A real-time capable quasi-2D proton exchange membrane fuel cell model

In this paper a dynamic proton exchange membrane fuel cell model for real-time applications is presented. Following a quasi-2D approach, effects such as multicomponent diffusion in porous layers, membrane water transport driven by diffusion and electro-osmotic drag as well as membrane nitrogen crossover forced by partial pressure differences, are considered. A linearisation of the governing equations with respect to the previous time step is applied to avoid numerically expensive Newton iterations and to speed up the simulation. Furthermore, a solution method based on Chebyshev collocation minimises the required number of nodes and assures real-time capability. The model is validated in terms of polarisation curves, current density and species distribution versus steady-state computational fluid dynamics simulations of a 3D fuel cell performed in AVL Fire™. The transient behaviour is found to be in good qualitative agreement with results published by other authors. Due to the fast computation capability of the presented model, it is suitable for widespread parameter studies, control unit adjustments or state predictions, e.g. fuel starvation or membrane drying and flooding.