scholarly journals Numerical Investigation of Mass Transfer in PEM Fuel Cell with Straight Gas Flow Channels using CFD

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (VII) ◽  
pp. 2752-2759
Author(s):  
Sahuar Sahu
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Analytical Study ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Flow Channels

Interest in PEM fuel cells has grown rapidly in recent years because of its possible applications. The performance of PEM fuel cells is strongly affected by various physical factors, such as the flow of reactant gas, thermal management and water management. The performance and characteristics of a PEM fuel cell have been analysed through the development of a 3D model and numerical simulation. The result obtained from the computational model shows details of species movement, charge Transport and mass transfer phenomena. This paper also investigates the influence of input parameters on the output of the PEM fuel cell model. The result from the analytical study is compared with experimental results to check the accuracy of the model.

Optimization of PEM Fuel Cell Flow Channels: Modeling Analysis and Experimental Tests

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Liu ◽  
Peiwen Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Experimental Work ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Current Collector ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Flow Channel ◽  
Flow Channels ◽  
Modeling Analysis

The dimensions of gas flow channels and walls/ribs of PEM fuel cells are optimized using a convenient mathematical model. Experimental work for several PEM fuel cells with modeling-optimized gas flow channels was conducted, and the tested results validate the modeling work and the optimization. The model considered average mass transfer and species’ concentrations in flow channels, which allows the determination of an average concentration polarization, the humidity in anode and cathode gas channels, and thus the proton conductivity of membranes, as well as the activation polarization. An electrical circuit for the current and ion conduction is applied to analyze the ohmic losses from anode current collector to cathode current collector. The modeling computation required relatively less computational time and thus can be applied to compute a large number of cases with various flow channel designs and operating parameters for optimization analysis. Optimum ratio of the width of flow channels against the walls/ribs was found from the modeling analysis. In the experimental work, PEM fuel cells were fabricated based on the flow channel dimensions optimized from the modeling analysis. Experimental results agreed with the modeling analysis satisfactorily in respect to the comparison of V-I performance between fuel cells with several optimized designs. The model is recommended as a tool for optimization design of gas flow channels for PEM fuel cells. The optimization results are of significance to the improvement of PEM fuel cell designs and performance.

scholarly journals Modeling and simulation for a PEM fuel cell with catalyst layers in finite thickness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianghui Yin
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Finite Thickness ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Catalyst Layers ◽  
The Impact

A detailed non-isothermal computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells is developed in this thesis. This model consists of the equations of continuity, momentum, energy, species concentrations, and electric potentials in different regions of a PEM fuel cell. In particular, the fairly thin catalyst layers of the fuel cell are assigned a finite thickness instead of being treated as nil thickness interfaces in other PEM fuel cell models. Various source/sink terms are presented to associate the conservation equations with the electrochemical reaction kinetics. The water balance in the membrane is modeled by coupling diffusion of water, pressure variation, and the electro-osmotic drag. The membrane swelling effect is explicitly considered the newly derived model, leading to a set of novel water and proton transport equations for a membrane under the partial hydration condition. The electron transport in the catalyst layers, gas diffusion layers and bipolar plates are also described. The PEM fuel cell model developed has been implemented into a commercial CFD software package for simulating various flow and transport phenomena arising in operational PEM fuel cells, analyzing the impact of design and operating parameters on the cell performance, and optimizing the PEM fuel cell design.

scholarly journals Modeling and simulation for a PEM fuel cell with catalyst layers in finite thickness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianghui Yin
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Finite Thickness ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Catalyst Layers ◽  
The Impact

A detailed non-isothermal computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells is developed in this thesis. This model consists of the equations of continuity, momentum, energy, species concentrations, and electric potentials in different regions of a PEM fuel cell. In particular, the fairly thin catalyst layers of the fuel cell are assigned a finite thickness instead of being treated as nil thickness interfaces in other PEM fuel cell models. Various source/sink terms are presented to associate the conservation equations with the electrochemical reaction kinetics. The water balance in the membrane is modeled by coupling diffusion of water, pressure variation, and the electro-osmotic drag. The membrane swelling effect is explicitly considered the newly derived model, leading to a set of novel water and proton transport equations for a membrane under the partial hydration condition. The electron transport in the catalyst layers, gas diffusion layers and bipolar plates are also described. The PEM fuel cell model developed has been implemented into a commercial CFD software package for simulating various flow and transport phenomena arising in operational PEM fuel cells, analyzing the impact of design and operating parameters on the cell performance, and optimizing the PEM fuel cell design.

Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Miniaturized Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Pei-Wen Li ◽  
Qing-Ming Wang ◽  
Laura Schaefer ◽  
Minking K. Chyu
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Free Convection ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Ohmic Loss ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

Two types of miniaturized PEM fuel cells are designed and characterized in comparison with a compact commercial fuel cell device in this paper. One has Nafion® membrane electrolyte sandwiched by two brass bipolar plates with micromachined meander-like gas channels. The cross-sectional area of the gas flow channel is approximately 250 by 250 (μm). The other uses the same Nafion® membrane and anode structure, but in stead of the brass plate, a thin stainless steel plate with perforated round holes is used at cathode side. The new cathode structure is expected to allow oxygen (air) being supplied by free-convection mass transfer. The characteristic curves of the fuel cell devices are measured. The activation loss and ohmic loss of the fuel cells have been estimated using empirical equations. Critical issues such as flow arrangement, water removing and air feeding modes concerning the fuel cell performance are investigated in this research. The experimental results demonstrate that the miniaturized fuel cell with free air convection mode is a simple and reliable way for fuel cell operation that could be employed in potential applications although the maximum achievable current density is less favorable due to limited mass transfer of oxygen (air). The relation between the fuel cell dimensions and the maximum achievable current density is also discussed with respect to free-convection mode of air feeding.

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.

Advanced Integrated Flow Field (IFF) Design for High Performance Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Pien ◽  
Steven Lis ◽  
Radha Jalan ◽  
Marvin Warshay ◽  
Suresh Pahwa
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Stoichiometric Ratio ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Hydrophilic Matrix

Higher efficiency operation of PEM fuel cells needs an advanced passive way to remove product water. Water flooding in gas flow channels reduces efficiency and needs to be mitigated by a support of balance of plant design and components which results in parasitic power losses. ElectroChem’s Integrated Flow Field (IFF) design with the integration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic matrix has been proven to solve these challenges with no impact on the performance. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic matrix facilitates two phase (gas and liquid) flow to and away from the interface between the electrode membrane assembly and the flow field. A phase-separation feature of the IFF allowed the fuel cells to operate on a flow rate at its consumption rate. The IFF fuel cell has demonstrated operation at the ideal one stoichiometric ratio with 100% gas utilization and orientation independent. The IFF also served as gas humidifier through the creation of simultaneous distribution of gas and water within the cell. The self-humidification capability keeps the cell operating without the humidity of the input gas. The IFF design also enhanced the performance of water electrolysis which is a reverse process of fuel cell. The IFF supported the passive water feed to the cell and gas separation from the cell.

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.

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