Numerical and experimental study of three-dimensional fluid flow in the bipolar plate of a PEM electrolysis cell

2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 1914-1922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Steve Cohen ◽  
Blake D. Carter ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

Numerical Modeling of Velocity and Temperature Distributions in a Bipolar Plate of PEM Electrolysis Cell With Greatly Improved Flow Uniformity

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jephanya Kasukurthi ◽  
K. M. Veepuri ◽  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Temperature Distributions ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

In this present work, finite volume method was used to simulate the three-dimensional water flow and heat transfer in a flow field plate of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis cell. The standard k-ε model together with standard wall function method was used to model three-dimensional fluid flow and heat transfer. First, numerical simulations were performed for a basic bipolar plate and it was found that the flow distribution inside the channels in not uniform. The design of the basic bipolar plate has been changed to a new model, which is featured with multiple inlets and multiple outlets. Numerical results show that the flow and temperature distributions for the new design become much homogeneous.

Non-Uniform Velocity Distributions in Bipolar Plate PEM Electrolysis Cell

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Steve Cohen ◽  
Blake Carter ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Component ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Pressure Drops ◽  
Exit Tube ◽  
Inlet Tube ◽  
Pem Electrolysis ◽  
A Minor

The rate of hydrogen production within the PEM electrolysis cell is influenced by the temperature, the velocity distributions, and the pressure distribution. In order to design and use a PEM electrolyzer cell effectively, analytical and/or numerical models for the device are necessary so that the system may be optimized. Numerical simulations of three-dimensional water flow were performed for the purpose of examining pressure and velocity distributions in the bipolar plate of a simplified PEM electrolysis cell. The flow range in the present study is assumed to be hydrodynamically stable and steady. The numerical results show that the pressure drops diagonally from the inlet tube to the exit tube. The velocity distribution is very non-uniform in the channels. A minimum of the peak values of mainstream velocity component in the channels develops in the middle of the plate. The maximum of these peak values appears in the channel near the exit tube. The lines along which the mainstream velocity component is a peak in the channel almost overlay with each other, except that a minor difference can be noticed in the channel near the exit tube.

Velocity and Temperature Distributions in Bipolar Plate of PEM Electrolysis Cell

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Steve Cohen ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Blake Carter ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Solid Wall ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Constant Heat Flux ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Constant Heat ◽  
Temperature Distributions ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

Numerical simulations of three-dimensional water flow were performed for the purpose of examining velocity and temperature distributions in the bipolar plate of a simplified PEM electrolysis cell. The flow range in the present study is assumed to be hydrodynamically stable and steady with uniform inlet temperature. All solid wall surfaces are maintained as being adiabatically insulated except that the walls adjacent to the active area of the MEA are supplied with constant heat flux. A minimum of the peak values of mainstream velocity component in the channels develops in the middle of the plate. The maximum of these peak values appears in the channel near the exit tube. The maximum temperature develops in the channels in the center of the plate and near the exit header section. The maximum temperature decreases with increasing flowrate.

scholarly journals Numerical Simulations of Three-Dimensional Fluid Flow and Coupled Heat Transfer in Bipolar Plates

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianfei Wu ◽  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Coupled Heat Transfer ◽  
High Efficient ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

Bipolar plate is one of the key components in PEM electrolysis cell stacks, and it performs a number of essential functions in stack operation, such as reactant supply to the cell active area, current collection, and mechanical support to the MEA. High efficient PEM electrolysis cell stacks will require optimized bipolar plates. Improvements in the design of bipolar plates can help achieve the set goals of cost and performance for the PEM electrolysis cell. In the present work, numerical simulations were performed for three-dimensional fluid flow and coupled heat transfer in bipolar plates. The Reynolds number of inlet flow is varied from 100 to 900 on the anode side while the Reynolds number is maintained as a constant of 100. The solid wall surfaces of the bipolar plates are assumed to be adiabatically insulated, except that the active areas of the channels are supplied with uniform heat flux. Results of velocity and temperature distributions for different Reynolds numbers will be presented and discussed.

