Computationally efficient multi-phase models for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell: Asymptotic reduction and thermal decoupling

Generally, multi-phase models for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that seek to capture the local transport phenomena are inherently non-linear with high computational overhead. We address the latter with a reduced multi-phase, multicomponent, and non-isothermal model that is inexpensive to compute without sacrificing geometrical resolution and the salient features of the PEMFC – this is accomplished by considering a PEMFC equipped with porous-type flow fields coupled with scaling arguments and leading-order asymptotics. The reduced model is verified with the calibrated and validated full model for three different experimental fuel cells: good agreement is found. Overall, memory requirements and computational time are reduced by around 2–3 orders of magnitude. In addition, thermal decoupling is explored in an attempt to further reduce computational cost. Finally, we discuss how other types of flow fields and transient conditions can be incorporated into the mathematical and numerical framework presented here.

► Reduced multi-phase, multicomponent, and non-isothermal model is derived.
► The model captures salient features of a PEMFC and preserves geometrical resolution.
► The model is verified and validated with experiments.
► A reduction in computational cost of around 2–3 orders of magnitude is achieved.
► Thermal decoupling is explored to further reduce computational cost.