Determining energy efficiency in PEM fuel cells in Colombia: experimental and theoretical comparison
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26507/paper.4628Keywords:
energy efficiency, Hydrogen, PEM fuel cells, DecarbonizationAbstract
This study presents two study approaches to carry out the energy analysis of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The first approach consists of an experimental setup to measure key variables such as cell voltage and current, the hydrogen flow rate supplied, and the temperatures within the cell. The second approach involves an analytical study implemented in engineering software to determine parameters such as heat losses, power output, and efficiency. Considering that electrochemical processes occur within the cell, five (5) case studies are proposed, where different relationships between reactants and products are considered to determine their impact on the cell's energy efficiency. These case studies, along with the experimental design, are compared with the results provided by the manufacturer, such as characteristic curves, power output, and efficiency. During the cell characterization, it was found that the parameters most affecting the discrepancies between the experimental results and the manufacturer's data are the operating conditions and the degradation of the cell materials.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Asociación Colombiana de Facultades de Ingeniería - ACOFI
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