Electrochemical model for proton exchange membrane fuel cells systems

This paper presents an electrochemical model for simulation and evaluation of the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The results of the model are used to predict the efficiency and power of the fuel cell as a function of operational parameters of the cell, like temperature, partial pressures and membrane humidity. The influence of temperature on fuel cell’s characteristics is more pronounced than the influence of partial pressures and membrane humidity. The effect of platinum loading on cell performance is examined with Pt loadings of 0.18, 0.38 and 0.4 mg cm-2. The kinetic parameters (electron transfer coefficient, exchange current density) are found to be platinum loading dependent.