Numerical Analysis Validation Through Experiments of an Elemental PEM Fuel Cell used in the Electric Vehicles

In an electric vehicle (EV), several types of sources for the electric power supply are present, one of which is the fuel cell. Its efficiency is quite high when comparing it with other methods of conversion. In practice, the isothermal efficiency of reactions that takes place in the fuel cell is about 50-60%. Therefore, experimental tests were performed in order to better understand the phenomena that occur in the fuel cell. This paper presents the experimental results on H
₂
production through an electrolysis process and then its flow into a fuel cell in order to eventually generate electric power. Through this experiment is validated the numerical analysis that was presented in a previous paper at EV2017. The electrical parameters (voltage, current and power)are monitored. This program allows to directly observe the PEM cell operation in order to see how the H
₂
is produced from water to be used to create electricity. This program records and evaluates the voltage, current and power values of PEM cells.