RSM-Based Optimization of Operating Pressure, Relative Humidity, and MEA Compression Ratio in PEM Fuel Cells
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Abstract
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are considered a promising energy conversion technology for sustainable energy systems and transportation applications due to their high efficiency, low emissions, and rapid response capabilities. Improving the performance of PEM fuel cells requires systematic optimization approaches due to their multi-variable nature. In this study, using experimental data from a PEM fuel cell, the effects of operating pressure, relative humidity, and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) compression ratio on maximum power density and voltage efficiency were investigated and optimized using the response surface method (RSM). Through regression models developed within the RSM framework, the individual and interactive effects of the parameters were analyzed, and these interactions were evaluated in detail using three-dimensional response surface plots. According to the multi-criteria optimization results, the optimal operating conditions were determined to be 18.537 psig operating pressure, 100% relative humidity, and 10.197% MEA compression ratio. Under these conditions, a maximum power density of 596.271 mW·cm-2 and a voltage efficiency of 38.264% were achieved. The combined desirability score for the optimization process was 0.73, indicating that the study achieved successful optimization from both statistical and engineering perspectives. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how operating parameters affect performance in PEM fuel cells and to improving system efficiency.
Keywords
Abstract
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are considered a promising energy conversion technology for sustainable energy systems and transportation applications due to their high efficiency, low emissions, and rapid response capabilities. Improving the performance of PEM fuel cells requires systematic optimization approaches due to their multi-variable nature. In this study, using experimental data from a PEM fuel cell, the effects of operating pressure, relative humidity, and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) compression ratio on maximum power density and voltage efficiency were investigated and optimized using the response surface method (RSM). Through regression models developed within the RSM framework, the individual and interactive effects of the parameters were analyzed, and these interactions were evaluated in detail using three-dimensional response surface plots. According to the multi-criteria optimization results, the optimal operating conditions were determined to be 18.537 psig operating pressure, 100% relative humidity, and 10.197% MEA compression ratio. Under these conditions, a maximum power density of 596.271 mW·cm-2 and a voltage efficiency of 38.264% were achieved. The combined desirability score for the optimization process was 0.73, indicating that the study achieved successful optimization from both statistical and engineering perspectives. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how operating parameters affect performance in PEM fuel cells and to improving system efficiency.