Multiphysics-Based Statistical Model for Investigating the Mechanics of Carbon Nanotubes Membranes for Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Vijayaraghavan ◽  
A. Garg ◽  
Liang Gao
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Carbon Nanostructure ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Strength And Durability ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The filter membrane made up of carbon nanostructure is one of the important components in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The membrane while under operating conditions of a PEMFC is subjected to various dynamical loads due to the imposition of several input operating factors of the PEMFC. Hence, it is important to estimate optimal process parameters, which can maximize the strength of the membrane. Current studies in PEMFC focus on adsorption and transport-related properties of PEMFC membrane, without adequately investigating the mechanical strength of the membrane. This study proposes a multiphysics model of the membrane, which is used to extract the mechanical properties of the membrane by systematically varying various input factors of PEMFC. The extracted data are then fed into a neural search machine learning cluster to obtain optimal design parameters for maximizing the strength of the membrane. It is expected that the findings from this study will provide critical design data for manufacturing PEMFC membranes with high strength and durability.

Optimization of the Operating Parameters of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell for Maximum Power Density

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mawardi ◽  
F. Yang ◽  
R. Pitchumani
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Optimum Operating ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Membrane Thickness ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The performance of fuel cells can be significantly improved by using optimum operating conditions that maximize the power density subject to constraints. Despite its significance, relatively scant work is reported in the open literature on the model-assisted optimization of fuel cells. In this paper, a methodology for model-based optimization is presented by considering a one-dimensional nonisothermal description of a fuel cell operating on reformate feed. The numerical model is coupled with a continuous search simulated annealing optimization scheme to determine the optimum solutions for selected process constraints. Optimization results are presented over a range of fuel cell design parameters to assess the effects of membrane thickness, electrode thickness, constraint values, and CO concentration on the optimum operating conditions.

Numerical Analysis of Water Transport in PEM Fuel Cell Membranes Using a Phenomenological Model

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Sui ◽  
N. Djilali
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Water Transport ◽  
Phenomenological Model ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
And Diffusion

A numerical investigation on the water transport across the membrane of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is carried out to gain insight into water management issues, which are crucial to the efficient operation of such fuel cells. The transport equation of water content based on a phenomenological model, which includes an electro-osmotic drag term and a diffusion term, is solved using the finite volume method for a 1-D configuration with the assumption of a uniform temperature distribution. Transport properties including the drag coefficient and diffusion coefficient of water in the membrane and the ionic conductivity of the membrane are expressed as functions of water content and temperature. The effects on the water flux across the membrane and on overall membrane protonic conductivity due to variations of these properties are studied. The numerical results show that water transport in the membrane is mainly determined by the relative strength of electro-osmotic drag and diffusion, which are affected by operating conditions such as current density and relative humidity at the membrane surface, and design parameters such as membrane thickness and membrane material. Computed water fluxes for different humidity boundary conditions indicate that for a thick membrane, e.g. Nafion 117, electro-osmotic drag dominates transport over a wide range of operating conditions, whereas for a thin membrane, e.g. Nafion 112, diffusion of water becomes equally important under certain conditions. Implications of the one-dimensional investigation on comprehensive CFD based modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cell are also discussed.

scholarly journals Modelling of Humidity Dynamics for Open-Cathode Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Fengxiang Chen ◽  
Liming Zhang ◽  
Jieran Jiao
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Transport Theory ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Output Performance ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The durability and output performance of a fuel cell is highly influenced by the internal humidity, while in most developed models of open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cells (OC-PEMFC) the internal water content is viewed as a fixed value. Based on mass and energy conservation law, mass transport theory and electrochemistry principles, the model of humidity dynamics for OC-PEMFC is established in Simulink® environment, including the electrochemical model, mass flow model and thermal model. In the mass flow model, the water retention property and oxygen transfer characteristics of the gas diffusion layer is modelled. The simulation indicates that the internal humidity of OC-PEMFC varies with stack temperature and operating conditions, which has a significant influence on stack efficiency and output performance. In order to maintain a good internal humidity state during operation, this model can be used to determine the optimal stack temperature and for the design of a proper control strategy.

scholarly journals Design of Incremental Conductance Sliding Mode MPPT Control Applied by Integrated Photovoltaic and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System under Various Operating Conditions for BLDC Motor

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jehun Hahm ◽  
Hyoseok Kang ◽  
Jaeho Baek ◽  
Heejin Lee ◽  
Mignon Park
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Sliding Mode ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
System Control ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Pv Array ◽  
Incremental Conductance ◽  
Exchange Membrane

This paper proposes an integrated photovoltaic (PV) and proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system for continuous energy harvesting under various operating conditions for use with a brushless DC motor. The proposed scheme is based on the incremental conductance (IncCond) algorithm combined with the sliding mode technique. Under changing atmospheric conditions, the energy conversion efficiency of a PV array is very low, leading to significant power losses. Consequently, increasing efficiency by means of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is particularly important. To manage such a hybrid system, control strategies need to be established to achieve the aim of the distributed system. Firstly, a Matlab/Simulink based model of the PV and PEMFC is developed and validated, as well as the incremental conductance sliding (ICS) MPPT technique; then, different MPPT algorithms are employed to control the PV array under nonuniform temperature and insolation conditions, to study these algorithms effectiveness under various operating conditions. Conventional techniques are easy to implement but produce oscillations at MPP. Compared to these techniques, the proposed technique is more efficient; it produces less oscillation at MPP in the steady state and provides more precise tracking.

Theoretical Analysis on the Autothermal Reforming Process of Ethanol as Fuel for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Perna
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Autothermal Reforming ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Hydrogen Yield ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The purpose of this work is to investigate, by a thermodynamic analysis, the effects of the process variables on the performance of an autothermal reforming (ATR)-based fuel processor, operating on ethanol as fuel, integrated into an overall proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system. This analysis has been carried out finding the better operating conditions to maximize hydrogen yield and to minimize CO carbon monoxide production. In order to evaluate the overall efficiency of the system, PEM fuel cell operations have been analyzed by an available parametric model.

Carbon nanostructure grown using bi-metal oxide as electrocatalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (15) ◽  
pp. 6460-6468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Divya Puthusseri ◽  
Tessy Theres Baby ◽  
Vinayan Bhagavathi Parambhath ◽  
Rajalakshmi Natarajan ◽  
Ramaprabhu Sundara
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Metal Oxide ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Carbon Nanostructure ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Durability study and lifetime prediction of baseline proton exchange membrane fuel cell under severe operating conditions

2008 ◽  
Vol 182 (2) ◽  
pp. 469-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Marrony ◽  
R. Barrera ◽  
S. Quenet ◽  
S. Ginocchio ◽  
L. Montelatici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Lifetime Prediction ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Multi-Phase Flow and Condensation in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Stockie
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Multi Phase Flow ◽  
Multi Phase ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The porous electrodes in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell are characterized by multi-phase flow, involving liquid water and multispecies gases, that are undergoing both condensation and catalyzed reactions. Careful management of liquid water and heat in the fuel cell system is essential for optimizing performance. The primary focus of this study is thus on condensation and water transport, neither of which have yet been studied in as much detail as other aspects of fuel cell dynamics. We develop a two-dimensional model for multi-phase flow in a porous medium that captures the fundamental transport processes going on in the electrodes. The governing equations are discretized using a finite volume approach, and numerical simulations are performed in order to determine the effect of changing operating conditions on fuel cell performance.

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