Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields

Yuan, Wei; Wang, Aoyu; Yan, Zhiguo; Tan, Zhenhao; Tang, Yong; Xia, Hongrong

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.127

Cited by 43 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Moreover, CNT/E-HBM/PtRu@PBI showed higher power densities than commercial CB/PtRu due to the robust MOR activity and lower ohmic resistance (Figure 4c). Power density of CNT/E-HBM/ PtRu@PBI reached 100 mW cm À 2 with 4 M methanol (Figure 4d), which was higher compared to the recently reported literatures as shown in Figure 4e including electrocatalyst, [5,23] MEA structure [24] and membrane [25] designs. Fuel cell performance of CNT/E-HBM/PtRu@PBI measured with 4 M methanol was only 1.2 fold higher than power density tested with 1 M methanol, which was not consistent with MOR test in half-cell (Figure 3i) due to the following aspects: i) accelerated methanol crossover with concentrated methanol feeding in fuel cell test; ii) lower PtRu utilization efficiency and higher mass transfer resistance caused by a high catalyst loading (2 mg cm À 2 ) compared to a half-cell test with Pt loading of 15 μg cm À 2 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Decorated PtRu Electrocatalyst for Concentrated Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Luo

Zhang

et al. 2019

ChemCatChem

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Increment in methanol concentration can logically improve the fuel cell performance of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) to address the sluggish methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Thus, development in anodic electrocatalyst for concentrated methanol oxidation becomes highly important. Here, we report a facile method to promote the PtRu electrocatalyst's catalytic activity in concentrated methanol by polymer coating, which affords a higher CO tolerance and thus leads to a better MOR activity. As a consequence, the fuel cell performance is 2.5 times higher relative to benchmark CB/PtRu if 4 M methanol is used. Superior stability and CO tolerance are simultaneously achieved thanks to the PBI coating. Thus, the polymer decorated PtRu electrocatalyst can potentially utilized as anodic electrocatalyst for concentrated DMFC application.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Decorated PtRu Electrocatalyst for Concentrated Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Luo

Zhang

et al. 2019

ChemCatChem

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“…Yuan et al. also investigated the two‐phase flow characteristics inside the anode compartment of an active DMFC using parallel, serpentine and porous flow fields. They discovered that the serpentine flow field was superior for the removal of CO 2 bubbles from the anode.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two‐Phase Flow Modeling of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Anode Compartment

2019

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A quasi two‐dimensional numerical model was developed to predict the two‐phase flow behavior within the anode compartment of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Different void fraction correlations were employed to examine and estimate the pressure drop, flowrate and methanol concentration variations across the fuel channels. By comparing the modeling results with experimental data, it was discovered that the calculated pressure drop values were highly dependent on the type of void fraction correlation utilized. The best experimental agreement was achieved when using the “separated” flow modeling approach with a void fraction correlation that accounted for surface tension and capillary effects. The “homogenous” flow modeling methodology on the other hand, was found to be inadequate and in all cases, underestimated the two‐phase pressure drop. The model demonstrated that the acceleration and gravitational pressure losses had the lowest and highest impact on the overall two‐phase pressure drop, respectively. The frictional pressure loss effects only started to appear at higher fuel flowrates and at elevated operating current densities. It was also revealed that increasing the cell's operating current density while maintaining the fuel flowrate, would significantly increase the overall two‐phase pressure drop with negligible impact on the net methanol concentration across the anode compartment.

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“…Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) use methanol as the reactant, which has the advantage of abundant fuel sources, low price, convenient operation, and easy miniaturization. It is suitable as a power source for portable devices [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal Layout Analysis and Design of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells on PCB Based on Novel Particle Swarm Optimization

et al. 2019

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As a new energy technology, the fuel cell has developed rapidly, and its performance has been continuously improved. Fuel cell stacks composed of multiple single cells are gradually being used in portable electronic products. Since the performance of fuel cells cannot be optimal at room temperature, it is critical to research cell temperature characteristics and heat distributions in applications. In this paper, the effects of temperature and charge transfer coefficient and the relationship between exchange current density and output voltage were analyzed by the mathematical model of direct methanol fuel cells. Moreover, to optimize the thermal layout of the fuel cell stack in the printed circuit board (PCB) substrate, the idea of a fuel cell as a device was proposed innovatively, and the corresponding thermal optimization strategy was analyzed. A novel particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to detect the optimal layout of fuel cells of different specifications on the same substrate. The three-dimensional thermal simulation model was used to obtain the temperature data and verify the optimization results.

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Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields

Cited by 43 publications

References 64 publications

Decorated PtRu Electrocatalyst for Concentrated Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Decorated PtRu Electrocatalyst for Concentrated Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Two‐Phase Flow Modeling of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Anode Compartment

Thermal Layout Analysis and Design of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells on PCB Based on Novel Particle Swarm Optimization

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