to outlet. This 2D model is based on a 1D generic electrode model which kinetic and mass transport parameters were fitted by comparison to experimental voltammograms, polarization curves and CO 2 emissions. This simulation tool yields results that are very close to the experimental ones obtained with a segmented cell. It can be used to better understand degradation mechanisms linked with hydrogen starvation events or to explore different mitigation strategies.