Asymptotic analysis for the inlet relative humidity effects on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

In order to study the inlet relative humidity (RH) effects on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the inlet humidification efficiency (IHE) model is proposed. The total water content of PEMFC is consisted of two parts including the internal electro-migration water content and the external water content of the humidified gas. The dynamic inlet humidification efficiency is derived. The current density of PEMFC is calculated by the incorporating parameters including inlet humidification efficiency and water content of the humidified gas in the IHE model. Firstly, the schedule diagram of calculation is given and the geometric model is established according to actual size of PEMFC. The computational meshes are partitioned by using the software (Gambit). The IHE model is imported into the computational fluid dynamics software (Fluent). Secondly, the experimental system is established and experiments have been done at the operating temperature of 70 °C and at 40% RH, 55% RH, 70% RH, 85% RH and 100% RH, respectively. Finally, the contours of H2O molar concentrations (both in anode channels and cathode channels), membrane water content (MWC) and polarization curves of the IHE model, the Fluent model and experimental are compared and analyzed at above experimental conditions. The results show that the species distribution uniformities of the IHE model such as H2O molar concentrations (both in anode channels and cathode channels) and MWC are the best when the PEMFC at 100% RH. When the operating temperature is 70 °C (40% RH and 350mA/cm2), the accuracy of the IHE model is improved by 79% compared with the Fluent model. When the operating temperature is 70 °C (40% RH and 350mA/cm2), the inlet humidification efficiency reaches 57%.