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Three-dimensional multiphase modeling of a proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell with a new interdigitated-jet hole flow field

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Abstract

The flow field structure on the bipolar plate significantly affects the performance of the proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell (PEMEC). This paper proposes a new interdigitated-jet hole flow field (JHFF) design to improve the uniformities of liquid saturation, temperature, and current density distributions. The common single-path serpentine flow field (SSFF) and inter-digitated flow field (IFF) are used as comparative references to constitute three PEMEC cases. An advanced numerical model has been established to simulate the performance of the PEMEC using CFD software. The results show that, due to the perpendicular mainstream and the pressure difference, the JHFF enhances the mass and heat transfer inside the porous electrode by introducing strong forced convection, which promotes gas removal underneath the ribs and cooling. Compared with the comparative flow fields, the uniformities of liquid saturation, temperature, and current density distributions by using the JHFF at the anode side are increased by 19.1%, 53.2%, and 40.4%, respectively. Further, mainly owing to the largest conductive area, the PEMEC with the JHFF has superior polarization performance, which is 8.05% higher than the PEMEC with the SSFF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

    XueYe Wang, YuanCheng Feng, Chao Xu, ZhiRong Liao & Xing Ju

  2. Tianjin Key Lab of Refrigeration Technology, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300134, China

    ZhiMing Wang

  3. Institute of Science and Technology, China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing, 100038, China

    ZhiChao Chen

Authors
  1. XueYe Wang
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  2. ZhiMing Wang
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  3. YuanCheng Feng
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  4. Chao Xu
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  5. ZhiChao Chen
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  6. ZhiRong Liao
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  7. Xing Ju
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Correspondence to Chao Xu.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51821004 and 52090062) and the research project from China Three Gorges Corporation (Contract No. 202003346).

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Wang, X., Wang, Z., Feng, Y. et al. Three-dimensional multiphase modeling of a proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell with a new interdigitated-jet hole flow field. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 65, 1179–1192 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-022-2026-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-022-2026-6

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