Experimental Study of Air-Water Interaction in Presence of Powdered Wax Inside Simulated Gas Distribution Channel of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhijit Mukherjee ◽  
Anthony Bourassa
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Distribution Channel ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Water Droplets ◽  
Water Interaction ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Low temperature fuel cells such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells are being currently developed to run cars and buses. Water management in these fuel cells is a key issue that needs to be adequately addressed for rapid development of the technology. The fuel cell reaction creates water that is typically carried away by the incoming air. However, at part load operations when the required air supply is lower, water droplets may fully block the air supply channels, leading to inefficient fuel cell operation. A solution to this problem is proposed taking a cue from tiny insects known as aphids that live inside plants. They excrete a watery substance called honeydew and get rid of this water using wax by encapsulating it into tiny droplets. In the present study, air-water interaction in a minichannel is studied in the presence of powdered wax. Air is forced into the channel inlet and water is pumped through a hole on the top wall of the channel. The movement of water inside the channel at different air velocities and water flow rates is recorded using a high-speed camera. Results indicate that the water droplets and slugs formed inside the channel are removed more rapidly in the presence of powdered wax. At the highest water flow rate and lowest air velocity used in this study the unwaxed channel gets completely flooded while the slugs of water continued to move forward in the waxed channel. Different two-phase flow regimes have been identified and plotted in both the waxed and unwaxed channels.

Highly proton conductive membranes based on carboxylated cellulose nanofibres and their performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Guccini ◽  
Annika Carlson ◽  
Shun Yu ◽  
Göran Lindbergh ◽  
Rakel Wreland Lindström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Surface Charge ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Thickness ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Cellulose Nanofibres ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The performance of thin carboxylated cellulose nanofiber-based (CNF) membranes as proton exchange membranes in fuel cells has been measured in-situ as a function of CNF surface charge density (600 and 1550 µmol g<sup>-1</sup>), counterion (H<sup>+</sup>or Na<sup>+</sup>), membrane thickness and fuel cell relative humidity (RH 55 to 95 %). The structural evolution of the membranes as a function of RH as measured by Small Angle X-ray scattering shows that water channels are formed only above 75 % RH. The amount of absorbed water was shown to depend on the membrane surface charge and counter ions (Na<sup>+</sup>or H<sup>+</sup>). The high affinity of CNF for water and the high aspect ratio of the nanofibers, together with a well-defined and homogenous membrane structure, ensures a proton conductivity exceeding 1 mS cm<sup>-1</sup>at 30 °C between 65 and 95 % RH. This is two orders of magnitude larger than previously reported values for cellulose materials and only one order of magnitude lower than Nafion 212. Moreover, the CNF membranes are characterized by a lower hydrogen crossover than Nafion, despite being ≈ 30 % thinner. Thanks to their environmental compatibility and promising fuel cell performance the CNF membranes should be considered for new generation proton exchange membrane fuel cells.<br>

Latest Trends and Challenges In Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Jourdani ◽  
Hamid Mounir ◽  
Abdellatif El Marjani
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
Technical Advances ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Background: During last few years, the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) underwent a huge development. Method: The different contributions to the design, the material of all components and the efficiencies are analyzed. Result: Many technical advances are introduced to increase the PEMFC fuel cell efficiency and lifetime for transportation, stationary and portable utilization. Conclusion: By the last years, the total cost of this system is decreasing. However, the remaining challenges that need to be overcome mean that it will be several years before full commercialization can take place.This paper gives an overview of the recent advancements in the development of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel cells and remaining challenges of PEMFC.

Submicro-pore containing poly(ether sulfones)/polyvinylpyrrolidone membranes for high-temperature fuel cell applications

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (16) ◽  
pp. 8847-8854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhibin Guo ◽  
Ruijie Xiu ◽  
Shanfu Lu ◽  
Xin Xu ◽  
Shichun Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Exchange Membrane

A novel submicro-pore containing proton exchange membrane is designed and fabricated for application in high-temperature fuel cells.

STUDY ON THE OPTIMIZATION FOR THE SIZE OF FUEL CELL FLOW FIELD UNDER INADEQUATE AIR SUPPLY CONDITION

Química Nova ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi Lei ◽  
Zheng Minggang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Supply Condition ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Exchange Membrane

In this paper, the influence of the optimization for flow field size on the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance under the inadequate air supply of cathode was studied based on the three-dimensional, steady-state, and constant temperature PEMFC monomer model. Additionally, the effect of the optimization for hybrid factors, including length, width, depth and width-depth, on the PEMFC performance was also investigated. The results showed that the optimization of the flow field size can improve the performance of the PEMFC and ensure that it is close to the level under the normal gas supply.

scholarly journals Comparative Study on the Effects of Three Membrane Modification Methods on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liping Fan ◽  
Junyi Shi ◽  
Tian Gao
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Purification ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Generation Capacity ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Proton exchange membrane is an important factor affecting the power generation capacity and water purification effect of microbial fuel cells. The performance of microbial fuel cells can be improved by modifying the proton exchange membrane by some suitable method. Microbial fuel cells with membranes modified by SiO2/PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride), sulfonated PVDF and polymerized MMA (methyl methacrylate) electrolyte were tested and their power generation capacity and water purification effect were compared. The experimental results show that the three membrane modification methods can improve the power generation capacity and water purification effect of microbial fuel cells to some extent. Among them, the microbial fuel cell with the polymerized MMA modified membrane showed the best performance, in which the output voltage was 39.52 mV, and the electricity production current density was 18.82 mA/m2, which was 2224% higher than that of microbial fuel cell with the conventional Nafion membrane; and the COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal rate was 54.8%, which was 72.9% higher than that of microbial fuel cell with the conventional Nafion membrane. Modifying the membrane with the polymerized MMA is a very effective way to improve the performance of microbial fuel cells.

A Numerical Investigation of Heat and Mass Transfer in Air-Cooled Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Berning
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Air Stream ◽  
Multi Phase ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Abstract A numerical analysis of an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been conducted. The model utilizes the Eulerian multi-phase approach to predict the occurrence and transport of liquid water inside the cell. It is assumed that all the waste heat must be carried out of the fuel cell with the excess air which leads to a strong temperature increase of the air stream. The results suggest that the performance of these fuel cells is limited by membrane overheating which is ultimately caused by the limited heat transfer to the laminar air stream. A proposed remedy is the placement of a turbulence grid before such a fuel cell stack to enhance the heat transfer and increase the fuel cell performance.

Computational Modelling and Simulation of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (Keynote)

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Djilali ◽  
T. Berning
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Transport Phenomena ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Fuel cells (FC’s) are electrochemical devices that convert directly into electricity the chemical energy of reaction of a fuel (usually hydrogen) with an oxidant (usually oxygen from ambient air). The only by-products in a hydrogen fuel cell are heat and water, making this emerging technology the leading candidate for quiet, zero emission energy production. Several types of fuel cell are currently undergoing intense research and development for applications ranging from portable electronics and appliances to residential power generation and transportation. The focus of this lecture is Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC’s). An electrolyte consisting of a “solid” polymer membrane, low operating temperatures (typically below 90 °C) and a relatively simple design combine to make PEMFC’s particularly well suited to automotive and portable applications. The operation of a fuel cell relies on electrochemical reactions and an array of coupled transport phenomena, including multi-component gas flow, two phase-flow, heat and mass transfer, phase change and transport of charged species. The transport processes take place in variety of media, including porous gas diffusion electrodes and polymer membranes. The fuel cell environment makes it impossible to measure in-situ the quantities of interest to understand and quantify these phenomena, and computational modelling and simulations are therefore poised to play a central role in the development and optimization of fuel cell technology. We provide an overview of the role of various transport phenomena in fuel cell operation and some of the physical and computational modelling challenges they present. The processes will be illustrated through examples of multi-dimensional numerical simulations of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. We close with a perspective on some of the many remaining challenges and future development opportunities.

scholarly journals Measurements Based Analysis of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Operation in Transient State and Power of Own Needs

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 498
Author(s):  
Andrzej Wilk ◽  
Daniel Węcel
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Transient State ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Variable Load ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Currently, fuel cells are increasingly used in industrial installations, means of transport, and household applications as a source of electricity and heat. The paper presents the results of experimental tests of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) at variable load, which characterizes the cell’s operation in real installations. A detailed analysis of the power needed for operation fuel cell auxiliary devices (own needs power) was carried out. An analysis of net and gross efficiency was carried out in various operating conditions of the device. The measurements made show changes in the performance of the fuel cell during step changing or smooth changing of an electric load. Load was carried out as a change in the current or a change in the resistance of the receiver. The analysis covered the times of reaching steady states and the efficiency of the fuel cell system taking into account auxiliary devices. In the final part of the article, an analysis was made of the influence of the fuel cell duration of use on obtained parameters. The analysis of the measurement results will allow determination of the possibility of using fuel cells in installations with a rapidly changing load profile and indicate possible solutions to improve the performance of the installation.

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