Generalization of a CFD Model to Predict the Net Power in PEM Fuel Cells

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Aerospace Engineering Amirkabir University of Technology -AUT- (Tehran Polytechnic) 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran, P. Code 15875-4413

2 Amirkabir Uni. of Tech., Hafez Ave., 15875-4413 Tehran, Iran Adjunct Fellow, Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) 89081 Ulm, Germany

3 Zentrum fuer Sonnenenergie-und Wasserstoff-Forschung (ZSW) Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Helmholtzstr. 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany

Abstract

Qualitatively, it is known that the reactants content within the catalyst layer (CL) is the driving moments for the kinetics of reaction within the CL. This paper aimed to quantitatively express the level of enhancement in electrical power due to enrichment in the oxygen content. For a given MEA, a flow field (FF) designer is always willing to design a FF to maximize the content of oxygen in all regions of the CL. Using the guidelines provided in this paper, FF-designers can predict the enhancement in electrical power achieved due to 1% enrichment in oxygen content within the CL without cumbrous CFD computations. A three dimensional CFD tool has been used to answer to this question. It simulates a steady, single-phase flow of the reactant-product, a moist air mixture, in the air side electrode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The task was performed for different channel geometries, all   parallel straight flow fields (FF), and a relationship between the oxygen content at the face of the CL and the cell net power was developed. It is observed that at V=0.35 V, for 1% enrichment in oxygen content within the CL, the net power was enhanced by 3.5%.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 [1] X. Wang, Y. Duan, W. Yan, X. Peng, Local Transport Phenomena and Cell Performance of PEM Fuel Cells with Various Serpentine Flow Field Designs, J. Power Sources, 175(2008) 397-407.
[2] P. Ramesh, S.P. Duttagupta, Effect of Channel Dimensions on Micro PEM Fuel Cell Performance Using 3D Modeling, Int. J. Renewable Energy Res, 3(2)(2013) 353-358.
 [3] H.R. Choghadi, M.J. Kermani, 15% Efficiency Enhancement Using Novel Partially Interdigitated Serpentine Flow Field for PEM Fuel Cells, 10th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies SET2011, Istanbul, Turkey, 2011.
[4] D.M. Bernardi, M.W. Verbrugge, A Mathematical Model of the Solid-Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cell, J. Electrochem., 139(9)(1992) 2477-2491.
[5] M. Khakbaz-Baboli, M.J. Kermani, A Two-Dimensional, Transient, Compressible Isothermal and Two-Phase Model for the Air Side Electrode of PEM Fuel Cell, J. Electrochemical Acta, 53(2008) 7644-7654.
[6] O. Okada, K. Yokoyama, Development of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Cogeneration Systems for Residential Applications, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 1(1)(2001).
[7] M. Thoennes, A. Busse, L. Eckstein, Forecast of Performance Parameters of Automotive Fuel Cell Systems – Delphi Study Results, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 14(6)(2014) 781- 791.
[8] C. Wieser, Novel Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for Automotive Applications Requirements and Benefits, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 4(4)(2004) 245- 250.
[9]P. Britz, N. Zartenar, PEM Fuel Cell Systems for Residential Applications, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 4(4)(2004) 269- 275.
[10] B.K. Kakati, V. Mohan, Development of Low-Cost Advanced Composite Bipolar Plate for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 8(1)(2008) 45- 51.
[11] O. Shamarina, A.A.Kulikovsky, A.V. Chertovich, A.R. Khokhlov, A Model for High-Temperature PEM Fuel Cell The Role of Transport in the Cathode Catalyst Layer, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 12(4) (2012) 577- 582.
[12] P.Y. Yi, L.F. Peng, X.M. Lai, D.A. Liu, J. Ni, A Novel Design of Wave-Like PEMFC Stack with Undulate MEAs and Perforated Bipolar Plates, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 10(1)(2010) 111- 117.
[13] K.S. Choi, B.G. Kim, K. Park, H.M. Kim, Current Advances in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Based on the Promotional Role of Under-rib Convection, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 12(6)(2012) 908- 938.
[14] D. Tehlar, R. Fluckiger, A. Wokaun, F.N. Buchi, Investigation of Channel-to-Channel Cross Convection in Serpentine Flow Fields, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 10(6)(2010) 1040- 1049.
[15] J. Wang, H. Wang, Flow-Field Designs of Bipolar Plates in PEM Fuel Cells Theory and Applications, Fuel Cells- From Fundamentals to Systems, 12(6)(2012) 989- 1003.
[16] H.C. Liu, W.M. Yan, C.Y. Soong, F. Chen, H.S. Chu, Reactant Gas Transport and Cell Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with Tapered Flow Field Design, J. Power Sources 158 (2006) 78-87.
[17] P. Ramesh, S.P. Duttagupta, Effect of Channel Dimensions on Micro PEM Fuel Cell Performance Using 3D Modeling, Int. J. renewable energy research, 3(2)(2013).
[18] M.J. Kermani, J.Scholta, Influences of a More Satisfactory Catalyst Layer Boundary Conditions in the Design of PEM Fuel Cell Flow Fields, 14th Ulm Electrochemical Talks, Ulm, Germany, 2014.
[19] A. Ghanbarian, M.J. Kermani, J. Scholta, M. Abdollahzadeh, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Flow Field Design Criteria- Application to Parallel Serpentine Flow Patterns, Energy conversion andmanagement, 166(2018)281-296.
[20] S. Hasmady, M.P. Wacker, K. Fushinobu, K. Okazaki, Treatment of Heterogeneous Electro Catalysis in Modeling Transport Reaction Phenomena in PEFCS, ASME-JSME Thermal Engineering Summer Heat Transfer Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2007.
[21] N. Akhtar, A. Qureshi, J. Scholta, Ch. Hartnig, M. Messerschmidt, W. Lehnert, Investigation of Water Droplet Kinetics and Optimization of Channel Geometry for PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 34 (2009) 3104 – 3111.
[22] M. Klages, S. Enz, H. Markötter, I. Manke, N. Kardjilov, J. Scholta, Investigations on Dynamic Water Transport Characteristics in Flow Field Channels Using Neutron Imaging Techniques, J. Power Sources 239 (2013) 596-603.
[23] A. Ghanbarian, M.J. Kermani, Performance Improvement of PEM Fuel Cells Using Air Channel Indentation; Part I: Mechanisms to Enrich Oxygen Concentration in Catalyst Layer, Iranian J. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell, 3(2014) 199-207.
[24] A. Ghanbarian, M.J. Kermani, Enhancement of PEM Fuel Cell Performance by Flow Channel Indentation, Energy Conversion and management, 110 (2016) 356–366.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics