PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration Loss

The performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is greatly affected by their operating parameters, especially at high current densities. An advanced concentration loss model is proposed to improve a semi-empirical model describing PEMFC polarization, with the aim of accurate predicti...

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Main Authors: Qinwen Yang, Xuan Liu, Gang Xiao, Zhen Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1754
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author Qinwen Yang
Xuan Liu
Gang Xiao
Zhen Zhang
author_facet Qinwen Yang
Xuan Liu
Gang Xiao
Zhen Zhang
author_sort Qinwen Yang
collection DOAJ
description The performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is greatly affected by their operating parameters, especially at high current densities. An advanced concentration loss model is proposed to improve a semi-empirical model describing PEMFC polarization, with the aim of accurate prediction at the whole current density interval from low to high levels. Experiments are designed to verify the improved semi-empirical model. Model comparison shows that the improved semi-empirical model has a better prediction accuracy and generalization ability than others. The effects of operating parameters and structural parameters on PEMFC performance are analyzed. The results indicate that a relatively high operating temperature, pressure, and gas diffusion layer (GDL) porosity can increase PEMFC performance. The influence of relative humidity and PEM thickness on PEMFC performance is different at low and high current densities. A relatively high humidity can improve PEMFC performance at a low current density, but PEMFC performance will be reduced if the relative humidity is too high at a high current density. A thinner PEM thickness can improve PEMFC performance at a low current density, but PEMFC performance does not necessarily improve with a decreasing PEM thickness at a high current density. Overall, the improved semi-empirical model realizes an accurate analysis of PEMFC performance from a low to high current density.
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spelling doaj-art-3e7392270568449d85d9e6ed3ffcdfda2025-08-20T03:08:56ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01187175410.3390/en18071754PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration LossQinwen Yang0Xuan Liu1Gang Xiao2Zhen Zhang3College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, ChinaCATARC New Energy Vehicle Research and Inspection Center (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300000, ChinaThe performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is greatly affected by their operating parameters, especially at high current densities. An advanced concentration loss model is proposed to improve a semi-empirical model describing PEMFC polarization, with the aim of accurate prediction at the whole current density interval from low to high levels. Experiments are designed to verify the improved semi-empirical model. Model comparison shows that the improved semi-empirical model has a better prediction accuracy and generalization ability than others. The effects of operating parameters and structural parameters on PEMFC performance are analyzed. The results indicate that a relatively high operating temperature, pressure, and gas diffusion layer (GDL) porosity can increase PEMFC performance. The influence of relative humidity and PEM thickness on PEMFC performance is different at low and high current densities. A relatively high humidity can improve PEMFC performance at a low current density, but PEMFC performance will be reduced if the relative humidity is too high at a high current density. A thinner PEM thickness can improve PEMFC performance at a low current density, but PEMFC performance does not necessarily improve with a decreasing PEM thickness at a high current density. Overall, the improved semi-empirical model realizes an accurate analysis of PEMFC performance from a low to high current density.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1754proton exchange membrane fuel cellsconcentration lossfuel cell performancemodelingexperiment
spellingShingle Qinwen Yang
Xuan Liu
Gang Xiao
Zhen Zhang
PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration Loss
Energies
proton exchange membrane fuel cells
concentration loss
fuel cell performance
modeling
experiment
title PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration Loss
title_full PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration Loss
title_fullStr PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration Loss
title_full_unstemmed PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration Loss
title_short PEMFC Semi-Empirical Model Improvement by Reconstructing Concentration Loss
title_sort pemfc semi empirical model improvement by reconstructing concentration loss
topic proton exchange membrane fuel cells
concentration loss
fuel cell performance
modeling
experiment
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1754
work_keys_str_mv AT qinwenyang pemfcsemiempiricalmodelimprovementbyreconstructingconcentrationloss
AT xuanliu pemfcsemiempiricalmodelimprovementbyreconstructingconcentrationloss
AT gangxiao pemfcsemiempiricalmodelimprovementbyreconstructingconcentrationloss
AT zhenzhang pemfcsemiempiricalmodelimprovementbyreconstructingconcentrationloss