Parametric studies of a double-cell stack of PEMFC using Grafoil™ flow-field plates

A parametric study of a double-cell stack of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) using Grafoil(TM) flow-field plates is performed. A self-made membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) is used to integrate the PEMFC. Emphasis is placed on the effect of the transport parameters such as cell temperature, pressure and humidity of the reaction side, and flow-field geometry on the performance of the stack, Potential-current and power-current curves are presented. At a fixed dew point of the incoming reactants, say T-dp = 30 degreesC, increasing the cell operating temperature past a threshold value of about 50 degreesC reduces the cell performance due to membrane dehydration. At a fixed cell operating temperature, a high flow back-pressure increases the cell performance through enhancing the reaction on both electrodes of the fuel cell. Moreover, the cell performance for the pressurised cathode side is better than that for the pressurised anode side due to the favourable back-diffusion of water in the membrane. Finally, empirical correlations are developed to describe the electrode process of the PEMFC stack under various operating conditions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.