Research Article
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Year 2021, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 137 - 148, 30.06.2021
https://doi.org/10.30521/jes.871018

Abstract

References

  • [1] Barbir F. PEM Fuel Cells: Theory and Practice. London, UK: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2013.
  • [2] Wu, HW. A review of recent development: Transport and performance modelling of PEM fuel cells. Applied Energy 2016; 165: 81–106, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.075
  • [3] Celik E, Karagoz I. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell flow field designs and approaches for performance enhancement. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy 2020; 234(8): 1189–1214, DOI: 10.1177/0957650919893543
  • [4] Kumar, A, Ramana, GR. Effect of channel dimensions and shape in the flow-field distributor on the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Journal Power Sources 2003; 113: 11–18, DOI: 10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00475-5
  • [5] Alvarado, BR, Guerrero, AH, Robles, DJ, Li, P. Numerical investigation of the performance of symmetric flow distributors as flow channels for PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2012; 37(1): 436–448, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.09.080
  • [6] Santamaria, AD, Cooper, NJ, Becton, MK, Park, JW. Effect of channel length on interdigitated flow-field PEMFC performance: A computational and experimental study. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2013; 38: 16253–16263, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.09.081
  • [7] Liu, H, Li, P, Wang, K. Optimization of PEM fuel cell flow channel dimensions- Mathematic modeling analysis and experimental verification. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2013; 38: 9835–9846, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.05.159
  • [8] Obayopo, SO, Ochende, TB, Meyer, JP. Three-dimensional optimisation of a fuel gas channel of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for maximum current density. International Journal of Energy Research 2013; 37(3): 228–241, DOI: 10.1002/er.1935
  • [9] Khazaee, I, Sabadbafan, H. Numerical study of changing the geometry of the flow field of a PEM fuel cell. Heat and Mass Transfer 2016; 52:993–1003, DOI: 10.1007/s00231-015-1621-4
  • [10] Cooper, NJ, Santamaria, AD, Becton, MK, Park, JW. Investigation of the performance improvement in decreasing aspect ratio interdigitated flow field PEMFCs. Energy Conversion and Management 2017; 136: 307–317, DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2017.01.005
  • [11] Chowdhury, MZ, Genc, O, Toros, S. Numerical optimization of channel to land width ratio for PEM fuel cell. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2018; 43: 10798–10809, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.12.149
  • [12] Kerkoub, Y, Benzaoui, A, Haddad, F, Ziari, YK. Channel to rib width ratio influence with various flow field designs on performance of PEM fuel cell. Energy Conversion and Management 2018; 174: 260–275, DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.08.041
  • [13] Asgharian, H, Afshari, E, Baniasadi, E. Numerical investigation of pressure drop characteristics of gas channels and U and Z type manifolds of a PEM fuel cell stack. International Journal of Energy Research 2020; 44(7): 5866-5880, DOI: 10.1002/er.5358
  • [14] Carcadea, E, Ismail, MS, Ingham, DB, Patularu, L, Schitea, D, Marinoiu, A, Ebrasu, DI, Mocanu, D, Varlam, M. Effects of geometrical dimensions of flow channels of a large-active-area PEM fuel cell: A CFD study. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2021; 46(25): 13572-13582, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.150
  • [15] Mohammedi, A, Sahli, Y, Moussa, HB. 3D investigation of the channel cross-section configuration effect on the power delivered by PEMFCs with straight channels. Fuel 2020; 263(1): 116713, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116713
  • [16] Zhang, L, Shi, Z. Optimization of serpentine flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell under the effects of external factors. Alexandria Engineering Journal 2021; 60(1): 421-433, DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2020.09.007
  • [17] Wang, L, Husar A, Zhou, T, Liu, H. A parametric study of PEM fuel cell performances. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2003; 28(11): 1263–1272, DOI: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00284-7
  • [18] Biyikoglu, A, Alpat, CO. Parametric study of a single cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell for a bundle of straight gas channels. Gazi University Journal of Science 2011; 24(4): 883–899. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/gujs/issue/7421/97301
  • [19] Kahveci, EE, Taymaz I. Assessment of single-serpentine PEM fuel cell model developed by computational fluid dynamics. Fuel 2018: 117: 51-58, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.12.073
  • [20] Gurau, V, Liu, H, Kakac, S. Two-Dimensional Model for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. AIChE Journal 1998; 44(11): 2410–2422, DOI: 10.1002/aic.690441109
  • [21] O’Hayre R, Cha SW, Colella WG, Prinz FB. Fuel Cell Fundamentals, New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2016
  • [22] ANSYS FLUENT Fuel Cell Modules Manual, Ansys Inc, 2011
  • [23] Spiegel C. PEM Fuel Cell Modeling and simulation Using MATLAB, London, UK: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2008.

Numerical investigation of influence of cross-sectional dimensions of flow channels on PEM fuel cell performance

Year 2021, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 137 - 148, 30.06.2021
https://doi.org/10.30521/jes.871018

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has acquired increasing importance because of operating at higher efficiency and producing environmentally friendly power at low temperatures over the past decade. Flow channel as a vital part of PEMFC plays a critical role for augmenting the performance of PEMFC. In this paper, a single phase, 3-D model is generated to examine impact of the channel cross-section geometry on the cell performance. 15 different simulation cases were gained by altering the flow channel width and depth from 0.2 to 1.6 mm for the fixed depth and width of 1 mm, respectively. In the base case, the channel dimensions are 1.0 mm width and depth. The results revealed that decreasing depth and width of the channel enhanced the current density thanks to increasing gas velocity in the flow channels of the anode and cathode at the expense of increased pressure drop. The cases having the channel cross-sectional dimensions of 0.2 x 0.1 mm and 0.1 x 0.2 mm (channel width x depth) enhanced the current density about 57% and 45% at 0.4 V compared to the base case. Besides, oxygen consumption and water production in the cathode side are also remarkably increased in these cases. However, the channel cross-sectional size of 0.8 x 1 mm case which increases the current density 2.5% at 0.4 V in comparison with the base case can be best option by taking into consideration pressure drop into the flow channels.

References

  • [1] Barbir F. PEM Fuel Cells: Theory and Practice. London, UK: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2013.
  • [2] Wu, HW. A review of recent development: Transport and performance modelling of PEM fuel cells. Applied Energy 2016; 165: 81–106, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.075
  • [3] Celik E, Karagoz I. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell flow field designs and approaches for performance enhancement. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy 2020; 234(8): 1189–1214, DOI: 10.1177/0957650919893543
  • [4] Kumar, A, Ramana, GR. Effect of channel dimensions and shape in the flow-field distributor on the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Journal Power Sources 2003; 113: 11–18, DOI: 10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00475-5
  • [5] Alvarado, BR, Guerrero, AH, Robles, DJ, Li, P. Numerical investigation of the performance of symmetric flow distributors as flow channels for PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2012; 37(1): 436–448, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.09.080
  • [6] Santamaria, AD, Cooper, NJ, Becton, MK, Park, JW. Effect of channel length on interdigitated flow-field PEMFC performance: A computational and experimental study. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2013; 38: 16253–16263, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.09.081
  • [7] Liu, H, Li, P, Wang, K. Optimization of PEM fuel cell flow channel dimensions- Mathematic modeling analysis and experimental verification. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2013; 38: 9835–9846, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.05.159
  • [8] Obayopo, SO, Ochende, TB, Meyer, JP. Three-dimensional optimisation of a fuel gas channel of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for maximum current density. International Journal of Energy Research 2013; 37(3): 228–241, DOI: 10.1002/er.1935
  • [9] Khazaee, I, Sabadbafan, H. Numerical study of changing the geometry of the flow field of a PEM fuel cell. Heat and Mass Transfer 2016; 52:993–1003, DOI: 10.1007/s00231-015-1621-4
  • [10] Cooper, NJ, Santamaria, AD, Becton, MK, Park, JW. Investigation of the performance improvement in decreasing aspect ratio interdigitated flow field PEMFCs. Energy Conversion and Management 2017; 136: 307–317, DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2017.01.005
  • [11] Chowdhury, MZ, Genc, O, Toros, S. Numerical optimization of channel to land width ratio for PEM fuel cell. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2018; 43: 10798–10809, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.12.149
  • [12] Kerkoub, Y, Benzaoui, A, Haddad, F, Ziari, YK. Channel to rib width ratio influence with various flow field designs on performance of PEM fuel cell. Energy Conversion and Management 2018; 174: 260–275, DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.08.041
  • [13] Asgharian, H, Afshari, E, Baniasadi, E. Numerical investigation of pressure drop characteristics of gas channels and U and Z type manifolds of a PEM fuel cell stack. International Journal of Energy Research 2020; 44(7): 5866-5880, DOI: 10.1002/er.5358
  • [14] Carcadea, E, Ismail, MS, Ingham, DB, Patularu, L, Schitea, D, Marinoiu, A, Ebrasu, DI, Mocanu, D, Varlam, M. Effects of geometrical dimensions of flow channels of a large-active-area PEM fuel cell: A CFD study. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2021; 46(25): 13572-13582, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.150
  • [15] Mohammedi, A, Sahli, Y, Moussa, HB. 3D investigation of the channel cross-section configuration effect on the power delivered by PEMFCs with straight channels. Fuel 2020; 263(1): 116713, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116713
  • [16] Zhang, L, Shi, Z. Optimization of serpentine flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell under the effects of external factors. Alexandria Engineering Journal 2021; 60(1): 421-433, DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2020.09.007
  • [17] Wang, L, Husar A, Zhou, T, Liu, H. A parametric study of PEM fuel cell performances. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2003; 28(11): 1263–1272, DOI: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00284-7
  • [18] Biyikoglu, A, Alpat, CO. Parametric study of a single cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell for a bundle of straight gas channels. Gazi University Journal of Science 2011; 24(4): 883–899. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/gujs/issue/7421/97301
  • [19] Kahveci, EE, Taymaz I. Assessment of single-serpentine PEM fuel cell model developed by computational fluid dynamics. Fuel 2018: 117: 51-58, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.12.073
  • [20] Gurau, V, Liu, H, Kakac, S. Two-Dimensional Model for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. AIChE Journal 1998; 44(11): 2410–2422, DOI: 10.1002/aic.690441109
  • [21] O’Hayre R, Cha SW, Colella WG, Prinz FB. Fuel Cell Fundamentals, New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2016
  • [22] ANSYS FLUENT Fuel Cell Modules Manual, Ansys Inc, 2011
  • [23] Spiegel C. PEM Fuel Cell Modeling and simulation Using MATLAB, London, UK: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2008.
There are 23 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Mechanical Engineering
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Mahmut Kaplan 0000-0003-2675-9229

Publication Date June 30, 2021
Acceptance Date May 24, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 5 Issue: 2

Cite

Vancouver Kaplan M. Numerical investigation of influence of cross-sectional dimensions of flow channels on PEM fuel cell performance. Journal of Energy Systems. 2021;5(2):137-48.

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