In this work, the engineering feasi

In this work, the engineering feasibility of optimizing the performance of PEM fuel cell by means of inlet relative humidity control has been theoretically studied with the aid ofa pseudo two-dimensional, two-phase, isothermal unit PEM fuel cell model. The individual influences of the inlet relative humidity at anode and cathode have been systematicallyinvestigated by simulating the polarization curves under various combinations of inlet anode and cathode humidification and air stoichiometry conditions. It is found that, under the operating conditions being studied, the influences of the inlet relative humidity at anode and cathode are highly asymmetrical with the former mainly affecting membrane’s conductivity while the latter mainly influences the level of liquid water saturation, hence the severity of flooding, at the cathode region.