The performance of fuel cells can be significantly improved by using optimum operating conditions that maximize the power density subject to constraints. Despite its significance, relatively scant work is reported in the open literature on the model-assisted optimization of fuel cells. In this paper, a methodology for model-based optimization is presented by considering a one-dimensional nonisothermal description of a fuel cell operating on reformate feed. The numerical model is coupled with a continuous search simulated annealing optimization scheme to determine the optimum solutions for selected process constraints. Optimization results are presented over a range of fuel cell design parameters to assess the effects of membrane thickness, electrode thickness, constraint values, and CO concentration on the optimum operating conditions.
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e-mail: r.pitchumani@uconn.edu
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May 2005
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
Optimization of the Operating Parameters of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell for Maximum Power Density
A. Mawardi,
A. Mawardi
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
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F. Yang,
F. Yang
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
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R. Pitchumani
e-mail: r.pitchumani@uconn.edu
R. Pitchumani
Fellow ASME
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Search for other works by this author on:
A. Mawardi
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
F. Yang
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
R. Pitchumani
Fellow ASME
Advanced Materials and Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139e-mail: r.pitchumani@uconn.edu
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. May 2005, 2(2): 121-135 (15 pages)
Published Online: January 7, 2005
Article history
Received:
November 1, 2004
Revised:
January 7, 2005
Accepted:
January 7, 2005
Citation
Mawardi, A., Yang, F., and Pitchumani, R. (January 7, 2005). "Optimization of the Operating Parameters of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell for Maximum Power Density." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. May 2005; 2(2): 121–135. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1867978
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