Comparison of the Three-Generation Numerical Models for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Multi-physics Prediction

Nowadays, with the accelerating development of the hydrogen industry, the analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) attracts wide attention. Based on the research process of the authors’ team, the numerical models for PEMFC multi-physics analyses can be classified into three generations according to different thermal and liquid water assumptions. In this paper, the three generation numerical models are compared and analyzed under identical conditions. For the polarization curve, results suggest that under the studied condition, the simulating polarization curve using the third generation model fits best compared with the experimental one. Within the activation polarization control region, the three models result in nearly identical voltage. Within their respective ohmic polarization control regions, the three models result in similar voltage with a maximum relative deviation of 2.2%. Within the concentration polarization control regions, the first generation model will underestimate the concentration polarization while the second generation model will overestimate. For the liquid water, the third generation model can capture liquid saturation jump phenomenon well. The simulating liquid water saturation in the cathode catalyst layer using the second generation model is lower than that using the third generation model.