Dimensionless Model Analysis of PEFC Cathode

By investigating a dimensionless form of equations describing the cathode catalyst layer (CL) of a PEFC, the isothermal one-dimensional cathode model was simplified and it was demonstrated that four intrinsic dimensionless moduli control the dimensionless local current profile in the cathode CL and therefore determines the effectiveness factor that is an integral of the current profile over the whole cathode CL. In this study, the effects of convection in the cathode layer on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) rate is focused on. In addition, case studies in which dimensional values were estimated from the dimensionless solutions for varying the CL thickness or the CL composition are presented.