Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Modeling [Hardcover]

The fuel cell is a potential candidate for energy storage and conversion in our future energy mix. It is able to directly convert the chemical energy stored in fuel (e.g. hydrogen) into electricity, without undergoing different intermediary conversion steps. In the field of mobile and stationary applications, it is considered to be one of the future energy solutions.
Among the different fuel cell types, the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell has shown great potential in mobile applications, due to its low operating temperature, solid-state electrolyte and compactness.
This book presents a detailed state of art of PEM fuel cell modeling, with very detailed physical phenomena equations in different physical domains. Examples and a fully coupled multi-physical 1.2 kW PEMFC model are given help the reader better understand how to use the equations.

Introduction ix

Nomenclature xiii

Part 1: State of the Art: Of Fuel Cells Modeling 1

Chapter 1. General Introduction 3

1.1. What is a fuel cell? 3

1.2. Types of fuel cells 5

Chapter 2. PEMFC Structure 13

2.1. Bipolar plates 15

2.2. Membrane electrode assembly 16

Chapter 3. Why Model a Fuel Cell? 21

3.1. Advantages of modeling and simulation 22

3.2. Complex system modeling methods 23

3.3. Modeling goals 26

Chapter 4. How Can a Fuel Cell be Modeled? 31

4.1. Space dimension: 0D, 1D, 2D, 3D 31

4.2. Temporal behavior: static or dynamic 32

4.3. Type: analytical, semi-empirical, empirical 33

4.4. Modeled areas: stack, single cell, individual layer 34

4.5. Modeled phel'