Numerical Simulations of Coupled Flow and Heat Transfer Distributions in a Bipolar Plate of the PEM Electrolysis Cell

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Jianfei Wu ◽  
Steve Cohen ◽  
Blake Carter ◽  
Yitung Chen
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Molecular Form ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Coupled Flow ◽  
Test Plate ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

Hydrogen is expected to play an important role as an energy carrier of the future. Hydrogen may be used as fuel in almost every application where fossil fuels are being used today, but without harmful emissions. However, hydrogen is not an energy source, and it does not occur in nature in its elemental or molecular form. Three-dimensional CFD modeling and experimental measurements of a simplified bipolar plate of the PEM electrolysis cell were performed. The computed pressure drop and temperature distribution agree very well with the measurements. The results show that the maximum temperature appears in the fluid channels and near the exit header section, but not in the exit port. The velocity distribution in the fluid channels is very non-uniform over the test plate. A minimum of the peak values of mainstream velocity component in the channels develops in the middle of the plate. The maximum of these peak values appears in the channel near the exit tube.

Numerical Modeling of Two-Phase Flow in a Bipolar Plate of a PEM Electrolyzer Cell

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Bubble Generation ◽  
Oxygen Bubble

Optimization of electrolysis cell for producing hydrogen is dependent of a set of complex physical and chemical processes simultaneously occurring within the electrolysis cell. Similar to fuel cells, it has been demonstrated that these processes are strongly dependent on the fluid dynamics inside the electrolysis & fuel cell. Bipolar plates are important components of PEM electrolysis cells because they are the first stage of the flow distribution system. Numerical simulations were performed for three-dimensional two-phase water/oxygen flow in the anode side of a bipolar plate with a diagonal flow design. The water flowrate was maintained as constant of 260 ml/min, while the oxygen bubble generation rate was assumed to change from 0–0.014 g/s. Numerical results reveal that a minimum of the peak values of mainstream velocity component in the channels develops in the middle of the plate. Pressure drop and volume fraction of oxygen at the exit become higher as the oxygen bubble generation flowrate increases. The irregular velocity profile (locally low velocity magnitude near the exit port section) is not observed when the oxygen bubble flowrate is relatively low.

A New Bipolar Plate of PEM Electrolysis Cell With Uniform Flow and Heat Transfer Fields

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Nie ◽  
K. M. Veepuri ◽  
Y. T. Chen ◽  
J. F. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Water Electrolysis ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Uniform Flow ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Uniform Flow Distribution ◽  
Pem Electrolysis ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Optimization of electrolysis cell for producing hydrogen is dependent of a set of complex physical and chemical processes occurring simultaneously. Similar to fuel cells, it has been demonstrated that these processes are strongly dependent on the fluid dynamics inside the fuel cell. Bipolar plates are important components of PEM electrolysis cells because they are the first stage of the flow distribution system. A non-uniform flow distribution across the bipolar plate surface area will probably lead to an unbalanced use of the precious catalyst, and an overall efficiency of the device lower than expected. In the present work a new design of bipolar plate for the PEM electrolysis cell was proposed and 3-D CFD modeling was preformed. Velocity, temperature and pressure distributions within the bipolar plate were investigated. Numerical simulations showed that the flow uniformity within the designed bipolar plate is greatly improved compared with the baseline bipolar plate for water electrolysis.

Explorations of Improving Flow Uniformity in the Bipolar Plate of a PEM Electrolysis Cell Using Different Designs

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Nie ◽  
Y. T. Chen ◽  
J. F. Wu ◽  
K. M. Veepuri
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Water Electrolysis ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Flow Uniformity ◽  
Uniform Flow Distribution ◽  
Pem Electrolysis ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Optimization of electrolysis cell for producing hydrogen is dependent of a set of complex physical and chemical processes occurring simultaneously. Similar to fuel cells, it has been demonstrated that these processes are strongly dependent on the fluid dynamics inside the fuel cell. Bipolar plates are important components of PEM electrolysis cells because they are the first stage of the flow distribution system. A non-uniform flow distribution across the bipolar plate surface area will probably lead to an unbalanced use of the precious catalyst, and an overall efficiency of the device lower than expected. In the present work various concepts were tested for the purpose of improving flow uniformity in the bipolar plate of a PEM electrolysis cell for hydrogen generation. Numerical results including pressure distributions and velocity profiles are reported. It is shown that the flow uniformity within the designed bipolar plate is greatly improved compared with the baseline bipolar plate for water electrolysis.

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