Optimizing Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers with COMSOL Multiphysics®
The push for clean energy is a driving force behind the development of new hydrogen technology and the adaptation of existing infrastructure to support it. Modeling and simulation makes it possible to analyze and test hydrogen technology and fuel cell designs virtually to optimize performance and cost.
In this archived webinar, we share three examples of how to model electrolyzer and fuel cell designs in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. We start with a model of an alkaline electrolyzer stack, exploring how to optimize its operation through the study of current distribution and how the impact of a design’s parameters can affect shunt currents. Next, we explore a solid oxide electrolyzer cell model and analyze the velocity magnitude distribution, molar fraction evolution, and variations in gas phase properties. In the third example, we take a look at a nonisothermal PEMFC and view the potential drops in the anode current feed and cathode current collector, the relationship between the relative humidity and the current distribution, and the temperature distribution in the model.
The webinar concludes with a demo on how to set up a fuel cell stack model and solve for the temperature, the electrode and electrolyte phase potentials, the mass transport of the reacting species in each separate gas compartment, and the fluid pressures and corresponding velocities in the gas and liquid flow compartments.
Next Steps
- Access resources on modeling electrolyzers and fuel cells
- Learn more about the Fuel Cell & Electrolyzer Module, an add-on to COMSOL Multiphysics®