COLLOQUIUM

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN  48309

Xia Wang

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Oakland University

Rochester, Michigan 48309

Proton Exchange PEM Fuel-Cells Modeling and Applications

Abstract

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, where a Nafion membrane is used as an electrolyte to conduct protons, is considered to be one of the most promising types of fuel cells for transportation applications.  The commercialization of PEM fuel cells has been limited due to high capital cost, and issues related to poor performance, material durability and availability, manufacturing ability, and design flexibility. Numerical simulation has been an efficient tool in improving the design of fuel cells.  In this talk, the multi-scale and multi-physics mathematical modeling of PEM fuel cells will be introduced, which include the mass, momentum, energy, species conservation and electrochemical reaction.  The models will be used to optimize the cathode design of PEM fuel cells, to analyze the effects of assembly pressure on the performance of fuel cells and to study transport phenomenon in anisotropic porous electrodes.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

3:00 – 4:00 P.M.

372 Science and Engineering Building

(Refreshments at 2:30-3:00 PM in the kitchen area adjacent to 368 SEB)