Heat and mass transfer analysis in single cell of PEFC using different PEM and GDL at higher temperature.

According to the H 2 and fuel cell road map in Japan, the target operating temperature of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) should be 90 °C from 2020 to 2025. In this study, the impact of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and gas diffusion layer (GDL)'s thickness on heat and mass transfer characteristics as well as power generation performance of PEFC is investigated at operating temperature of 90 °C. The in-plane temperature distributions on anode and cathode separator are also measured using thermograph. As a result, it is observed that the increase in power from 1 W to 5 W at the current density of 0.80 A/cm2 as well as even temperature distribution within 1 °C can be obtained at operating temperature of 90 °C by decrease in GDL's thickness from 190 μm to 110 μm. In addition, the power is increased from 3 W to 4 W at the current density of 0.80 A/cm2 operated at 90 °C by decrease in the PEM's thickness from 127 μm to 25 μm. • The power generation performance is promoted by decreasing GDL's thickness. • The temperature distribution is flat at both anode and cathode side for thinner GDL. • The power generation performance is promoted by decreasing PEM's thickness. • The impact of GDL's thickness is larger than that of PEM's thickness. • The combination of thinner PEM and GDL is effective for higher temperature operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]