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1D+3D two-phase flow numerical model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

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  • Ferreira, Rui B.
  • Falcão, D.S.
  • Oliveira, V.B.
  • Pinto, A.M.F.R.

Abstract

In this work, a numerical model of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is presented. The volume of fluid (VOF) method is employed to simulate the air-water two-phase flow in the cathode gas channel, at the same time that the cell electrochemical performance is predicted. The model is validated against an experimental polarization curve and through the visualization of water distribution inside a transparent fuel cell. The water dynamics inside a serpentine gas channel is numerically analyzed under different operating voltages. Moreover, water content in different regions of the channel is quantified. Current density and water generation rate spatial distributions are also displayed and it is shown how they affect the process of water emergence into the gas channel. Important issues on the simulation of the PEM fuel cells two-phase flow are addressed, especially concerning the coupling of the VOF technique with electrochemical reactions. Both the model and the numerical results aim to contribute to a better understanding of the two-phase flow phenomenon that occurs in these devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferreira, Rui B. & Falcão, D.S. & Oliveira, V.B. & Pinto, A.M.F.R., 2017. "1D+3D two-phase flow numerical model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 474-495.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:203:y:2017:i:c:p:474-495
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.06.048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Li, Yuehua & Pei, Pucheng & Ma, Ze & Ren, Peng & Wu, Ziyao & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Hao, 2019. "Characteristic analysis in lowering current density based on pressure drop for avoiding flooding in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 321-329.
    6. Fan Yang & Xiaoming Xu & Yuehua Li & Dongfang Chen & Song Hu & Ziwen He & Yi Du, 2023. "A Review on Mass Transfer in Multiscale Porous Media in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Mechanism, Modeling, and Parameter Identification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-24, April.
    7. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Shen, Yongting & Hu, Tianxiang & Pei, Gang, 2020. "The fuel cell and atmospheric water generator hybrid system for supplying grid-independent power and freshwater," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    8. Zhao, Jian & Li, Xianguo & Shum, Chris & McPhee, John, 2023. "Control-oriented computational fuel cell dynamics modeling – Model order reduction vs. computational speed," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    9. Liu, Lina & Guo, Lingyi & Zhang, Ruiyuan & Chen, Li & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2021. "Numerically investigating two-phase reactive transport in multiple gas channels of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    10. Xu, Liangfei & Fang, Chuan & Li, Jianqiu & Ouyang, Minggao & Lehnert, Werner, 2018. "Nonlinear dynamic mechanism modeling of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with dead-ended anode considering mass transport and actuator properties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 106-121.
    11. Wu, Horng-Wen & Shih, Gin-Jang & Chen, Yi-Bin, 2018. "Effect of operational parameters on transport and performance of a PEM fuel cell with the best protrusive gas diffusion layer arrangement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 47-58.
    12. Li, Yuehua & Pei, Pucheng & Wu, Ziyao & Ren, Peng & Jia, Xiaoning & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Shangwei, 2018. "Approaches to avoid flooding in association with pressure drop in proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 42-51.
    13. Esbo, M. Rahimi- & Ranjbar, A.A. & Rahgoshay, S.M., 2020. "Analysis of water management in PEM fuel cell stack at dead-end mode using direct visualization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 212-221.
    14. Lu, Guolong & Liu, Mingxin & Su, Xunkang & Zheng, Tongxi & Luan, Yang & Fan, Wenxuan & Cui, Hao & Liu, Zhenning, 2024. "Study on counter-flow mass transfer characteristics and performance optimization of commercial large-scale proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    15. Kwan, T.H. & Shen, Y. & Pei, G., 2021. "Recycling fuel cell waste heat to the thermoelectric cooler for enhanced combined heat, power and water production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    16. Culubret, S. & Rubio, M.A. & Sanchez, D.G. & Urquia, A., 2024. "Performance uniformity analysis in polymer electrolyte fuel cell using long-term dynamic simulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    17. Hou, Yuze & Deng, Hao & Pan, Fengwen & Chen, Wenmiao & Du, Qing & Jiao, Kui, 2019. "Pore-scale investigation of catalyst layer ingredient and structure effect in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    18. Ewa Janicka & Michal Mielniczek & Lukasz Gawel & Kazimierz Darowicki, 2021. "Optimization of the Relative Humidity of Reactant Gases in Hydrogen Fuel Cells Using Dynamic Impedance Measurements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-11, May.
    19. Wang, Yulin & Wang, Xiaodong & Wang, Xiaoai & Liu, Tao & Zhu, Tingting & Liu, Shengchun & Qin, Yanzhou, 2021. "Droplet dynamic characteristics on PEM fuel cell cathode gas diffusion layer with gradient pore size distribution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 864-874.
    20. Zhao, Jian & Shahgaldi, Samaneh & Alaefour, Ibrahim & Xu, Qian & Li, Xianguo, 2018. "Gas permeability of catalyzed electrodes in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 203-210.
    21. Niu, Zhiqiang & Bao, Zhiming & Wu, Jingtian & Wang, Yun & Jiao, Kui, 2018. "Two-phase flow in the mixed-wettability gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 443-450.
    22. Feng, Pengfei & Tan, Ligang & Cao, Yucheng & Chen, Ding, 2023. "Numerical investigations of two-phase flow coupled with species transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    23. Xu, Sheng & Yin, Bifeng & Li, Zekai & Dong, Fei, 2023. "A review on gas purge of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Mechanisms, experimental approaches, numerical approaches, and optimization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    24. Mei, Bing & Barnoon, Pouya & Toghraie, Davood & Su, Chia-Hung & Nguyen, Hoang Chinh & Khan, Afrasyab, 2022. "Energy, exergy, environmental and economic analyzes (4E) and multi-objective optimization of a PEM fuel cell equipped with coolant channels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).

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