A simple tanks-in-series model is presented, which allows for the understanding of the basic physics behind complex spatiotemporal behaviors observed in self-humidified polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Our approach is focused on how the intrinsically nonlinear dynamics of water formation couples with water transport, leading to multistability, inhomogeneous steady state current pr...

We present a novel, thermodynamically consistent, model for the charged-fluid flow and the deformation of the morphology of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) in hydrogen fuel cells. The solid membrane is assumed to obey linear elasticity, while the pore is completely filled with protonated water, considered as a Stokes flow. The model comprises a system of partial differential equations and b...

Owing to their high efficiency and energy density, miniaturized fuel cells are an attractive alternative to batteries in the mW-W power generation market for portable consumer and military electronic devices [cf. 1-3]. Hydrogen is being actively considered as a fuel for power generation. It can be supplied either by storage devices or its in-situ generation using reformers. However, safety and ...

In this paper, fault-tolerant MPC control of PEM fuel cells is addressed. MPC is a suitable control methodology to control fuel cell systems because of their multivariable and complex behaviour. Additionally, MPC is one of the control methodologies that can introduce more easily fault-tolerance. However, the problem of including actuator fault-tolerance in the control loops of these systems has...

The design of electrodes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is a delicate balancing of transport media. Conductance of gas, electrons, and protons must be optimized to provide efficient transport to and from the electrochemical reactions. This is accomplished through careful consideration of the volume of conducting media required by each phase and the distribution of the respe...

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are becoming more popular as an energy conversion device because its efficiency and simplicity in design and operation. Significant improvements and recent developments in the areas of water and heat management, membranes, electrode designs, and, most recently, the interdigitated flow field design, have increased greatly the attractiveness of this syste...

Identification of low cost, highly active, durable completely noble metal-free electro-catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in PEM based water electrolysis and metal air batteries remains one of the major unfulfilled scientific and technological challenges of PEM based acid mediated electro-catalysts. In contr...

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with a dead-ended anode and cathode can obtain high hydrogen and oxygen utilization by a comparatively simple system. Nevertheless, the accumulation of the water in the anode and cathode channels might cause a local fuel starvation degrading the performance and durability of PEMFCs. In this study, a brand new design for a polymer electrolyte membrane...

The potential of hydrogen as a future energy carrier is only fully unleashed if fuel processors generating hydrogen of a suitable purity can be engineered. Selective methanation of CO can be used as a first step for cleaning up feed gas for e.g. proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells [1] where CO poisons the platinum electrodes and for removing oxygen containing compounds in hydrogen feeds u...