Prediction of Starting Voltage of PEMFC Systems under Various Ambient Conditions

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is the most common type of fuel cell because of its many advantages over other renewable energy sources and other fuel cell types. The PEMFC is used for power and electric vehicle applications. Static and dynamic characteristics are of vital importance; the PEMFC has been modeled in numerous research using various techniques. However, its performance can be affected by ambient conditions such as dry and humid conditions. Several studies have been performed to develop a PEMFC model that incorporates ambient conditions; however, most of the models are too complicated. The starting characteristics at different ambient conditions are very important. Operators must predict the starting voltage before operating at varying ambient conditions and loads. This research will help them to predict the starting voltage based on the ambient temperature and air relative humidity for low, medium, and high loading conditions using statistical regression analysis on the experimentally conducted data.