PEFC Simulation Software Package P-Stack® - Concepts

Strategy for Fast Computation

Because internal phenomena in fuel cells are related to multiple physics aspects, computational costs for their simulation tend to be high using general CAE software. P-Stack® rapidly simulates the performance and internal states of full-scale fuel cells and stacks. A drastic reduction of computational costs is achieved by well-validated numerical models such as the MEA model, which reproduce measured I–V characteristics.

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Well-Validated Reliable Numerical Model

Numerical models in P-Stack well reproduce not only the I–V curve but also various internal states. The figures on the right hand side present a comparison of the measured and calculated oxygen partial pressure distributions in a cathode channel under different utilization ratios UO2. The calculated results are in good agreement with the measured data for all UO2 cases. Oxygen is consumed almost constantly in low-UO2 condition, while a relatively faster consumption of oxygen is observed in the upper-flow region for UO2 = 80%. These behaviors are also well reproduced by P-Stack. These results indicate that the MEA model in P-Stack can quantitatively estimate oxygen consumption owing to the ORR reaction.

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Comparisons of the measured and calculated oxygen partial pressure distributions
in a cathode channel for different utilization ratios UO2.
The experimental data are provided by the University of Yamanashi, Japan
M. Yoneda, et al., ECS Trans., 11, 1105 (2006). 11th ASME, Minneapolis, (2013)

 

  • *P-Stack is a registered trademark of Mizuho Research & Technologies Institute, Ltd.
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