NUMERICAL-ANALYSIS TO THE CATALYST LAYER MODEL OF PAFC AIR ELECTRODE

A mathematic model is proposed to characterize the performance of air electrodes in phosphoric acid fuel cells(PAFC). Stefan-Maxwell equatio n is used to describe the mass transfer of multicomponents in hydropho bic pores of the catalyst layer, The latest development in O-2 reducti on research is taken into account of the model establishment, A method to estimate the parameters introduced to the model is also recommende d, A program of solving mathematic model is programmed with FORTRAN 77 , The potential current functions obtained from calculation with the p resent model are very close to those from experiments, Some quantitati ve conclusions on air electrodes were drawn through the analysis of ai r electrode process with the aid of the present model.