A Numerical Simulation Model of Solid Acid Fuel Cell Performance by CsH2PO4 Electrolyte

Abstract

The performance of the solid acid fuel cell by CsH2PO4 electrolyte was analyzed using the present model of the electrochemical reaction and transport phenomena, which are fully coupled with the governing equations. Development of such a model requires creating the three-dimensional geometry and its mesh grid, discretization of momentum, mass and electric charge balance equation and solving the equations based on the information of electrical and electrochemical models in different areas of the cell consisting of porous electrodes, gas channels, and the solid parts like the current collector. The model equations were solved employing a finite elements technique solver of cell potential. Different parameters including current density (i), cell potential (V), cell power and concentration distribution of hydrogen, oxygen and water vapor have been investigated in this study. Also, the effect of different voltages on the concentration distribution of all the mentioned species through the cell length are taken into account. Comparing the polarization curve values with the experimental results shows a good agreement between the computed and experimental values (Maximum error is less than 4%). The results showed that there is a noticeable difference between H2, O2 and H2O concentration through the cell length subjected to various voltages. This difference was more apparent at lower voltages due to higher current density and higher consumption of species. The polarization curve is well consistent with the model and experimental data which verify the present simulation results.