The effect of the input load current changed to a 1.2 kW PEMFC performance

Abstract

This paper focuses on the performance and dynamic behavior of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with 1.2 kW under varies of an input load current. The mathematical model of PEMFC is developed based on energy, mass, and electrochemical equation. The some parameters in the model are kept constant. The performance and dynamic behaviors of PEMFC are determined by applied the variety of input load current with different types of input load current, such as saw-tooth, step, step input with dead time, and multi-step input load current. The results of model are compared to the experimental results. The results of the model show that the output cell voltages are suddenly dropped when the input load current have been increased and output cell voltage increased when decreased the input load current. This mathematical model can predict the dynamic behavior of the PEMFC when the input load currents have been changed. The experimental setups use 1.2 kW of PEMFC with connected to electronic load device and can be operated the input load current from 0A to 500A. Hydrogen is used as a fuel at the anode side and air is used at the cathode side. The operating temperature is kept to be constant at room temperature. The experiments show that the output cell voltage is decreased when the input load current increased. There is some slightly different between the model and experiment results when compared at the same conditions. This is because of in the model we kept some parameter constant. The water generated during the process is tested under varying input load current from 1A to 30A. The dynamic behavior of the PEMFC under different types of input load current shows very well. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.