SCALE-UP AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF A MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF A PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL STACK

The implementation and the validation of a mathematical model of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell are illustrated. The model was created implementing in C-mex Sfunctions, in Matlab and Simulink environment, theoretical equations founded in literature, describing the common behaviour of a fuel cell in terms of voltage drops and transient phenomena. The dynamic behaviour of the reactant species inside the flow channel and the effect of water content in the membrane are also taken into account.
The equation parameters of the fuel cell were suited to those of a 25 cm² PEM single cell by means of fitting methods in different operative conditions (temperature and inlet gas composition). The model was fully validated by the comparison with the experimental polarisation curves of the 25 cm² PEM single cell.
In order to obtain a tool that described the transient behaviour of a larger power system (e.g. For distributed (co)generation or transportation application) a thermal management unit was added referring to arcotronics penta h2, a 5 kw power system available in environment park hydrogen system laboratory. The main parameters describing the fuel cell behaviour were then suited to the new configuration and their influence on the scaling-up was analysed obtaining a study of the most critical factors in fuel cell operation.