Three-dimensional heat and mass transfer analysis in an air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cell

There is strong interaction between heat/mass transfer and electrode dynamics in an air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). To investigate the heat/mass transfer characteristics of PEMFC, their effect on oxygen transport and then on the performance of the cell, a coupled three-dimensional (3D) mathematical model has been developed for an air-breathing PEMFC using non-dimensional heat/mass transfer coefficients, and a detailed interpretation of heat/mass transfer parameters in it has been done. The full elliptic Navier Stokes and energy equations are simultaneously solved in the composite domain with commercial CFD tool STAR-CD based on the finite volume numerical method. And the model has been confirmed by experimental results. From the numerical simulation results obtained, a simple equation has been suggested on the function of the sum of Grashof number and diffusional Grashof number for the calculation of dimensionless mass transfer coefficient Sherwood number. The equation is believed to be useful for a profound understanding of the nature of oxygen transport limitation coupled with the heat/mass transfer in the air-breathing PEMFC, and further for the optimum design of the air-breathing PEMFCs. The concentration over-potential as a function of limited oxygen mass transfer rate, as well as profiles of velocity, temperature, reactant and water concentration, current density are presented and discussed to analyze the coupling problems between heat/mass transfer and electrode dynamics in an air-breathing PEMFC.

[1]  D. Maillet,et al.  Modelling of heat, mass and charge transfer in a PEMFC single cell , 2005 .

[2]  Wang Ying,et al.  Effects of cathode channel configurations on the performance of an air-breathing PEMFC , 2005 .

[3]  P. Costa,et al.  Gas-phase mass-transfer resistance at PEMFC electrodes: Part 1. Diffusive and forced migration through a porous medium , 2006 .

[4]  Wang Ying,et al.  Three-dimensional modeling and experimental investigation for an air-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) , 2005 .

[5]  C. Chen,et al.  Performance of an air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell , 2003 .

[6]  Song-Yul Choe,et al.  Modeling and simulation of a PEM fuel cell stack considering temperature effects , 2006 .

[7]  D. Chu,et al.  Performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks. Part I. Evaluation and simulation of an air-breathing PEMFC stack , 1999 .

[8]  I-Ming Hsing,et al.  Two-dimensional simulation of water transport in polymer electrolyte fuel cells , 2000 .

[9]  L. Schaefer,et al.  The performance of PEM fuel cells fed with oxygen through the free-convection mode , 2003 .

[10]  T. Springer,et al.  Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Model , 1991 .

[11]  K. Murata,et al.  Steam reforming of gasoline promoted by partial oxidation reaction on novel bimetallic Ni-based catalysts to generate hydrogen for fuel cell-powered automobile applications , 2005 .

[12]  Chao-Yang Wang,et al.  Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells , 2000 .

[13]  S. Dutta,et al.  Three-dimensional numerical simulation of straight channel PEM fuel cells , 2000 .

[14]  Wang Ying,et al.  Three-dimensional analysis for effect of channel configuration on the performance of a small air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) , 2005 .

[15]  Mark W. Verbrugge,et al.  A Mathematical Model of the Solid‐Polymer‐Electrolyte Fuel Cell , 1992 .

[16]  In-Hwan Oh,et al.  Effects of cathode open area and relative humidity on the performance of air-breathing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells , 2006 .

[17]  S. Dutta,et al.  Numerical prediction of mass-exchange between cathode and anode channels in a PEM fuel cell , 2001 .

[18]  In-Hwan Oh,et al.  A study on cathode structure and water transport in air-breathing PEM fuel cells , 2006 .

[19]  G. Prentice,et al.  Electrochemical Engineering Principles , 1990 .

[20]  Ralph E. White,et al.  A water and heat management model for proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells , 1993 .