A novel flow field with controllable pressure gradient to enhance mass transport and water removal of PEM fuel cells

AIChE Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Xing ◽  
Yuanxiang Xu ◽  
Željko Penga ◽  
Qian Xu ◽  
Huaneng Su ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Mass Transport ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Water Removal ◽  
Enhance Mass

Analytical and numerical study on cooling flow field designs performance of PEM fuel cell with variable heat flux

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (16) ◽  
pp. 1650155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Afshari ◽  
Masoud Ziaei-Rad ◽  
Nabi Jahantigh
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Coolant Flow ◽  
Temperature Uniformity ◽  
Variable Heat ◽  
Variable Heat Flux

In PEM fuel cells, during electrochemical generation of electricity more than half of the chemical energy of hydrogen is converted to heat. This heat of reactions, if not exhausted properly, would impair the performance and durability of the cell. In general, large scale PEM fuel cells are cooled by liquid water that circulates through coolant flow channels formed in bipolar plates or in dedicated cooling plates. In this paper, a numerical method has been presented to study cooling and temperature distribution of a polymer membrane fuel cell stack. The heat flux on the cooling plate is variable. A three-dimensional model of fluid flow and heat transfer in cooling plates with 15 cm × 15 cm square area is considered and the performances of four different coolant flow field designs, parallel field and serpentine fields are compared in terms of maximum surface temperature, temperature uniformity and pressure drop characteristics. By comparing the results in two cases, the constant and variable heat flux, it is observed that applying constant heat flux instead of variable heat flux which is actually occurring in the fuel cells is not an accurate assumption. The numerical results indicated that the straight flow field model has temperature uniformity index and almost the same temperature difference with the serpentine models, while its pressure drop is less than all of the serpentine models. Another important advantage of this model is the much easier design and building than the spiral models.

Influence of the Gas Diffusion Layer Compression on the Oxygen Mass Transport in PEM Fuel Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 69 (17) ◽  
pp. 1293-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Simon ◽  
F. Hasche ◽  
D. Muller ◽  
H. A. Gasteiger
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Mass Transport ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion

Performance of Parallel, Interdigitated, and Serpentine Flow Field PEM Fuel Cells with Straight or Wavelike Channels

2020 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 04020054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Ding ◽  
Hong-Liang Zhao ◽  
Zhong-Min Wan ◽  
Yan-Ru Yang ◽  
Chen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Serpentine Flow Field

Advanced Integrated Flow Field (IFF) Design for High Performance Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Pien ◽  
Steven Lis ◽  
Radha Jalan ◽  
Marvin Warshay ◽  
Suresh Pahwa
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Stoichiometric Ratio ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Hydrophilic Matrix

Higher efficiency operation of PEM fuel cells needs an advanced passive way to remove product water. Water flooding in gas flow channels reduces efficiency and needs to be mitigated by a support of balance of plant design and components which results in parasitic power losses. ElectroChem’s Integrated Flow Field (IFF) design with the integration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic matrix has been proven to solve these challenges with no impact on the performance. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic matrix facilitates two phase (gas and liquid) flow to and away from the interface between the electrode membrane assembly and the flow field. A phase-separation feature of the IFF allowed the fuel cells to operate on a flow rate at its consumption rate. The IFF fuel cell has demonstrated operation at the ideal one stoichiometric ratio with 100% gas utilization and orientation independent. The IFF also served as gas humidifier through the creation of simultaneous distribution of gas and water within the cell. The self-humidification capability keeps the cell operating without the humidity of the input gas. The IFF design also enhanced the performance of water electrolysis which is a reverse process of fuel cell. The IFF supported the passive water feed to the cell and gas separation from the cell.

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