Numerical Analysis of Temperature Distributions in Single Cell of PEFC by Heat Transfer Model Considering Vapor Transfer

Nishimura, Akira; Fukuoka, Hiroya; Yamamoto, Kohei; Okado, Tatsuya; Kojima, Yoshitane; Hirota, Masafumi; Kolhe, Mohan Lal

doi:10.17265/1934-8975/2020.01.001

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Mass transport phenomena in a cell such as distributions of H 2 , O 2 , and H 2 O concentration are also being investigated [12][13][14]. The temperature distribution on the back of the separator and the interface between PEM and the cathode catalyst layer has been investigated experimentally [15,16] and numerically [17,18], respectively, by the authors. Though the current density and temperature distribution were studied experimentally [19] and numerically [20] at the same time, there have been no reports investigating the distribution of H 2 , O 2 , H 2 O concentration and current density on the interface between PEM and the anode catalyst layer, where the H 2 oxidation reaction occurs or the interface between PEM and the cathode catalyst layer where the O 2 reduction reaction occurs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Simulation on Impacts of Thickness of Nafion Series Membranes and Relative Humidity on PEMFC Operated at 363 K and 373 K

et al. 2021

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The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of the thickness of Nafion membrane, which is a typical polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), and relative humidity of supply gas on the distributions of H2, O2, H2O concentration and current density on the interface between a Nafion membrane and anode catalyst layer or the interface between a Nafion membrane and cathode catalyst layer. The effect of the initial temperature of the cell (Tini) is also investigated by the numerical simulation using the 3D model by COMSOL Multiphysics. As a result, the current density decreases along with the gas flow through the gas channel irrespective of the Nafion membrane thickness and Tini, which can be explained by the concentration distribution of H2 and O2 consumed by electrochemical reaction. The molar concentration of H2O decreases when the thickness of Nafion membrane increases, irrespective of Tini and the relative humidity of the supply gas. The current density increases with the increase in relative humidity of the supply gas, irrespective of the Nafion membrane thickness and Tini. This study recommends that a thinner Nafion membrane with well-humidified supply gas would promote high power generation at the target temperature of 363 K and 373 K.

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