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Journals / Uluslararası Mühendislik Tasarım ve Teknoloji Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1

Optimization of performance parameters in proton exchange membrane fuel cells using the response surface methodology

Proton değişim membranlı yakıt hücrelerinde performans parametrelerinin yanıt yüzeyi yöntemi ile optimizasyonuyonu

Turan Alp Arslan(AFYON KOCATEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-3259-4854
Tolga Kocakulak(BURDUR MEHMET AKİF ERSOY UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-1269-6370
Pages
16–25
Publication Date
2026-08-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

As a result of validation using experimental data, the error rates for open-circuit voltage, voltage efficiency, and maximum power density were calculated to be 1%, 0.35%, and 4.38%, respectively.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In this study, the effects of selected PEM fuel cell parameters on performance were investigated using the RSM approach.
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Key Findings & Data:According to the optimization results, the optimal conditions were determined to be 2.75 bar absolute pressure, 100% relative humidity, 12% MEA compression ratio, and 25% by weight Nafion ionomer content.
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Conclusion & Impact:As a result of validation using experimental data, the error rates for open-circuit voltage, voltage efficiency, and maximum power density were calculated to be 1%, 0.35%, and 4.38%, respectively.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Optimizasyon · PEM · Performans

Abstract

In this study, the effects of selected PEM fuel cell parameters on performance were investigated using the RSM approach. Within the scope of the optimization, absolute pressure, relative humidity, membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) compression ratio, and Nafion ionomer content were defined as input parameters; open-circuit voltage, voltage efficiency, and maximum power density were defined as response variables. The experimental design was created using a face-centered-α arrangement based on the central composite design (CCD), and the interactions between parameters were represented by second-order regression models. The statistical significance of the developed models was evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the effects of the input parameters on the response variables were analyzed via contour plots. According to the optimization results, the optimal conditions were determined to be 2.75 bar absolute pressure, 100% relative humidity, 12% MEA compression ratio, and 25% by weight Nafion ionomer content. Under these conditions, the open-circuit voltage is estimated to be 1 V, the voltage efficiency 39.98%, and the maximum power density 605.47 mW·cm-2. As a result of validation using experimental data, the error rates for open-circuit voltage, voltage efficiency, and maximum power density were calculated to be 1%, 0.35%, and 4.38%, respectively.

Özet

Bu çalışmada, bir PEM yakıt hücresine ait seçilmiş parametrelerin performans üzerindeki etkileri RSM yaklaşımı kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Optimizasyon kapsamında mutlak basınç, bağıl nem oranı, membran elektrot grubu (MEA) sıkıştırma oranı ve Nafion iyonomer oranı giriş parametreleri; açık devre gerilimi, gerilim verimi ve maksimum güç yoğunluğu ise yanıt değişkenleri olarak tanımlanmıştır. Deney tasarımı, merkezi kompozit tasarıma (CCD) dayalı yüzey merkezli-α yerleşimi kullanılarak oluşturulmuş ve parametreler arası etkileşimler ikinci dereceden regresyon modelleri ile temsil edilmiştir. Geliştirilen modellerin istatistiksel anlamlılığı varyans analizi (ANOVA) ile değerlendirilmiş ve giriş parametrelerinin yanıt değişkenleri üzerindeki etkileri kontür grafikler aracılığıyla analiz edilmiştir. Optimizasyon sonuçlarına göre en uygun koşullar 2,75 bar mutlak basınç, %100 bağıl nem oranı, %12 MEA sıkıştırma oranı ve kütlece %25 Nafion iyonomer oranı olarak belirlenmiştir. Bu koşullarda açık devre gerilimi 1 V, gerilim verimi %39,98 ve maksimum güç yoğunluğu 605,47 mW·cm-2 olarak tahmin edilmiştir. Deneysel veriler ile doğrulama sonucunda hata oranları açık devre gerilimi, gerilim verimi ve maksimum güç yoğunluğu için sırasıyla %1, %0,35 ve %4,38 olarak hesaplanmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Arslan, T. A., Kocakulak, T. (2026). Optimization of performance parameters in proton exchange membrane fuel cells using the response surface methodology. Uluslararası Mühendislik Tasarım ve Teknoloji Dergisi, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1, 16–25. https://doi.org/10.70669/ijedt.1943306

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