Power-cost analysis of automotive PEM fuel cells

Fuel cells serve as electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy into electrical power. Although employed regularly in transportation and power generation applications due to their low fuel consumption, the major drawback of fuel cells lies in the cost. This thesis deals with the cost analysis of the automotive Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC).The emphasis of this work lies in the power generation and the material selection. The selection of materials for different parts of the fuel cell plays an important role in the cost estimation of the fuel cell. This work analyzes various materials available for each part of the fuel cell along with the dependency of cost on the voltage, current, active area and the dimensions of the cell. The modeling of this thesis is done in a VISUAL BASIC environment. The results obtained are useful in analysis of the total cost of the stack required for a particular power generated. The stacks available in the market allow for a comparison of the results obtained from the model.