1 Modeling and experimental validation of a unitized regenerative fuel cell in electrolysis mode of operation Amit C. Bhosale, Swapnil R. Mane, Debanand Singdeo, Prakash C. Ghosh * Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India Abstract --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) is considered to be the compact solution to generate and utilize hydrogen. It possesses combined capabilities of operating in fuel cell and electrolyser modes. In the present study, the performance of a URFC in electrolyser mode is modelled and also experimentally validated. The performances are being modelled using a combination of structural and CFD analysis tool. The effect of the operating gas pressure arising from the variation in the contact pressure between GDL and BPP on the performances are studied. The clamping pressure, as well as the operating pressure of the electrolyser, are seen to have a high impact on the contact resistance and thereby the performance as well. It is observed that the simulated polarization behavior is in good agreement with the experimental results. To restrict the area specific resistance below 150 mΩ cm 2 the operating pressure should be maintained below 5.9 bar at clamping pressure of 1.5 MPa. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keywords: Unitized regenerative fuel cell, Electrolyser, Contact resistance, Operating pressure, Clamping pressure *Corresponding author E-mail: pcghosh@iitb.ac.in, chhamugram@gmail.com Ph.: +91-22-2576-7896, Fax : +91-22-2576-4890 © 2017. This manuscript version is made available under the Elsevier user license http://www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/