Performance Investigation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with Dean Flow Channels

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is an advanced power system for the future that is sustainable, clean and environmental friendly. The flow channels present in bipolar plates of a PEMFC are responsible for the effective distribution of the reactant gases. Uneven distribution of the reactants can cause variations in current density, temperature, and water content over the area of a PEMFC, thus reducing the performance of PEMFC. By using Serpentine flow field channel, the performance is increased. Two types of serpentine flow field channels are implemented such as curved serpentine flow field channel and normal serpentine flow field channels. The result shows that curved serpentine flow field channel gives better current density and power density, thus increasing the performance of PEMFC.

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Progress on Reflective Terahertz Imaging for Identification of Water in Flow Channels of PEM Fuel Cells

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.110-116.2301 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 110-116 ◽

pp. 2301-2307

Author(s):

P. Buaphad ◽

P. Thamboon ◽

C. Tengsirivattana ◽

J. Saisut ◽

K. Kusoljariyakul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Water Distribution ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Pem Fuel Cells ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Thz Radiation ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Flow Channels ◽

Exchange Membrane

This work reports an application of reflective terahertz (THz) imaging for identification of water distribution in the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The THz radiation generated from relativistic femtosecond electron bunches is employed as a high intensity source. The PEM fuel cell is designed specifically for the measurement allowing THz radiation to access the flow field region. The THz image is constructed from reflected radiation revealing absorptive area of water presence. The technique is proved to be a promising tool for studying water management in the PEM fuel cell. Detailed experimental setup and results will be described.

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Flooding Visualization and Enhanced Water Management in PEM Fuel Cell

ASME 2009 7th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels and Minichannels ◽

10.1115/icnmm2009-82129 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Hyung Hee Cho ◽

Sanghoon Lee ◽

Dong-Ho Rhee

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Performance Enhancement ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Key Factors ◽

Flow Channels ◽

Concentration Loss ◽

Exchange Membrane

Internal water management in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell has been considered as one of most significant key factors for its performance enhancement. It is because relative humidity of hydrogen and air is strongly related to the performance of PEM fuel cell in terms of H+ movement within the membrane. In addition, production of H2O by chemical reactions can bring several problems during concentration loss region since combination of vapor in supplying air and byproduct of chemical reaction should lead to excess H2O remaining in PEM fuel cell, resulting flooding phenomena which may block air flow channels. Therefore, in order to understand and manage such phenomena to enhance the performance of PEM fuel cell, especially under concentration loss region, this paper focuses on the visualization of the flooding phenomena and application of the modified flow path on the cathode separator for flooding reduction.

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Numerical Simulation of Droplet Emergence and Growth From Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs) in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Flow Channels

Volume 6A: Energy ◽

10.1115/imece2018-86579 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jingru Benner ◽

Mehdi Mortazavi ◽

Anthony D. Santamaria

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Gas Diffusion ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Gas Diffusion Layers ◽

Diffusion Layers ◽

Flow Channels ◽

Exchange Membrane ◽

Over Time

Liquid water management is critical for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell operation, as excessive humidity can lead to flooding and cell performance degradation. Water is produced in the cathode catalyst layer during the electrochemical reaction. If reactant gas streams become saturated, liquid water forms and must travel through anode and cathode Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs) to reach flow channels for removal. Understanding the dynamic behavior of the droplet is critical to improve water removal strategies for PEM fuel cells. In this study a 3D, transient, two-phase model based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method was developed to study a single droplet in the gas channel. The formation, growth, and breakup of the droplet is tracked numerically and analyzed. The pressure drop across the droplet is monitored over time and compared with theoretical analysis. The droplet size and shape change over time for two different pore sizes are compared. The impact of various gases including air, helium, and hydrogen on droplet dynamics is presented. The viscous force and pressure force on the droplet and the drag coefficient are calculated.

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Particle Image Velocimetry Measurements in a Model Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology ◽

10.1115/1.2744053 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 328-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. P. Feser ◽

A. K. Prasad ◽

S. G. Advani

Keyword(s):

Particle Image Velocimetry ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Particle Image ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Flow Fields ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Flow Channels ◽

Image Velocimetry ◽

Exchange Membrane

Particle image velocimetry was used to measure 2D velocity fields in representative regions of interest within flow channels of interdigitated and single-serpentine proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell models. The model dimensions, gas diffusion layer (GDL) permeability, working fluid, and flow rates were selected to be geometrically and dynamically similar to the cathode-side airflow in a typical PEM fuel cell. The model was easily reconfigurable between parallel, single-serpentine, and interdigitated flow fields, and was constructed from transparent materials to enable optical imaging. Velocity maps were obtained of both the primary and secondary flow within the channels. Measurements of the secondary flows in interdigitated and single-serpentine flow fields indicate that significant portions of the flow travel between adjacent channels through the porous medium. Such convective bypass can enhance fuel cell performance by supplying fresh reactant to the lands regions and also by driving out product water from under the lands to the flow channels.

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