Analysis of an Open-Cathode Fuel Cell Stack in an Enclosure for Varying Operating Conditions

• Author / Creator

  Miller, Samantha M

• Open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) stacks use hydrogen as a fuel, are a high efficiency power source, and do not produce CO2, NOx, SOx, or particulate matter. When used as a remote power source, the PEFC stack must be protected from adverse environmental conditions. To provide optimal operating conditions to the PEFC stack, an actively controlled enclosure is proposed. A mathematical model of a transient, non-isothermal, lumped parameter, open-cathode fuel cell stack is developed and coupled with an enclosure model. The open-cathode fuel cell stack mathematical model includes characterization of the cathode channel, the anode channel and the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The transient mass and energy transport equations for the coupled system are solved to determine the optimal operating conditions for the PEFC stack within the enclosure. A Horizon H-12 Fuel Cell stack and two enclosure designs are tested, characterized and fitted to the mathematical model.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Enclosure
  • Open-cathode
  • System-level modelling
  • Transient dynamics
  • Experimental validation
  • Fuel cell stack
  • Mathematical modelling

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R34H21

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.