CFD Modelling of a Hydrogen/Air PEM Fuel Cell with a Serpentine Gas Distributor

Hydrogen-fueled fuel cells are considered one of the key strategies to tackle the achievement of fully-sustainable mobility. The transportation sector is paying significant attention to the development and industrialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) to be introduced alongside batteries, reaching the goal of complete de-carbonization. In this paper a multi-phase, multi-component, and non-isothermal 3D-CFD model is presented to simulate the fluid, heat, and charge transport processes developing inside a hydrogen/air PEMFC with a serpentine-type gas distributor. Model results are compared against experimental data in terms of polarization and power density curves, including an improved formulation of exchange current density at the cathode catalyst layer, improving the simulation results’ accuracy in the activation-dominated region. Then, 3D-CFD fields of reactants’ delivery to the active electrochemical surface, reaction rates, temperature distributions, and liquid water formation are analyzed, and critical aspects of the current design are commented, i.e., the inhomogeneous use of the active surface for reactions, limiting the produced current and inducing gradients in thermal and reaction rate distribution. The study shows how a complete multi-dimensional framework for physical and chemical processes of PEMFC can be used to understand limiting processes and to guide future development.

Download Full-text

Pore-scale study of reactive transport processes in catalyst layer agglomerates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Electrochimica Acta ◽

10.1016/j.electacta.2019.03.158 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 306 ◽

pp. 454-465 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Li Chen ◽

Qinjun Kang ◽

Wenquan Tao

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Reactive Transport ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Catalyst Layer ◽

Transport Processes ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Pore Scale ◽

Exchange Membrane

Download Full-text

Effect of Stratification of Cathode Catalyst Layers on Durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14102975 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. 2975

Author(s):

Zikhona Nondudule ◽

Jessica Chamier ◽

Mahabubur Chowdhury

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Catalyst Layer ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Membrane Electrode ◽

Potential Cycling ◽

Catalyst Layers ◽

Exchange Membrane

To decrease the cost of fuel cell manufacturing, the amount of platinum (Pt) in the catalyst layer needs to be reduced. In this study, ionomer gradient membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) were designed to reduce Pt loading without sacrificing performance and lifetime. A two-layer stratification of the cathode was achieved with varying ratios of 28 wt. % ionomer in the inner layer, on the membrane, and 24 wt. % on the outer layer, coated onto the inner layer. To study the MEA performance, the electrochemical surface area (ECSA), polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) responses were evaluated under 20, 60, and 100% relative humidity (RH). The stratified MEA Pt loading was reduced by 12% while maintaining commercial equivalent performance. The optimal two-layer design was achieved when the Pt loading ratio between the layers was 1:6 (inner:outer layer). This MEA showed the highest ECSA and performance at 0.65 V with reduced mass transport losses. The integrity of stratified MEAs with lower Pt loading was evaluated with potential cycling and proved more durable than the monolayer MEA equivalent. The higher ionomer loading adjacent to the membrane and the bi-layer interface of the stratified catalyst layer (CL) increased moisture in the cathode CL, decreasing the degradation rate. Using ionomer stratification to decrease the Pt loading in an MEA yielded a better performance compared to the monolayer MEA design. This study, therefore, contributes to the development of more durable, cost-effective MEAs for low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

Download Full-text

Ionomer content effect on charge and gas transport in the cathode catalyst layer of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells

Journal of Power Sources ◽

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.229531 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 490 ◽

pp. 229531

Author(s):

Yurii V. Yakovlev ◽

Yevheniia V. Lobko ◽

Maryna Vorokhta ◽

Jaroslava Nováková ◽

Michal Mazur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Gas Transport ◽

Catalyst Layer ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Cathode Catalyst ◽

Cathode Catalyst Layer ◽

Exchange Membrane

Download Full-text

Computational Modelling and Simulation of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (Keynote)

Computational Technologies for Fluid/Thermal/Structural/Chemical Systems With Industrial Applications, Volume 1 ◽

10.1115/pvp2002-1560 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

N. Djilali ◽

T. Berning

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Transport Phenomena ◽

Computational Modelling ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Gas Diffusion ◽

Transport Processes ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Exchange Membrane

Fuel cells (FC’s) are electrochemical devices that convert directly into electricity the chemical energy of reaction of a fuel (usually hydrogen) with an oxidant (usually oxygen from ambient air). The only by-products in a hydrogen fuel cell are heat and water, making this emerging technology the leading candidate for quiet, zero emission energy production. Several types of fuel cell are currently undergoing intense research and development for applications ranging from portable electronics and appliances to residential power generation and transportation. The focus of this lecture is Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC’s). An electrolyte consisting of a “solid” polymer membrane, low operating temperatures (typically below 90 °C) and a relatively simple design combine to make PEMFC’s particularly well suited to automotive and portable applications. The operation of a fuel cell relies on electrochemical reactions and an array of coupled transport phenomena, including multi-component gas flow, two phase-flow, heat and mass transfer, phase change and transport of charged species. The transport processes take place in variety of media, including porous gas diffusion electrodes and polymer membranes. The fuel cell environment makes it impossible to measure in-situ the quantities of interest to understand and quantify these phenomena, and computational modelling and simulations are therefore poised to play a central role in the development and optimization of fuel cell technology. We provide an overview of the role of various transport phenomena in fuel cell operation and some of the physical and computational modelling challenges they present. The processes will be illustrated through examples of multi-dimensional numerical simulations of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. We close with a perspective on some of the many remaining challenges and future development opportunities.

Download Full-text