Influence of Cell Components Structure on Coupling Phenomena in Single Cell of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Nishimura ◽  
Atsushi Morimoto ◽  
Shigeki Tanaka ◽  
Atsushi Oshima ◽  
Masafumi Hirota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Gas Channel ◽  
Observation Area ◽  
Cell Components

The purpose of this study is to point out the dominant factor of heat and mass distribution in single cell of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The numerical simulation by simple 3D model of PEFC has been investigated to clarify the influence of cell components structure on heat and mass transfer phenomena in PEFC. In addition, the power generation experiment and the measurement of in-plane temperature distribution by thermograph were carried out. From the simulation results, the gas channel pitch of separator was the key factor to unify in-plane distribution of temperature and gas concentration on the reaction surface. The compression of gas diffusion layer (GDL) by cell binding caused wider distribution of mass concentration in GDL. According to the experimental results, the power generation performance was promoted with the decrease in gas channel pitch irrespective of relative humidity of supply gas. In addition, the temperature range in observation area was lower with the decrease in gas channel pitch.

Numerical Study of Pressure Drop in the Separator Channel and Gas Diffusion Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell and Deformation Effect of Porous Media

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Litan Kumar Saha ◽  
Eru Kurihara ◽  
Wanyuan Shi ◽  
Nobuyuki Oshima
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Channel ◽  
Porosity And Permeability

The flow behavior in the separator channel and gas diffusion layer (GDL) of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) has been investigated by using a transient, isothermal and three-dimensional numerical model. Gas channel and gas diffusion layers are considered as the important parts of PEFC as they transport reactant gases to the catalyst layer and also byproduct from the catalyst layer. The deformation of GDL plays an important role on the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cell since the physical properties such as porosity and permeability of the GDL and the cross sectional area of the gas channel are affected by the structural deformation of GDL. In this present investigation, non-uniform deformations shape of GDL are taken into consideration and chosen as in the experimental data. Numerical simulations are performed for a wide range of porosity and permeability values. Further, the effects of these parameters on the pressure distribution are measured. It is revealed that the increase of porosity and permeability parameter caused the decrease of pressure drop (difference of pressure from inlet and outlet) but the decreasing rate is not uniform. It is also found that there is an effective range of porosity and permeability values for which these parameters have a very strong effect on the pressure drop. The results obtained by numerical simulation are also compared with the experimental as well as theoretical solution.

Dominant factor and mechanism of coupling phenomena in single cell of polymer electrolyte fuel cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Nishimura ◽  
Kenichi Shibuya ◽  
Atsushi Morimoto ◽  
Shigeki Tanaka ◽  
Masafumi Hirota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Coupling Phenomena
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