The Effect of the Air Stoichiometry on Dynamic Behavior of Local Current Density in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim E. Alaefour ◽  
Kui Jiao ◽  
G. Karimi ◽  
Xianguo Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Local Current Density ◽  
Local Current ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Effects of Operating Parameters on the Current Density Distribution in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 464-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
A. Mawardi ◽  
R. Pitchumani
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Density Distribution ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Current Density Distribution ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Local Current Density ◽  
Local Current

During the operation of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, significant variation of the local current density could exist across the cell causing sharp temperature and stress gradients in certain points, and affecting the water management, all of which severely impact the cell performance and reliability. The variation of local current density is a critical issue in the performance of PEM fuel cell, and is influenced by the operating conditions. This article presents a model-assisted parametric design with the objective of determining the operating conditions which maximize the fuel cell performance while maintaining a level of uniformity in the current density distribution. A comprehensive two-dimensional model is adopted to simulate the species transport and electrochemical phenomena in a PEM fuel cell. Numerical simulations are performed for over a wide range of operating conditions to analyze the effects of various operating parameters on the variation of local current density of the fuel cell, and to develop design windows which serve as guideline in the design for maximum power density, minimum reactant stoichiometry, and uniform current density distribution.

The Effect of Inlet Parameters on Fluid Flow and Cell Performance at Cathode of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Utku Gulan ◽  
Hasmet Turkoglu ◽  
Irfan Ar
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
Oxygen Mole Fraction

In this study, the fluid flow and cell performance in cathode side of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell were numerically analyzed. The problem domain consists of cathode gas channel, cathode gas diffusion layer, and cathode catalyst layer. The equations governing the motion of air, concentration of oxygen, and electrochemical reactions were numerically solved. A computer program was developed based on control volume method and SIMPLE algorithm. The mathematical model and program developed were tested by comparing the results of numerical simulations with the results from literature. Simulations were performed for different values of inlet Reynolds number and inlet oxygen mole fraction at different operation temperatures. Using the results of these simulations, the effects of these parameters on the flow, oxygen concentration distribution, current density and power density were analyzed. The simulations showed that the oxygen concentration in the catalyst layer increases with increasing Reynolds number and hence the current density and power density of the PEM fuel cell also increases. Analysis of the data obtained from simulations also shows that current density and power density of the PEM fuel cell increases with increasing operation temperature. It is also observed that increasing the inlet oxygen mole fraction increases the current density and power density.

Two-Phase Transport in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Y. Wang ◽  
Z. H. Wang ◽  
Y. Pan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Threshold Current ◽  
Threshold Current Density ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Air Cathode ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Abstract Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have emerged, in the last decade, as a viable technology for power generation and energy conversion. Fuel cell (FC) engines for vehicular applications possess many attributes such as high fuel efficiency, low emission, quiet and low temperature operation, and modularity. An important phenomenon limiting fuel cell performance is the two-phase flow and transport of fuel and oxidant from flow channels to reaction sites. In this paper a mathematical model is presented to study the two-phase flow dynamics, multi-component transport and electrochemical kinetics in the air cathode, the most important component of the hydrogen PEM fuel cell. A major feature of the present model is that it unifies single- and two-phase analyses for low and high current densities, respectively, and it is capable of predicting the threshold current density corresponding to the onset of liquid water formation in the air cathode. A numerical study based on the finite volume method is then undertaken to calculate the detailed distributions of local current density, oxygen concentration, water vapor concentration and liquid water saturation as well as their effects on the cell polarization curve. The simulated polarization curve and predicted threshold current density corresponding to the onset of liquid water formation for a single-channel, 5cm2 fuel cell compare favorably with experimental results. Quantitative comparisons with experiments presently being conducted at our laboratory will be reported in a forthcoming paper.

Experimental Investigation of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Using Different Serpentine Flow Channels

2019 ◽  
Vol 969 ◽  
pp. 461-465
Author(s):  
Matha Prasad Adari ◽  
P. Lavanya ◽  
P. Hara Gopal ◽  
T.Praveen Sagar ◽  
S. Pavani
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Flow Channels ◽  
Serpentine Flow Field ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
Effective Distribution

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is an advanced power system for the future that is sustainable, clean and environmental friendly. The flow channels present in bipolar plates of a PEMFC are responsible for the effective distribution of the reactant gases. Uneven distribution of the reactants can cause variations in current density, temperature, and water content over the area of a PEMFC, thus reducing the performance of PEMFC. By using Serpentine flow field channel, the performance is increased. Two types of serpentine flow field channels are implemented such as curved serpentine flow field channel and normal serpentine flow field channels. The result shows that curved serpentine flow field channel gives better current density and power density, thus increasing the performance of PEMFC.

Surface Treatments of Stainless Steel by Electroless Silver Coatings as a Bipolar Plate for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ing-Bang Huang ◽  
Ching Chiang Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Corrosion Resistance ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Corrosion Current Density ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Corrosion Current ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Heat Treated Sample ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of heat treatment at various temperatures on the corrosion behavior of electroless silver-coated SS 304 in a simulated proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell environment. The corrosion properties of this material were studied using a potentiodynamic polarization technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, polarization curves, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of coated and heat-treated specimens obtained in various heating temperatures were also utilized. It was found that the corrosion potential of the coated and heat-treated specimens shift toward a noble potential, and a significant decrease in corrosion current density was also observed. The corrosion current density decreased by a factor of about 1/500 for the heat-treated sample of 600 °C compared to the substrate. The heat-treated specimens displayed greater corrosion resistance than unheated and bare ones. According to the polarization studies and SEM images, the heat-treated specimen at 600 °C shows excellent corrosion resistance with a homogeneous dense surface morphology. These results demonstrated the coatings were suited for fuel cell applications in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) environment.

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