Numerical Simulation of a High Current Density PEM Fuel Cell

D'Adamo, Alessandro; Riccardi, Marco; Locci, Carlo; Romagnoli, Marcello; Fontanesi, Stefano

doi:10.4271/2020-24-0016

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…This implies allowing saturation values higher than unity (supersaturation) to represent a vapour-liquid mist mixture of equal velocity ( u mix ), with evident ease of implementation. The single-phase/MMP method is largely used in 3D-CFD simulations of PEMFC [28][29][30], although it preserves adherence to physics only for low saturation levels. For high saturated conditions, not only the physical soundness is questioned, but also numerical issues arise due to the mass-averaging of phases of largely different densities (gaseous/liquid) in the momentum equation.…”

Section: Mixture Multi-phase (Mmp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Methods and Validation Techniques for CFD Simulations of PEM Fuel Cells

et al. 2021

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The large-scale adoption of fuel cells system for sustainable power generation will require the combined use of both multidimensional models and of dedicated testing techniques, in order to evolve the current technology beyond its present status. This requires an unprecedented understanding of concurrent and interacting fluid dynamics, material and electrochemical processes. In this review article, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) are analysed. In the first part, the most common approaches for multi-phase/multi-physics modelling are presented in their governing equations, inherent limitations and accurate materials characterisation for diffusion layers, membrane and catalyst layers. This provides a thorough overview of key aspects to be included in multidimensional CFD models. In the second part, advanced diagnostic techniques are surveyed, indicating testing practices to accurately characterise the cell operation. These can be used to validate models, complementing the conventional observation of the current–voltage curve with key operating parameters, thus defining a joint modelling/testing environment. The two sections complement each other in portraying a unified framework of interrelated physical/chemical processes, laying the foundation of a robust and complete understanding of PEMFC. This is needed to advance the current technology and to consciously use the ever-growing availability of computational resources in the next future.

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Section: Mixture Multi-phase (Mmp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Methods and Validation Techniques for CFD Simulations of PEM Fuel Cells

et al. 2021

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“…A straight-channel half-cell model from Tabuchi et al [26] and D'Adamo et al [27] is considered to weight the effect of material properties on the resulting flow distribution and heat transfer routes. The half-cell assumption is introduced due to the common symmetry of material properties and of gas distributors between the anodic/cathodic sides.…”

Section: Model Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A typical temperature profile of CCL section is derived from [27], aiming at obtaining no heating far from the channel region (i.e. T=350 K) and a maximum temperature increase along the channel axis of 100 K, using a modified Gaussian distribution as in Eq.…”

Section: Effect Of Gdl Thermal Conductivity and Contact Resistancementioning

confidence: 99%

On the Effect of Complex Permeability and Thermal Material Properties for 3D-CFD Simulation of PEM Fuel Cells

