A Three-Dimensional Simulation Model for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with Conventional and Bimetallic Catalyst Layers

Stefanos Tzelepis, Kosmas A. Kavadias () and George E. Marnellos
Additional contact information
Stefanos Tzelepis: Laboratory of Soft Energy Applications & Environmental Protection, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Ancient Olive Grove, University of West Attica, 250, Thivon & P. Ralli Str., 12244 Athens, Greece
Kosmas A. Kavadias: Laboratory of Soft Energy Applications & Environmental Protection, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Ancient Olive Grove, University of West Attica, 250, Thivon & P. Ralli Str., 12244 Athens, Greece
George E. Marnellos: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-26

Abstract: A three-dimensional steady-state model has been developed to study the phenomena that occurs during Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell’s (PEMFC) operation. Electrochemical and transport phenomena on both the anode and cathode sides were investigated. Particular emphasis has been given to the composition and structure of the catalyst layers (CLs), considering parameters such as the metal loading, the most effective specific metal surface, the agglomeration, and the particle size. In this context, two types of CLs were investigated. The first type concerns conventional CLs consisting of Pt/C, while the second type refers to bimetallic CLs consisting of Pt-Ru/C. In both cases, the CLs were examined for various loadings of Pt, Ru, and C to define the optimum atomic ratio for an enhanced PEMFC performance, while, in parallel, possible challenges are intedified. The mathematical model for simulating the entire phenomena and the method for modeling the bimetallic catalyst layers are presented. The results show a good agreement between the model and the experimental data reported in the literature. Additionally, the scenario of bimetallic CLs consisting of Pt-Ru/C with a ratio of 50-50 (Pt-Ru) significantly improved the overall PEMFC electrochemical performance.

Keywords: PEMFC; three-dimensional modelling; bimetallic catalyst layers; Pt/C; Pt-Ru/C; simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/10/4086/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/10/4086/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:10:p:4086-:d:1146670

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().