Modelling and optimization of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell by response surface methodology—precise evaluation of significant variables

To investigate the effect of operational parameters on a fuel cell, a single polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was exploited in the current study. To do this, the impact of some processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, and Oxygen flux were studied. The values for independent variables such as temperature, pressure and oxygen flux range from 50 to 100 °C, 0.5–2 bar, and 0.2–0.5 Slpm (lit/min), respectively. To minimize the number of required tests, response surface method and central complex design were employed using Design Expert 7.0.0 software. Normal conditions and criteria in the derived from the software were precisely met, then correspondingly generated Voltage values were measured. Results indicate that the increase in temperature brings about a decline in generated Voltage; similarly, rising the pressure will result in improving the performance of the fuel cell. When the oxygen flux, as a process parameter in the present research, goes up, the generated voltage seems to be increasing simultaneously. Finally, optimal points were recommended and validated by DX 7.0. 0.