Treatment of Heterogeneous Electrocatalysis in Modeling Transport-Reaction Phenomena in PEFCs

Author(s):  
Saiful Hasmady ◽  
Manuel Philipp Wacker ◽  
Kazuyoshi Fushinobu ◽  
Ken Okazaki

Thermal and water management is a critical issue in PEFCs. In this research, the thermal behavior of PEFC is focused. The objective is to understand the influence of heat on cell performance both by experiment and theoretical analysis, as well as improving cell performance and reliability. In order to investigate the theoretical behavior, especially in the catalyst layer where the electrochemical reactions occur, a detailed modeling of heterogeneous surface reaction coupled with reactant transport is needed. In this paper, a theoretical model that improves the dependency of the exchange current density with reactant concentrations by applying data from a known surface reaction steps found in catalysis is developed. It served as a preliminary step before the thermal-electrochemical behavior of a PEFC can be fully understood.

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 718
Author(s):  
Van Men Truong ◽  
Ngoc Bich Duong ◽  
Hsiharng Yang

Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) play a critical role in anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) water management. In this work, the effect of GDL thickness on the cell performance of the AEMFC was experimentally investigated. Three GDLs with different thicknesses of 120, 260, and 310 µm (denoted as GDL-120, GDL-260, and GDL-310, respectively) were prepared and tested in a single H2/O2 AEMFC. The experimental results showed that the GDL-260 employed in both anode and cathode electrodes exhibited the best cell performance. There was a small difference in cell performance for GDL-260 and GDL-310, while water flooding was observed in the case of using GDL-120 operated at current densities greater than 1100 mA cm−2. In addition, it was found that the GDL thickness had more sensitivity to the AEMFC performance as used in the anode electrode rather than in the cathode electrode, indicating that water removal at the anode was more challenging than water supply at the cathode. The strategy of water management in the anode should be different from that in the cathode. These findings can provide a further understanding of the role of GDLs in the water management of AEMFCs.


Author(s):  
Prodip K. Das ◽  
Adam Z. Weber

A two-dimensional non-isothermal multi-physics proton-exchange-membrane fuel-cell (PEMFC) modeling has been undertaken to investigate the interplay between the platinum (Pt) loading, water-capacity, water transport and cell performance at low operating temperatures (< 40 °C). Two ultra-thin catalyst layers (CLs), traditional Pt/C with extremely low Pt loading and nano-structured thin-film (NSTF), have been the main focus in the present model. Modeling data are compared with experimental polarization curves for both NSTF and traditional Pt/C CLs. Using the model, the interplay between the inherent CL water-capacity versus its removal rate through either the anode or cathode side of the PEMFC is explored. The controlling parameters for the water removal and accumulation (e.g., thickness of catalyst layer, existence of microporous layer, etc.) are also analyzed and the tradeoff between these parameters elucidated with a path towards efficient water management for ultra-thin CLs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 3575-3587
Author(s):  
Seyedali Sabzpoushan ◽  
Hassan Jafari Mosleh ◽  
Soheil Kavian ◽  
Mohsen Saffari Pour ◽  
Omid Mohammadi ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 2691-2710
Author(s):  
Gerasimos Antzoulatos ◽  
Christos Mourtzios ◽  
Panagiota Stournara ◽  
Ioannis-Omiros Kouloglou ◽  
Nikolaos Papadimitriou ◽  
...  

Abstract The rise of Internet of Things (IoT), coupled with the advances in Artificial Intelligence technologies and cloud-based applications, have caused fundamental changes in the way societies behave. Enhanced connectivity and interactions between physical and cyber worlds create ‘smart’ solutions and applications to serve society's needs. Water is a vital resource and its management is a critical issue. ICT achievements gradually deployed within the water industry provide an alternative, smart and novel way to improve water management efficiently. Contributing to this direction, we propose a unified framework for urban water management, exploiting state-of-the-art IoT solutions for remote telemetry and control of water consumption in combination with machine learning-based processes. The SMART-WATER platform aims to foster water utility companies by enhancing water management and decision-making processes, providing innovative solutions to consumers for smart water utilisation.


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