Transparent PEM-FC Performance Analysis under the Optimal Clamping Pressure Applied at its Bolts

Abstract

Fuel cells are gaining their attention recently due to the increasing of their applications in various sectors. The study involved conducting experiments on a titanium gas distributor plates (GDPs) equipped single transparent proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM-FC). This research focuses on analyzing how various factors influence the performance of PEM-FC, including clamping pressure, which is determined by the applied torque to each bolt, the humidification temperatures of both the cathode and anode, the overall temperature of the PEM-FC, and the flow rate of the cathode. The findings indicate that the performance of the PEM-FC initially increases to a maximum point before declining with further increases in torque at bolts. Additionally, it was observed that as the humidification temperature of the cathode rises, the performance of the PEM-FC decreases, whereas an increase in the temperature of the PEM-FC itself can be able to improve performance. Furthermore, the reactant for humidification of the anode is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of PEM-FC. While the impact of the flow rate at cathode is minimal in the ohmic overpotential and activation regions, it becomes significantly important in the concentration overpotential region.