Polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Abstract

The practical application of theory to experiment and data analysis is a crucial component of effective advancement of electrochemical systems. This chapter takes the fundamental principles of fuel cell operation and the underlying scientific and engineering principles and applies them to laboratory experiments. Topics covered include experiments showing how fuel cell performance varies with test conditions, methodology to fit experimental data to a simple empirical model to extract physically meaningful parameters that govern fuel cell performance, impedance spectroscopy as a diagnostic for fuel cell performance, and data analyses methods to determine the performance of fuel cells. Methods are also given for the practical measurement of relevant items from cell assembly and cell pinch to relative humidity. While the lessons are relevant to all electrochemical systems, this chapter is primarily targeted at new entrants into this arena wishing to learn the basics of fuel cell operation and testing.