Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Model

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) represents a class of fuel cells employing a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to facilitate proton conduction from anode to cathode. This technology demonstrates significant potential for clean energy generation, characterized by high power density, low operational temperatures, and minimal emissions. To enable precise performance analysis and optimization of PEMFC systems, a Simulink model can be implemented to simulate and visualize the underlying electrochemical reactions. This computational model incorporates key operational parameters including temperature variations, pressure conditions, and fuel flow rates through configurable input blocks. The simulation architecture typically employs mathematical representations of voltage-current polarization curves, mass transfer limitations, and thermodynamic properties using MATLAB function blocks and lookup tables. Researchers can leverage this model to investigate different system configurations through parameter sweeping techniques and implement control strategies using PID controllers or state-space representations. The model's subsystem organization allows modular implementation of anode/cathode gas channels, membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and thermal management components. Through Simulink-based simulation of PEMFC dynamic behavior, engineers can perform sensitivity analysis using MATLAB scripting, optimize system parameters through optimization工具箱, and validate control algorithms prior to physical prototyping, thereby accelerating the development of efficient and reliable fuel cell systems.