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THE FUEL CELL IS


A TRULY MULTIPHYSICS PROBLEM TO MODEL BECAUSE IT INVOLVES SO MANY DIFFERENT PHENOMENA AT DIFFERENT TIME SCALES


degradation and lifetime assessment [can be a challenge]. Much of the detail is still not well understood, leading to empirical models that change as new research emerges.’ Tere are two interesting techniques to


combat this explained Fontes: ‘One is to model the real structure of the gas diffusion electrodes and the active layers in these


www.scientific-computing.com l


electrodes by using nano-CT scans. Another interesting experimental technique is Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), which can separate phenomena at different timescales. Tese experiments can be simulated in detail and in this way you can perform parameter estimation of processes in completely different timescales and length scales.’ Fontes added: ‘Te principle is really


easy, everything is based on conservation equations but there are many technicalities because of the reality of non-linearity. It is a little bit like chess – the rules are very simple, but playing the game is very difficult.’ Te reliability of fuel cell systems must


also be investigated through simulation. For example, when a fuel cell is reaching the end of its life or is degrading, simulation soſtware can help to predict the system’s behaviour


@scwmagazine


and raise confidence in the technology. Steve Miller, technical marketing, Simscape Product Family at MathWorks, said: ‘If you have to do this in the real world, with a real fuel cell, then you have to wait a long time and use the fuel cell a lot to figure out how the performance degrades and how that affects the whole system.’ ‘If your simulation can mimic that effect,


the degrading due to ageing or overuse or misuse, then you can determine when to expect the cell to come out of service or be replaced. You don’t want to wait years to get that answer, you want to wait minutes and with a simulation you can achieve this,’ he added. Despite all of these challenges, simulation


soſtware vastly improves the design and efficiency of fuel cells by maximising the power output while minimising the pressure ➤


JUNE/JULY 2016 35


Egorov Artem/ WhiteMocca/Shutterstock.com


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