Development of self-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack with cylindrical cells

“…This research uses Ansys fluent 2021R1 to model PEMFC channel configurations. The models were formulated using the Ansys Fluent PEMFC add-on module manual, listing all of the modelling software's governing equations [16][17][18][19], including the information on the many processes and energy losses that are less known within HFCs. The main reasons for choosing this software lie in the ability to solve complex fluid flow problems numerically and to simulate coupled models with multiple variables needed for a PEMFC as a laminar flow model [20][21][22][23].…”

Section: Pemfc Cfd Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Power Output Optimisation via Arranging Gas Flow Channels for Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles

et al. 2023

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As we move away from internal combustion engines to tackle climate change, the importance of hydrogen-powered vehicles and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology has dramatically increased. In the present study, we aimed to determine the optimal configuration for the power output of a PEMFC system using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling to analyse variations of the primary serpentine design of gas flow channels. This helps improve efficiency and save on valuable materials used, reducing potential carbon emissions from the production of hydrogen vehicles. Different numbers of serpentine gas channels were represented with various spacing between them, within the defined CFD model, to optimise the gas channel geometry. The results show that the optimum configuration was found to have 11 serpentine channels with a spacing of 3.25 mm. In this optimum configuration, the ratio between the channel width, channel spacing, and serpentine channel length was found to be 1:2.6:38 for PEMFCs. Furthermore, the inclusion of fillets to the bends of the serpentine gas channels was found to have a negative effect on the overall power output of the fuel cell. Moreover, the optimisation procedures with respect to the number of gas channels and the spacing revealed an optimal power density exceeding 0.65 W/cm2.

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“…To meet the voltage demand of practical micro electro-device applications, different numbers of air-breathing PEMFCs need to be assembled as fuel cell stacks. For instance, Sapkota et al [18] reported a 12-celled cylindrical stack with a higher self-breathing function, which achieves a maximum power density of 1 W cm −2 . Chen et al [19] analyzed an aircooled PEMFC stack performance with an air supply system in the blow and exhaust modes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Study on Effect of Flow Field Configuration on Air-Breathing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Stacks

Liu,

Sun,

Bai

2024

Energies

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Air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) show enormous potential in small and portable applications because of their brief construction time without the need for gas supply, humidification and cooling devices. In the current work, a 3D multiphase model of single air-breathing PEMFCs is developed by considering the contact resistance between the gas diffusion layer and bipolar plate and the anisotropic thermal conduction and electric conductive in the through-plane and in-plane directions. The 3D model presents good grid independence and agreement with the experimental polarization curve. The single PEMFC with the best open area ratio of 55% achieves the maximum peak power density of 179.3 mW cm−2. For the fuel cell stack with 10 single fuel cells, the application of the anode window flow field is beneficial to improve the stack peak power density compared to the anode serpentine flow field. The developed model is capable of providing assistance in designing high-performance air-breathing PEMFC stacks.

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Development of self-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack with cylindrical cells

Cited by 8 publications

References 52 publications

Platinum–tin as a superior catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Platinum–tin as a superior catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Power Output Optimisation via Arranging Gas Flow Channels for Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles

Numerical Study on Effect of Flow Field Configuration on Air-Breathing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Stacks

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