Investigating the transport characteristics and cell performance for a micro PEMFC through the micro sensors and CFD simulations

The local transport characteristics and the global polarization curve for a self-made micro proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) have been experimentally and numerically investigated in this paper. The micro-sensors are developed to measure the local fluid temperature, cell voltage, and current density and the fuel cell test system is used to measure the polarization curve. A three-dimensional (3-D) non-isothermal compressible computational fluid dynamics (CFD) full-cell model is also adopted to simulate the test micro PEMFC. This CFD model has been validated with these global and local data. The ionic conductivity is increased as the water content in the membrane increases, enhancing the cell performance. This positive effect of inlet fuel humidity on the cell performance is also captured by the CFD simulation model.

► A self-made micro PEMFC has been investigated in this paper. ► Micro sensors are developed to measure the local parameters in this micro PEMFC. ► A 3-D non-isothermal CFD full-cell model is used to simulate the micro PEMFC. ► Inlet humidity effect on the cell performance is considered in the simulations. ► Present CFD model is validated with the local data measured from micro-sensors.