Electrochemical properties of a PEMFC operating with saturated hydrogen and dry air

The electrochemical properties of a single-cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) were characterized. A single serpentine flow field design with an active area of 200 cm2 was employed in this investigation. The flow field consisted of grooves on a plate with a width of 5 mm, a depth of 2.5 mm and a 2.5-mm rib. Several operating temperatures were tested (25, 40, 50 and 60 °C), and the pressure was fixed at 1 bar on both the anode and the cathode sides. The gas inlet velocities of hydrogen and air were fixed at 3 L min−1 and 6 L min−1, respectively. The inlet gases were saturated hydrogen and dry air. A polarization curve for the experimental data was fitted to an empirical model equation, and a good-fitting correlation was obtained. The kinetic parameters of the cell, namely, the Tafel slope, the area resistance and the mass transport parameters, were obtained from the model fitting. The proton conductivity of the membrane was found to be inversely proportional to the area resistance. Electric yield rates in the range of 45.9%–56% were obtained.