Simulative Investigation on Local Hydrogen Starvation in PEMFCs: Influence of Water Transport and Humidity Conditions

Durability targets of automotive polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) could be crucially threatened by local hydrogen starvation, typically induced blockage gas channels. To gain a deep insight on the evolving such starvation events and related carbon corrosion losses, we have developed numerical model with transient nature that includes detailed transport phenomena electrochemistry. Special focus is water sensitivity relative humidity (RH) both anode cathode sides, whose influences were commonly neglected in starvation-related modeling studies. Utilizing model, show dominating effect in-plane convection within diffusion layer, which again determined accumulation other species including vapor. We demonstrate how this linked management throughout cell. Furthermore, shown to affect current density oxygen permeability, being critical influential factors regarding severity event. The validated conducting distribution measurements. As RH levels are crucial operational conditions PEMFCs, work serves as useful input towards development future operation strategies for better PEMFC durability.