A Novel Piezoelectrically Actuated Microvalve for Flow Control in a PEM Fuel Cell

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Vipperman ◽  
A. Fatih Ayhan ◽  
William W. Clark ◽  
Jimmy D. Thornton ◽  
Randall S. Gemmen
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Flow Characteristic ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Matlab Simulation ◽  
Relative Simplicity ◽  
Actuation Mechanism ◽  
Flow Maldistribution

A novel axial-flow piezoelectric microvalve for fuel cell applications has been designed and analyzed. Microvalves offer to improve flow maldistribution problems that have been identified in fuel cells. This paper will outline the design of an embeddable microvalve that has many novel features, including an axial flow characteristic, piezoelectric trimorph actuation mechanism, unlimited scalability, thermally-insensitive activation, and relative simplicity. Detailed electro-mechanical, thermal, and fluidic analyses of the design are conducted using ANSYS and MATLAB simulation packages. The valve geometry is heuristically optimized based upon the results of the analyses. Fabrication and testing of the valve is currently underway.

Overview of Field Performance by UTC Fuel Cells’ Transportation Fuel-Cell Power Plants

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praveen Narasimhamurthy ◽  
Zakiul Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Transportation Fuel ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack

UTC Fuel Cells (UTCFC) over the last few years has partnered with leading automotive and bus companies and developed Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel-cell power plants for various transportation applications, for instance, automotive, buses, and auxiliary power units (APUs). These units are deployed in various parts of the globe and have been gaining field experience under both real world and laboratory environments. The longest running UTC PEM fuel cell stack in a public transport bus has accumulated over 1350 operating hours and 400 start-stop cycles. The longest running APU fuel cell stack has accrued over 3000 operating hours with more than 3200 start-stop cycles. UTCFC PEM fuel-cell systems are low noise and demonstrate excellent steady state, cyclic, and transient capabilities. These near ambient pressure, PEMFC systems operate at high electrical efficiencies at both low and rated power conditions.

Analysis and Optimization of Transient Response of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Verma ◽  
R. Pitchumani
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Transient Response ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Operating Parameters ◽  
Automotive Applications

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are well suited for automotive applications compared to other types of fuel cells owing to their faster transient response and low-temperature operation. Due to rapid change in loads during automotive applications, study of dynamic behavior is of paramount importance. This study focuses on elucidating the transient response of a PEM fuel cell for specified changes in operating parameters, namely, voltage, pressure, and stoichiometry at the cathode and the anode. Transient numerical simulations are carried out for a single-channel PEM fuel cell to illustrate the response of power as the operating parameters are subjected to specified changes. These parameters are also optimized with an objective to match the power requirements of an automotive drive cycle over a certain period of time.

Artificial Neural Network Modeling of PEM Fuel Cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 226-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoduan Ou ◽  
Luke E. K. Achenie
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Artificial Neural Network ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Back Propagation ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Optimal Operating ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Artificial Neural

Artificial neural network (ANN) approaches for modeling of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have been investigated in this study. This type of data-driven approach is capable of inferring functional relationships among process variables (i.e., cell voltage, current density, feed concentration, airflow rate, etc.) in fuel cell systems. In our simulations, ANN models have shown to be accurate for modeling of fuel cell systems. Specifically, different approaches for ANN, including back-propagation feed-forward networks, and radial basis function networks, were considered. The back-propagation approach with the momentum term gave the best results. A study on the effect of Pt loading on the performance of a PEM fuel cell was conducted, and the simulated results show good agreement with the experimental data. Using the ANN model, an optimization model for determining optimal operating points of a PEM fuel cell has been developed. Results show the ability of the optimizer to capture the optimal operating point. The overall goal is to improve fuel cell system performance through numerical simulations and minimize the trial and error associated with laboratory experiments.

scholarly journals Effects of hydrogen relative humidity on the performance of an air-breathing PEM fuel cell

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 2077-2097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenxiao Chen ◽  
Derek Ingham ◽  
Mohammed Ismail ◽  
Lin Ma ◽  
Kevin J. Hughes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Air Breathing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Heat Transfer Coefficient

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of hydrogen humidity on the performance of air-breathing proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Design/methodology/approach An efficient mathematical model for air-breathing PEM fuel cells has been built in MATLAB. The sensitivity of the fuel cell performance to the heat transfer coefficient is investigated first. The effect of hydrogen humidity is also studied. In addition, under different hydrogen humidities, the most appropriate thickness of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) is investigated. Findings The heat transfer coefficient dictates the performance limiting mode of the air-breathing PEM fuel cell, the modelled air-breathing fuel cell is limited by the dry-out of the membrane at high current densities. The performance of the fuel cell is mainly influenced by the hydrogen humidity. Besides, an optimal cathode GDL and relatively thinner anode GDL are favoured to achieve a good performance of the fuel cell. Practical implications The current study improves the understanding of the effect of the hydrogen humidity in air-breathing fuel cells and this new model can be used to investigate different component properties in real designs. Originality/value The hydrogen relative humidity and the GDL thickness can be controlled to improve the performance of air-breathing fuel cells.

Development of Pem Fuel Cell in Pakistan

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Raza ◽  
S. A. Hayat ◽  
M. Ashraf Chaudhry ◽  
J. Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Graphical Form ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Global Approach ◽  
Alternate Energy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Energy Shortage

There is a worldwide awareness for finding alternate energy sources. Fuel cells are seen as potential candidates to fill the upcoming energy shortage gap. In line with this global approach, an initiative has been undertaken for developing Fuel Cells in Pakistan. Accordingly, a prototype Fuel Cell was developed. Different experiments were conducted to gauge its performance. The results are presented in the graphical form. The study has also been extended to measure the impact of catalyst on various performance determining parameters of the Fuel Cell.

(Invited) From PEM Fuel Cell Design to Biological Fuel Cells: The Status of Systems Development for Biological Fuel Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 881-895
Author(s):  
M. Rasmussen ◽  
R. D. Milton ◽  
D. P. Hickey ◽  
R. C. Reid ◽  
S. D. Minteer
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Cell Design ◽  
The Status ◽  
Biological Fuel Cells

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.

scholarly journals Transparent PEM Fuel Cells for Direct Visualisation Experiments

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Rosli ◽  
M. Pourkashanian ◽  
D. B. Ingham ◽  
L. Ma ◽  
D. Borman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Field Pattern ◽  
Cell Design ◽  
Serpentine Flow Field ◽  
Initial Work ◽  
Water Behavior ◽  
Visual Results

This paper reviews some of the previous research works on direct visualisation inside PEM fuel cells via a transparent single cell for the water behaviour investigation. Several papers which have employed the method have been selected and summarised and a comparison between the design of the cell, materials, methods and visual results are presented. The important aspects, advantages of the method and a summary on the previous work are discussed. Some initial work on transparent PEM fuel cell design using a single serpentine flow-field pattern is described. The results show that the direct visualisation via transparent PEM fuel cells could be one potential technique for investigating the water behavior inside the channels and a very promising way forward to provide useful data for validation in PEM fuel cell modelling and simulation.

Numerical simulation of effects of flow maldistribution on heat and mass transfer in a PEM fuel cell stack

2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 1037-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Bansode ◽  
Siddharth Patel ◽  
T. Rajesh Kumar ◽  
B. Muralidhar ◽  
T. Sundararajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Heat And Mass Transfer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Flow Maldistribution
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