Análisis electroquímico de una pila de combustible de hidrógeno mediante el método de los volúmenes finitos

Abstract

This technical project electrochemically analyzes the characteristics of a hydrogen fuel cell (PEM) using the finite element method. The modeled stack presents characteristics of the most commercially used in the industry, it is a single cell stack due to the complexity of the simulation. The pile has an active area of 70 centimeters squared that was modeled in a design program. For the study of the finite element method, the current geometry is simplified by eliminating details such as bolts, screws; leaving only geometry according to where the phenomenon can be observed. The mesh has an excellent rating structure within the Skewness method, which guarantees results. The results of the simulation detail phenomena such as the pressure drop in the channels where the fluid circulates, in addition to the increase in temperature along the stack, a current density is observed at the terminals. For data validation, a polarization curve is made by varying the voltage of the cathode terminal and it is compared with cell curves previously made and put to functional tests. The values between curves are very similar and most are found in a 10 percent relative error value.