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Designing and multi-evaluation of a promising gas-emission anode for eliminating CO2 accumulation in microfluidic fuel cell

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  • Liu, Wenjun
  • Sun, Xiuyang
  • Li, Yinxuan
  • Tan, Xinru
  • Ouyang, Tiancheng

Abstract

Membraneless microfluidic fuel cell has potential application prospects in portable electronics due to the characteristics of efficient energy conversion, clean power generation and easy miniaturization. However, carbon dioxide bubbles generated in acidic condition will cover the anode surface and increase the reactant transfer resistance. Herein, an air-exposed gas-emission anode for eliminating carbon dioxide accumulation and enhancing two-phase flow mass transfer is designed for membraneless microfluidic fuel cell, and the internal mechanism of gas-liquid separation is studied by numerical simulation. The membraneless microfluidic fuel cell with a gas-emission anode is proved to have considerable efficiency of carbon dioxide gas removal at the expense of generating parasitic effect in the anode. Thus, further optimization of the gas-emission anode is conducted by a cap design to reduce the parasitic current generation. Compared to the conventional anode, the optimal anode keeps the carbon dioxide gas removal rate of 76.75% and the maximum power density reaches 77.29 mW/cm2 with the increasing rate of 57.48%. The design and multi-evaluation of the gas-emission anode provides a theoretical basis for realizing the gas-liquid separation and enhancing the mass transfer of two-phase flow in fuel cells.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:359:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924001168
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122733
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    References listed on IDEAS

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