Enhancement of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Design Parameters and Diagnostics Using Taguchi Method

In this paper, we focus mainly on the designs and operational characteristics of the Fuel Cell (FC), including its temperature, pressure, stoichiometric flows at the anode and cathode, and humidification temperature at the anode and cathode, and its output responses, including voltage, current, and electric power. In addition to discussing design optimization and materials development for the proton exchange membrane, electrolyte, anode and cathode catalysts, testing, and analysis of a single PEM fuel cell, the author focused on diagnostics that increased PEM fuel cell performance. Furthermore, this study introduces the Taguchi design optimization method. The Nafion 212 cs membrane with an active area of 32 cm2 and a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) were used for this study. A PEM fuel cell was analyzed and tested at the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University. Electrical power output, voltage, and current were monitored.