Publication Date
2006
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. (Master of Science)
Legacy Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering
LCSH
Fuel cells--Testing--Computer simulation
Abstract
In recent years, fuel cells have been considered as one of the most attractive renewable energy generation systems. However, major challenges in the adaptation of fuel cell technology are to improve the performance and lower the cost of some of the critical components and materials used in fuel cells. A significant cost goes towards catalysts for PEMFC, and this requires a reduction of platinum loading on electrodes. In order to evaluate the fuel cell system performance, a mathematical model for thermodynamics, combined heat, mass transfer processes and associated electrochemical reactions in a tri-layer PEM fuel cell design was developed to analyze the transport phenomena and reaction resistances in the micro-porous electrodes and electrolyte membranes. A finite element-based computational code was developed to solve the mathematical model and evaluate various state-of-the-art materials available in the market. The simulation model was used to conduct a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the performance of the fuel cell with varying operating conditions parameters.
Recommended Citation
Potharaju, Pavan Kumar, "Analysis of a PEM fuel cell using a finite element-based computational model" (2006). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 1439.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/1439
Extent
ix, 73 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
