Three-dimensional non-isothermal model development of high temperature PEM Fuel Cells

A three-dimensional non-isothermal mathematical model is developed in a triple mixed serpentine flow multichannel domain for a high temperature PEM Fuel Cell having a phosphoric acid doped PBI membrane as electrolyte and an active area of 25 cm2 within Comsol Multiphysics. The inlet temperatures of cathode and anode reactants are taken as 438 K. Model predicts pressure, and temperature distribution along the channels and membrane current density distribution over the membrane electrodes. The model results are obtained at two different operation voltages, 0.45 V and 0.60 V. Resulting average current densities are respectively 0.313 A cm−2 and 0.224 A cm−2. The non-isothermal model results are compared to isothermal model results from a previous study and various other single channel non-isothermal model results available in the literature. The pressure drop at cathode compartment is predicted to be 6500 Pa, whereas it is found to be 6400 Pa for the isothermal model. The temperature difference within the system is found to be 0.18 K for the operation voltage of 0.6 V, whereas this value increases to 0.31 K for the operation voltage of 0.45 V. The temperature difference isocontours are illustrated for the whole cell. Considering changes in temperature, one can employ isothermal operation assumption for this system as an approximation and simplification for the governing equations, since the variation in the temperature within the cell is less than 1 K. It should be emphasized that multichannel model predictions are more realistic compared to single channel models. The model developed here can be extended to larger electrode active area and different multichannel configurations.