Three Dimensional Modeling of PEM Fuel Cells with Current Collection from the Gas Diffusion Layer

R. Pushpangadan[1], A. Soman[2], Arundas R.[2], N. G. Thoppan[2], S. P. Duttagupta[1]
[1]Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
[2]College of Engineering, Munnar, Kerala, India
Published in 2012

PEM fuel cells are very promising for portable applications. A key component of fuel cell is the flow field plate through which hydrogen will reach the anode, oxygen will reach the cathode and electron collection. Flow field plate made of silicon is not a good electrical conductor , so electrical contacts has to be attached to the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) for taking the power to outside world. This is achieved by attaching segmented contacts to the GDL area which are not covered by flow plates. A three dimensional model for fuel cell in which current collection is carried out by segmented contacts attached to the GDL is modelled usinf Comsol Multiphysics and the effects in performance are studied.