Efficiency of PEM Fuel Cells
Chad Miller '10

Chad with his fuel cells

Abstract:

   This experiment tried to model a PEM FC as a simple battery in an attempt to characterize its efficiency as a result of certain parameters. It was found that the EMF of a FC behaves like a battery when placed in series, but the internal resistance does not. A thinner membrane results in slightly lower EMFs (roughly 15%) and the internal resistance goes up as expected. The experiment found the efficiency of the PEM FCs decreases as the temperature increases, as the literature predicts. The efficiencies found in this experiment (40% to 60%) for the simple battery model of a FC would be more precise if a more complex model was used that predicted the results seen in the data.

   For more information, contact Dr. Daniel Koon:

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