D'Adamo¹,

Corda²,

Fontanesi³

et al. 2021

TI-IJES

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Fuel cells are considered a key technology to decarbonize the power generation sector, thanks to the absence of pollutants emissions related to the direct chemical-electric energy conversion, their high global efficiency, and the possibility for on-board electricity production, overcoming the storage limits of batteries. An example of the renewed interest towards fuel cells is the research in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) in the automotive sector, as a candidate alternative to fossil fuels-fed internal combustion engines (ICEs). The complex interplay of electrochemical and physical phenomena concurring in PEMFC makes their understanding and optimization a challenging task. This is a field of active research thanks to the development of advanced CAE tools, e.g., 3D-CFD simulations of non-isothermal reactive flows, in which all the relevant physics is numerically solved, allowing to identify governing mechanisms as well as system bottlenecks. Among the multiple complex aspects, the material property characterization of PEMFC components is one of the major modelling challenges for modern CAE tools. This is usually provided as a set of boundary conditions for the numerical model, having a large impact on the simulated results which is often motivated by an oversimplification of materials characteristics. Examples of commonly overlooked aspects are direction-independent thermal/flow properties for fibrous materials, the neglection on the deformed (compressed) status, and the simplified contact approach. All of these might alter the key parameters (e.g., water management) and mislead designers’ conclusions on PEMFC optimization. In this paper three-dimensional CFD simulations are used to weight the impact of orthotropic diffusion layer properties on both flow distribution and heat transfer. In the first part, a simplified test case from literature is created and used to investigate the flow convection/diffusion balance in the gas diffusion layer considering the orthotropic permeability typical of pressed fibrous layers. Differences with respect to the still widely used isotropic permeability will be assessed, and implications on channel bypass and mass transport to the catalyst layer will be provided. In the second part, the analysis moves to the use of orthotropic thermal conductivity for the fibrous gas diffusion layers, which is another commonly discarded aspect despite being well documented in literature. A critical analysis of heat transfer routes between parts of different heat capacity (membrane, diffusion layers, solid plates) and thermal field for all the components will be assessed. Finally, thermal contact resistance between adjacent pressed materials will be applied. The altered thermal pathways for heat removal will be critically analyzed, as well as the differences in temperature distribution and their implication on electricity production and water management. This hierarchical flow/thermal analysis will provide guidelines for more accurate 3D-CFD models for a deeper understanding of flow and heat dynamics in PEMFC.

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“…Alternative fuels, innovative combustion processes and aftertreatment systems are the predominant research fields to further develop Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) amid the propulsion system innovation process. While waiting for mass-market penetration of alternative mobility solutions such as BEVs and FCEVs [1] [2], ICEs are still populating the large majority of passenger cars, although in the form of hybrid powertrains [3]. Among the ICEs, Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) units must meet challenging and strict targets for the emissions, including Particulate Matter (PM) and Particle Number (PN).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Lagrangian-phase Modelling on Charge Stratification and Spatial Distribution of Threshold Soot Index for Toluene Reference Fuel Surrogates

Pessina

Borghi

2021

E3S Web Conf.

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Nowadays, soot emissions are one of the major concerns in Direct Injection Spark Ignition engines. Soot prediction models can be computationally expensive, especially when particle mass, number, and size distribution are to be forecast. While soot formation heavily depends on the chemical and physical characteristics of the fuel, the simulation of the exact composition of a real gasoline is computationally unfeasible. Thus, it is essential to find simplified yet representative pathways to reduce the computational cost of the simulations. On the one hand, the a-priori investigation of the factors influencing particulate onset can be a simplified approach to compare different solutions and strategies with much cheaper costs than the modelling of soot formation and oxidation mechanisms. On the other hand, the use of surrogate fuels is a practical approach to cope with the fuel chemical nature. Although they poorly mimic the evaporation properties of a real gasoline, Toluene Reference Fuels are broadly adopted to match combustion relevant properties of the real fuels. In this study, the spatial distribution of the Threshold Soot Index in the fluid domain is investigated for three surrogates characterized by an increasing content of toluene (0 mol%, 30 mol%, 60 mol%). The correlation between the sooting tendency and the fuel distribution in the combustion chamber before spark ignition time can provide useful preliminary indications, without spending the computational effort of the whole soot model multicycle resolution. In particular, two approaches for the lagrangian description of the injected fuel are investigated: a multicomponent approach and a single component one, this last driven by a high-fidelity lumped modelling of the surrogate properties for both liquid and vapor phase.

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Numerical Simulation of a High Current Density PEM Fuel Cell

Cited by 18 publications

References 22 publications

Modelling Methods and Validation Techniques for CFD Simulations of PEM Fuel Cells

Modelling Methods and Validation Techniques for CFD Simulations of PEM Fuel Cells

On the Effect of Complex Permeability and Thermal Material Properties for 3D-CFD Simulation of PEM Fuel Cells

Effect of Lagrangian-phase Modelling on Charge Stratification and Spatial Distribution of Threshold Soot Index for Toluene Reference Fuel Surrogates

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