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Anode partial flooding modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Model development and validation

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  • Xing, Lei
  • Du, Shangfeng
  • Chen, Rui
  • Mamlouk, Mohamed
  • Scott, Keith

Abstract

A two-dimensional along-the-channel CFD (computational fluid dynamic) model, coupled with a two-phase flow model of liquid water and gas transport for a PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell is described. The model considers non-isothermal operation and thus the non-uniform temperature distribution in the cell structure. Water phase-transfer between the vapour, liquid water and dissolved phase is modelled with the combinational transport mechanism through the membrane. Liquid water saturation is simulated inside the electrodes and channels at both the anode and cathode sides. Three types of models are compared for the HOR (hydrogen oxidation reaction) and ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) in catalyst layers, including Butler–Volmer (B–V), liquid water saturation corrected B–V and agglomerate mechanisms. Temperature changes in MEA (membrane electrode assembly) and channels due to electrochemical reaction, ohmic resistance and water phase-transfer are analysed as a function of current density. Nonlinear relations of liquid water saturations with respect to current densities at both the anode and cathode are regressed. At low and high current densities, liquid water saturation at the anode linearly increases as a consequence of the linear increase of liquid water saturation at the cathode. In contrast, exponential relation is found to be more accurate at medium current densities.

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  • Xing, Lei & Du, Shangfeng & Chen, Rui & Mamlouk, Mohamed & Scott, Keith, 2016. "Anode partial flooding modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Model development and validation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 80-95.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:96:y:2016:i:c:p:80-95
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.12.048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Chen, Hao & Guo, Hang & Ye, Fang & MA, Chong Fang, 2022. "Cell performance and flow losses of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with orientated-type flow channels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1338-1352.
    5. Bhuvanendran, Narayanamoorthy & Ravichandran, Sabarinathan & Jayaseelan, Santhana Sivabalan & Xu, Qian & Khotseng, Lindiwe & Su, Huaneng, 2020. "Improved bi-functional oxygen electrocatalytic performance of Pt–Ir alloy nanoparticles embedded on MWCNT with Pt-enriched surfaces," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    6. 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.
    7. Iranzo, Alfredo & Boillat, Pierre, 2018. "CFD simulation of the transient gas transport in a PEM fuel cell cathode during AC impedance testing considering liquid water effects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 449-457.
    8. Yao, Jing & Wu, Zhen & Wang, Huan & Yang, Fusheng & Xuan, Jin & Xing, Lei & Ren, Jianwei & Zhang, Zaoxiao, 2022. "Design and multi-objective optimization of low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells with efficient water recovery and high electrochemical performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    9. Akira Nishimura & Tatsuya Okado & Yuya Kojima & Masafumi Hirota & Eric Hu, 2020. "Impact of MPL on Temperature Distribution in Single Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with Various Thicknesses of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, May.
    10. Yin, Cong & Gao, Jianlong & Wen, Xuhui & Xie, Guangyou & Yang, Chunhua & Fang, Honglin & Tang, Hao, 2016. "In situ investigation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance with novel segmented cell design and a two-phase flow model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1071-1089.
    11. Pei, Pucheng & Li, Yuehua & Xu, Huachi & Wu, Ziyao, 2016. "A review on water fault diagnosis of PEMFC associated with the pressure drop," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 366-385.
    12. Hu, Zunyan & Xu, Liangfei & Huang, Yiyuan & Li, Jianqiu & Ouyang, Minggao & Du, Xiaoli & Jiang, Hongliang, 2018. "Comprehensive analysis of galvanostatic charge method for fuel cell degradation diagnosis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1321-1332.
    13. Dapeng Gong & Sichuan Xu & Xuhui Wang & Yuan Gao, 2022. "Numerical Study on the Effects of Water and Heat Transport on Two-Phase Flow in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-24, November.
    14. Guo, Hang & Song, Jia & Ye, Fang & Chong Fang, M.A., 2022. "Dynamic response during mode switching of unitized regenerative fuel cells with orientational flow channels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 698-710.
    15. Xing, Lei & Shi, Weidong & Su, Huaneng & Xu, Qian & Das, Prodip K. & Mao, Baodong & Scott, Keith, 2019. "Membrane electrode assemblies for PEM fuel cells: A review of functional graded design and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 445-464.
    16. Xing, Lei & Cai, Qiong & Xu, Chenxi & Liu, Chunbo & Scott, Keith & Yan, Yongsheng, 2016. "Numerical study of the effect of relative humidity and stoichiometric flow ratio on PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell performance with various channel lengths: An anode partial flooding modelli," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 631-645.
    17. Chowdhury, Mohammad Ziauddin & Timurkutluk, Bora, 2018. "Transport phenomena of convergent and divergent serpentine flow fields for PEMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 104-117.

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