A distributed dynamic model for chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry and gas starvation studies in PEM fuel cell cathode

Electrochemical systems differ significantly from conventional chemical systems. The response of voltage to changes in current and that of current to changes in voltage is much faster compared to typical transients observed in transport variables. In this work, the transient characteristics of various transport and electrochemical phenomena are studied in the PEM fuel cell cathode using a dynamic model. Model-based chronoamperometry and chronopotentiometry studies are performed to investigate the interactions among the various phenomena and the limiting mechanisms under various operating modes. The dynamic response of current to changes in voltage under chronoamperometry and that of voltage to changes in current under chronopotentiometry are found to be significantly different. Moreover, it is also observed through simulations that the dynamics in the output variables are strongly influenced by the operating cell voltage. Results from chronoamperometry studies are used to highlight the problem of oxygen starvation, which is also reflected by the magnitude of oxygen excess ratio or stoichiometric ratio. Results from step tests in chronopotentiometry studies are used to study nonlinearities in the response of voltage to changes in inputs such as, current and air flow rate.