Dynamic Characteristics of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Tank

In this paper, we develop 3D dynamic models for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and hydrogen tanks, respectively. The PEFC model considers the key components of a single PEFC and couples the various mechanisms that govern fuel cell transient including the electrochemical double-layer behavior, species transport, heat transfer, liquid water dynamics, and membrane water uptake. The hydrogen tank model includes a 3D description of the hydrogen discharging kinetics coupled with mass/heat transport in a LaNi₅–based hydrogen tank. Efforts are made to discuss the dynamic characteristics of the PEFC and hydrogen tank together with the possible coupling of the two systems. Local electrochemical and hydride reaction rates, transport processes and associated limiting factors are investigated.