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Numerical Study of the Dynamic Response of Heat and Mass Transfer to Operation Mode Switching of a Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell

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  • Hong Xiao

    (MOE Key Laboratory of Enhanced Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Energy Conversion, College of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Hang Guo

    (MOE Key Laboratory of Enhanced Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Energy Conversion, College of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
    Collaborative Innovation Center of Electric Vehicles in Beijing, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Fang Ye

    (MOE Key Laboratory of Enhanced Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Energy Conversion, College of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Chongfang Ma

    (MOE Key Laboratory of Enhanced Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Energy Conversion, College of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

Abstract

Knowledge concerning the complicated changes of mass and heat transfer is desired to improve the performance and durability of unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs). In this study, a transient, non-isothermal, single-phase, and multi-physics mathematical model for a URFC based on the proton exchange membrane is generated to investigate transient responses in the process of operation mode switching from fuel cell (FC) to electrolysis cell (EC). Various heat generation mechanisms, including Joule heat, reaction heat, and the heat attributed to activation polarizations, have been considered in the transient model coupled with electrochemical reaction and mass transfer in porous electrodes. The polarization curves of the steady-state models are validated by experimental data in the literatures. Numerical results reveal that current density, gas mass fractions, and temperature suddenly change with the sudden change of operating voltage in the mode switching process. The response time of temperature is longer than that of current density and gas mass fractions. In both FC and EC modes, the cell temperature and gradient of gas mass fraction in the oxygen side are larger than that in the hydrogen side. The temperature difference of the entire cell is less than 1.5 K. The highest temperature appears at oxygen-side catalyst layer under the FC mode and at membrane under a more stable EC mode. The cell is exothermic all the time. These dynamic responses and phenomena have important implications for heat analysis and provide proven guidelines for the improvement of URFCs mode switching.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong Xiao & Hang Guo & Fang Ye & Chongfang Ma, 2016. "Numerical Study of the Dynamic Response of Heat and Mass Transfer to Operation Mode Switching of a Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:12:p:1015-:d:84214
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xing, Lei & Liu, Xiaoteng & Alaje, Taiwo & Kumar, Ravi & Mamlouk, Mohamed & Scott, Keith, 2014. "A two-phase flow and non-isothermal agglomerate model for a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 618-634.
    2. Cao, Tao-Feng & Lin, Hong & Chen, Li & He, Ya-Ling & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2013. "Numerical investigation of the coupled water and thermal management in PEM fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1115-1125.
    3. Lulu Wang & Hang Guo & Fang Ye & Chongfang Ma, 2016. "Two-Dimensional Simulation of Mass Transfer in Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells under Operation Mode Switching," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuan, Xian Ming & Guo, Hang & Liu, Jia Xing & Ye, Fang & Ma, Chong Fang, 2018. "Influence of operation parameters on mode switching from electrolysis cell mode to fuel cell mode in a unitized regenerative fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1041-1051.
    2. 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.

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