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Numerical and experimental comparative study of microfluidic fuel cells with different flow configurations: Co-flow vs. counter-flow cell

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  • Wang, Yifei
  • Leung, Dennis Y.C.
  • Zhang, Hao
  • Xuan, Jin
  • Wang, Huizhi

Abstract

Microfluidic fuel cell (MFC) is a new type of fuel cell which utilizes two laminar flows as electrolyte for both reactant delivery and ionic conduction purposes. According to the flow configuration, two MFC designs, that is, the co-flow cell and the counter-flow cell, have been proposed in the literature, but the specific merits and demerits between them have not been well understood yet. Therefore, in this work both experimental and numerical comparative studies are conducted on this issue. It is found that the counter-flow MFC encounters an inherent drawback on its power output because the outer part of its electrodes contributes much less than the inner part due to the longer ionic transport path. In conclusion, short and wide electrodes are more appropriate for counter-flow MFCs rather than the conventional long and narrow ones. Nevertheless, the counter-flow MFC does exhibit great advantage on low flow rate tolerance, leading to much improved fuel utilization and energy density at the same time. Considering this huge superiority for real applications, structural optimization of the counter-flow MFC is further conducted by reducing the electrode distance and discarding the outer part of the electrodes. The optimized counter-flow cell performance is successfully improved to the same level with its co-flow counterpart.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yifei & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Zhang, Hao & Xuan, Jin & Wang, Huizhi, 2017. "Numerical and experimental comparative study of microfluidic fuel cells with different flow configurations: Co-flow vs. counter-flow cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 535-548.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:203:y:2017:i:c:p:535-548
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.06.070
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xuan, Jin & Leung, Michael K.H. & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Wang, Huizhi, 2012. "Laminar flow-based fuel cell working under critical conditions: The effect of parasitic current," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 87-93.
    2. Li, Li & Zheng, Keqing & Ni, Meng & Leung, Michael K.H. & Xuan, Jin, 2015. "Partial modification of flow-through porous electrodes in microfluidic fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 563-571.
    3. Wang, Yifei & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Xuan, Jin & Wang, Huizhi, 2015. "A vapor feed methanol microfluidic fuel cell with high fuel and energy efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 456-465.
    4. Xu, Hong & Zhang, Hao & Wang, Huizhi & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Zhang, Li & Cao, Jun & Jiao, Kui & Xuan, Jin, 2015. "Counter-flow formic acid microfluidic fuel cell with high fuel utilization exceeding 90%," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 930-936.
    5. Zhang, Hao & Xuan, Jin & Xu, Hong & Leung, Michael K.H. & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Zhang, Li & Wang, Huizhi & Wang, Lei, 2013. "Enabling high-concentrated fuel operation of fuel cells with microfluidic principles: A feasibility study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1131-1137.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Baoxin & Xu, Xinhai & Dong, Guangzhong & Zhang, Mingming & Luo, Shijing & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Wang, Yifei, 2024. "Computational modeling studies on microfluidic fuel cell: A prospective review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    2. Li, Li & Wang, Hongkang & Bei, Shaoyi & Li, Yuanjiang & Sun, Yanyun & Zheng, Keqing & Xu, Qiang, 2023. "Unsymmetrical design and operation in counter-flow microfluidic fuel cell: A prospective study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    3. Ouyang, Tiancheng & Lu, Jie & Xu, Peihang & Hu, Xiaoyi & Chen, Jingxian, 2022. "High-efficiency fuel utilization innovation in microfluidic fuel cells: From liquid-feed to vapor-feed," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    4. Chen, Binbin & Xuan, Jin & Offer, Gregory James & Wang, Huizhi, 2020. "Multiplex measurement of diffusion in zinc battery electrolytes from microfluidics using Raman microspectroscopy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    5. Li, Li & Fan, Wenguang & Xuan, Jin & Leung, Michael K.H. & Zheng, Keqing & She, Yiyi, 2017. "Optimal design of current collectors for microfluidic fuel cell with flow-through porous electrodes: Model and experiment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 413-424.
    6. Lu, Xu & Wang, Yifei & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Xuan, Jin & Wang, Huizhi, 2018. "A counter-flow-based dual-electrolyte protocol for multiple electrochemical applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 241-248.
    7. Fu, Ya-Lu & Zhang, Biao & Zhu, Xun & Ye, Ding-Ding & Sui, Pang-Chieh & Djilali, Ned, 2020. "Pore-scale modeling of oxygen transport in the catalyst layer of air-breathing cathode in membraneless microfluidic fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    8. Chen, Jingxian & Xu, Peihang & Lu, Jie & Ouyang, Tiancheng & Mo, Chunlan, 2021. "A prospective study of anti-vibration mechanism of microfluidic fuel cell via novel two-phase flow model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    9. Li, Li & Xu, Qiang & Xie, Yajun & Wang, Xiaochun & Zhu, Kai & Zheng, Keqing & Li, Xinyu & Huang, Haocheng & Huang, Yugang & Bei, Shaoyi, 2024. "Narrow middle channel design in counter-flow microfluidic fuel cell with flow-through electrodes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    10. Wang, Yifei & Luo, Shijing & Kwok, Holly Y.H. & Pan, Wending & Zhang, Yingguang & Zhao, Xiaolong & Leung, Dennis Y.C., 2021. "Microfluidic fuel cells with different types of fuels: A prospective review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    11. Ouyang, Tiancheng & Chen, Jingxian & Liu, Wenjun & Xu, Peihang & Lu, Jie & Zhao, Zhongkai, 2022. "A comprehensive evaluation for microfluidic fuel cells from anti-vibration viewpoint using phase field theory," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 676-693.
    12. Muhammad Tanveer & Kwang-Yong Kim, 2021. "Flow Configurations of Membraneless Microfluidic Fuel Cells: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-33, June.
    13. Lan, Qiao & Ye, Dingding & Zhu, Xun & Chen, Rong & Liao, Qiang, 2022. "Enhanced gas removal and cell performance of a microfluidic fuel cell by a paper separator embedded in the microchannel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    14. Liu, Wenjun & Sun, Xiuyang & Li, Yinxuan & Tan, Xinru & Ouyang, Tiancheng, 2024. "Designing and multi-evaluation of a promising gas-emission anode for eliminating CO2 accumulation in microfluidic fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).

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