The identification of optimal operating parameters under high energy efficiency conditions for a single polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell

Abstract

The performance of PEM fuel cells is influenced by several factors such as: the operating temperature of the cell, the reactant gas flow, work pressures, the reaction gas humidity. In the present work we aimed to identify the optimal values of these parameters for operation of a PEM cell to achieve maximum power in conditions of high efficiency; the technological possibilities of its use in a portable energy application have been evaluated. Experimental measurements regarding the integrating polymeric membrane in three different fuel cell construction designed were performed. The influence of the mechanical compression of the GDL diffusion layer on the total internal resistance of the cell was achieved by comparative analysis of the polarization curves. It was found that as the deformation level of the MEA increases, the power generated by the battery increases progressively. The resulting experimental data subsequently allowed the design and implementation of a PEM fuel cell assembly, fully functional at power level, corresponding to the number of constituent elements.