Liquid Behavior Across Porous Transport Layer in PEM Fuel Cell Cathode

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kui Jiao ◽  
Biao Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Transport Layer ◽  
Fuel Cell Cathode ◽  
Cell Cathode

Liquid water transport inside PEM fuel cells is one of the key challenges for water management in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Investigation of the air-water flow patterns inside fuel cell gas flow channels with porous transport layer (PTL) would provide valuable information that could be used in fuel cell design and optimization. This paper presents a numerical investigation of air-water flow across a PTL with a serpentine channel on PEM fuel cell cathode by use of a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package FLUENT. Detailed flow patterns with air-water across the porous media were investigated and discussed.

Accelerated Numerical Test of Liquid Behavior Across Gas Diffusion Layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Cathode

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kui Jiao ◽  
Biao Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell Cathode ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Liquid water transport inside proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is one of the key challenges for water management in a PEM fuel cell. Investigation of the air-water flow patterns inside fuel cell gas flow channels with gas diffusion layer (GDL) would provide valuable information that could be used in fuel cell design and optimization. This paper presents an accelerated numerical investigation of air-water flow across a GDL with a serpentine channel on PEM fuel cell cathode by use of a commercial computational fluid dynamics software package FLUENT. Detailed flow patterns with air-water across the porous media were investigated and discussed.

PEM Fuel Cell Research Direction for Automotive Application

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Fagley ◽  
Jason Conley ◽  
David Masten
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Limiting Current ◽  
Automotive Application ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Related Research

In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell-related research conducted and subsequently published by universities and public institutions. While a good deal of this research has been useful for understanding the underlying fundamental aspects of fuel cell components and operation, much of it is not as useful for a group working on automotive applications as it could be. The reason for this is that in order to be put to practical use in an automotive application, the system being studied must meet certain constraints; satisfying targets for projected system costs, system efficiency, volumetric and gravimetric power densities (packaging), and operating conditions. For example, numerous recent publications show studies with PEM fuel cells designed and built such that limiting current density is achieved at 0.9 A/cm2 or lower, and voltages of 600 mV can only be achieved at current densities less than 0.6 A/cm2. This type of performance is sufficiently below what is required for commercial application, that any conclusions drawn from these works are difficult to extrapolate to a system of commercial automotive interest. The purpose of this article is to show, through use of engineering calculations and cost projections, what operating conditions and performance are required in a commercial automotive fuel cell application. In addition, best known (public domain) performance and corresponding conditions are given, along with Department of Energy Freedom Car targets, which can be used for state-of-the-art benchmarking. Also, reference is made to a university publication where performance (500 mV at 1.5 A/cm2) close to automotive application targets was achieved, and important aspects of their components and flow field geometry are highlighted. It is our hope that through this publication, further PEM fuel-cell related research can be directed toward the region of greatest interest for commercial, automotive application.

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

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.

Alloys that form conductive and passivating oxides for proton exchange membrane fuel cell bipolar plates

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1723-1729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Aukland ◽  
Abdellah Boudina ◽  
David S. Eddy ◽  
Joseph V. Mantese ◽  
Margarita P. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Oxide Films ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Concentrated Solutions ◽  
Exchange Membrane

During the operation of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, a high-resistance oxide is often formed on the cathode surface of base metal bipolar plates. Over time, this corrosion mechanism leads to a drop in fuel cell efficiency and potentially to complete failure. To address this problem, we have developed alloys capable of forming oxides that are both conductive and chemically stable under PEM fuel cell operating conditions. Five alloys of titanium with tantalum or niobium were investigated. The oxides were formed on the alloys by cyclic voltammetry in solutions mimicking the cathode- and anode-side environment of a PEM fuel cell. The oxides of all tested alloys had lower surface resistance than the oxide of pure titanium. We also investigated the chemical durability of Ti–Nb and Ti–Ta alloys in more concentrated solutions beyond those typically found in PEM fuel cells. The oxide films formed on Ti–Nb and Ti–Ta alloys remained conductive and chemically stable in these concentrated solutions. The stability of the oxide films was evaluated; Ti alloys having 3% Ta and Nb were identified as potential candidates for bipolar plate materials.

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