MATHEMATICAL-MODELING OF PROTON-EXCHANGE-MEMBRANE FUEL-CELL STACKS

A mathematical framework for the design of proton exchange membrane fu el-cell stacks has been established. Sensitivity analysis on the stead y-state model of a single fuel cell identified the inlet gas flow rate s, the operating pressure, and the temperatures as the important opera ting parameters. A performance model of a flow field is developed to d escribe the flow of the reactant gases across a single cell. The react ant flow in the stack manifold is modeled to provide an engineering es timate of the variations in gas flow to the individual fuel cells in t he stack. The single-cell model is integrated with the performance mod el of the flow field and the stack-gas manifold to predict the operati onal characteristics of the fuel-cell stack.