Exergy analysis of NEXA™ PEM fuel cell module

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), as clean energy - converting devices, have been attracting enormous research interest as due to their high efficiency, high energy density, and low or zero emissions. In this paper, we present the exergy analysis of a 1.2 kW Nexa™ PEM fuel cell module at variable operating temperatures, pressures, cell voltages, mass flow rates and air stoichiometrics. The exergy efficiency of the 1.2 kW Nexa™ PEM fuel cell module was calculated, and the characteristic of the distributed energy system was considered. Therefore, we determined the exergy efficiency on Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), prepared by the experimental sample platinum supported on a Multi Walled Carbon Nano Tube (Pt/MWCNT). The exergy analysis is conducted on Nexa™ PEM fuel cell module at the operating voltages of each cell from 0.001V up to 0.84V and at air stoichiometrics from 13.0 to 2.1 in order to determine their effects on the efficiency of the fuel cell. The calculated results illustrate the significance of the operating temperature, pressure, cell voltage and air stoichiometry on the exegetic efficiency of the fuel cell.