An analytical model to predict the species transport effects on the performance of the PEMFC

The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cell (PEMFC) is one of the promising candidates for the future energy supply. So, the prediction of the transport phenomena is crucial to enhance its performance. The mathematical-based models can simulate the phenomena easily and in the fastest time. Also, analytical models can provide much more accurate and reliable results. In the present study, an innovative analytical approach based on the perturbation method is proposed. The governing equations which consist of the continuity, momentum, species, and energy equations are solved analytically by using the regular perturbation method. The perturbation parameter is the function of the penetration velocity. In the PEMFC, the penetration velocity can be increased by increasing the GDLs porosity and operating pressure of the PEMFC. The solution showed that by increasing the perturbation parameter, the diffusion of the reactant toward the gas channel to the Gas Diffusion Layer is increased too and this fact leads to the enhancement of the performance of the PEMFC. The axial velocity profile tends to the bottom of the flow channel. This fact helps the reactant to transfer into the reaction area easily. All of the achieved results are compared to the numerical results in the same condition which have very good accordance.