The water content of a fuel cell is crucial to performance, as are resistance values. This project studied a PEM fuel cell under varied feed flow rates and hydrogen concentrations, while imposing a current between 0.12 A/cm2 and 0.36 A/cm2. Fuel cell performance was analyzed through a water balance and Galvano Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Results showed that the charge transfer resistance decreases as current density increases; lower concentrations of hydrogen feed gas result in higher anode resistances but do not affect cathode resistance; net water flow is from the cathode to the anode; 50% and 100% hydrogen feed cause flooding unless the stoichiometric ratio is raised; lower hydrogen concentrations reduce flooding; and the two theoretical models accurately represent the data.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Moreno, Laura Elizabeth
• Emerson, Andrew William

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042810-183226

Advisor

• Datta, Ravindra

Year

• 2010

Center

• Nancy, France Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• ENSIC

Date created

• 2010-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright