• Energy Research

Reasonable performance estimation of fuel cell systems with the aid of simple fast and accurate models is necessary for optimized design process of fuel cells. To this end, a quasi two-dimensional (1D+1D), multi-component model is developed in order to analyze the two-phase transport direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The effects of diffusion and the mixed potential due to methanol crossover through the membrane are also considered. Different operating parameters, including temperature and the methanol feed concentration are examined and their effects are discussed. The present simple and easy to implement model can be as accurate as a complete two-dimensional model. Furthermore, it is seen that the simplification made in this model reduce the computational time and is therefore suitable for inclusion in real-time system level DMFC calculations.

Reasonable performance estimation of fuel cell systems with the aid of simple fast and accurate models is necessary for optimized design process of fuel cells. To this end, a quasi two-dimensional (1D+1D), multi-component model is developed in order to analyze the two-phase transport direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The effects of diffusion and the mixed potential due to methanol crossover through the membrane are also considered. Different operating parameters, including temperature and the methanol feed concentration are examined and their effects are discussed. The present simple and easy to implement model can be as accurate as a complete two-dimensional model. Furthermore, it is seen that the simplification made in this model reduce the computational time and is therefore suitable for inclusion in real-time system level DMFC calculations.

The performance of PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells) with different configuration of gas feeding channels is investigated. Multi-component mixture model is used in order to simulate the two phase flow and transport in cathode gas diffusion layer of PEM fuel cell. This model reduces the numerical simulation complexity by reducing the number of nonlinear governing equations. A wide detailed parametric study is done to investigate different operational parameter such as; pressure difference, operating temperature, different geometrical parameters such as; gas diffusion layer thickness, and various material parameters such as porosity and wettability. Computational simulations have been conducted and the simulation results were compared with the available results in literature and showed very little difference. Results have been presented with different polarization curves, power density and local current density curves and also the plots of saturation level at catalyst layer surface. Furthermore the changes in the place of the interface between single and two phase zones is presented for further understating of the effects of different parameters. This parametric study confirms qualitatively to the validity of the considered model for systematic simulation of the PEM fuel cells.

The performance of PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells) with different configuration of gas feeding channels is investigated. Multi-component mixture model is used in order to simulate the two phase flow and transport in cathode gas diffusion layer of PEM fuel cell. This model reduces the numerical simulation complexity by reducing the number of nonlinear governing equations. A wide detailed parametric study is done to investigate different operational parameter such as; pressure difference, operating temperature, different geometrical parameters such as; gas diffusion layer thickness, and various material parameters such as porosity and wettability. Computational simulations have been conducted and the simulation results were compared with the available results in literature and showed very little difference. Results have been presented with different polarization curves, power density and local current density curves and also the plots of saturation level at catalyst layer surface. Furthermore the changes in the place of the interface between single and two phase zones is presented for further understating of the effects of different parameters. This parametric study confirms qualitatively to the validity of the considered model for systematic simulation of the PEM fuel cells.