Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Computational fluid dynamics modeling of an inter-parallel flow field for proton ceramic fuel cell stack

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Ionics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As a result of its advantages in the mid-temperature range, the proton ceramic fuel cell (PCFC) has gotten much attention compared to other fuel cells. In PCFC, whereby the vapor is generated at the cathode side, a flow field with high efficiency in water removal should be in its repertoire. A new inter-parallel flow field was designed and compared to the traditional flow fields: the serpentine, the parallel, and interdigitated flow fields to check its capacity to be a potential flow field for PCFC. The one-cell stack 3D model with the inter-parallel flow field was simulated to analyze the working details within the stack. The design harnessed the advantages of its three unique flow paths in solving the balance problem of pressure drop and effective oxygen transport and water removal. Results show that the design is a potential flow field for the cathode side of the PCFC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Shim JH (2018) Ceramics breakthrough. Nat Energy 3(3):168–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ding K, Zhu M, Han Z, Kochetov V, Lu L, Chen D (2020) Momentum-species-heat-electrochemistry distribution characteristics within solid oxide fuel cell stack with complex inter-digital fuel channels. Ionics 26(9):4567–4578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chen D, Zou Y, Shi W, Serbin S, You H (2021) Proton exchange membrane fuel cells using new cathode field designs of multi-inlet shunt intake design. Int J Energy Res n/a, (n/a).

  4. Dai JQ, Yang ZM, Wang WS, Liu JP, Akenteng YD, Chen DF (2022) Study the flow and species distribution characteristics in a typical 25-cell proton ceramic fuel cell stack by 3D large-scale modeling. Ionics

  5. Chen H, Wang F, Wang W, Chen D, Li S-D, Shao Z (2016) H2S poisoning effect and ways to improve sulfur tolerance of nickel cermet anodes operating on carbonaceous fuels. Appl Energy 179:765–777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kim J, Sengodan S, Kim S, Kwon O, Bu Y, Kim G (2019) Proton conducting oxides: a review of materials and applications for renewable energy conversion and storage. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 109:606–618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chen D, Zhang Q, Lu L, Periasamy V, Tade MO, Shao Z (2016) Multi scale and physics models for intermediate and low temperatures H+-solid oxide fuel cells with H+/e(-)/O2- mixed conducting properties: Part A, generalized percolation theory for LSCF-SDC-BZCY 3-component cathodes. J Power Sources 303:305–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Blum L, de Haart LGJ, Malzbender J, Menzler NH, Remmel J, Steinberger-Wilckens R (2013) Recent results in Jülich solid oxide fuel cell technology development. J Power Sources 241:477–485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen D, Xu Y, Tade MO, Shao Z (2017) General Regulation of Air Flow Distribution characteristics within planar solid oxide fuel cell stacks. ACS Energy Lett 2:319–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen D, Xu Y, Hu B, Yan C, Lu L (2018) Investigation of proper external air flow path for tubular fuel cell stacks with an anode support feature. Energy Convers Manage 171:807–814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Boddu R, Marupakula UK, Summers B, Majumdar P (2009) Development of bipolar plates with different flow channel configurations for fuel cells. J Power Sources 189(2):1083–1092

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Owejan JP, Gagliardo JJ, Sergi JM, Kandlikar SG, Trabold TA (2009) Water management studies in PEM fuel cells, Part I: Fuel cell design and in situ water distributions. Int J Hydrogen Energy 34(8):3436–3444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Gemmen RS, Johnson CD (2006) Evaluation of fuel cell system efficiency and degradation at development and during commercialization. J Power Sources 159(1):646–655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Xue D, Dong Z (1997) Optimal fuel cell system design considering functional performance and production costs. In ASME 1997 Design Engineering Technical Conferences

  15. Li H, Tang Y, Wang Z, Shi Z, Wu S, Song D, Zhang J, Fatih K, Zhang J, Wang H, Liu Z, Abouatallah R, Mazza A (2008) A review of water flooding issues in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. J Power Sources 178(1):103–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang C-Y (2004) Fundamental models for fuel cell engineering. Chem Rev 104(10):4727–4766

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Li X, Sabir I, Park J (2007) A flow channel design procedure for PEM fuel cells with effective water removal. J Power Sources 163(2):933–942

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Fang Q, Blum L, Peters R, Peksen M, Batfalsky P, Stolten D (2015) SOFC stack performance under high fuel utilization. Int J Hydrogen Energy 40(2):1128–1136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Su SHH, Chen D, Zhu W, Wu Y, Kong W, Wang B, Lu L (2015) Flow distribution analyzing for the solid oxide fuel cell short stacks with rectangular and discrete cylindrical rib configurations. Int J Hydrogen Energy 40:577–592

  20. Lee BH, Park HC, Kin MJ, Jang MY (2013) Safe distal resection margin in patients with T3 mid and distal rectal cancer who underwent a sphincter-saving resection without preoperative radiotherapy. Ann Coloproctol 29(6):219–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lobato J, Cañizares P, Rodrigo M, Pinar Pérez F, Úbeda D (2011) Study of flow channel geometry using current distribution measurement in a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. J Power Sources 196:4209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Yang Y, Liang YC (2009) Modelling and analysis of a direct methanol fuel cell with under-rib mass transport and two-phase flow at the anode. J Power Sources 194(2):712–729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhang Y, Zhang P, Yuan Z, He H, Zhao Y, Liu X (2011) A tapered serpentine flow field for the anode of micro direct methanol fuel cells. J Power Sources 196(6):3255–3259

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Xu C, Zhao TS (2007) A new flow field design for polymer electrolyte-based fuel cells. Electrochem Commun 9(3):497–503

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Park K, Kim HM, Choi KS (2013) Numerical and experimental verification of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell performances enhanced by under-rib convection. Fuel Cells 13(5):927–934

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Nam JH, Lee K-J, Sohn S, Kim C-J (2009) Multi-pass serpentine flow-fields to enhance under-rib convection in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: design and geometrical characterization. J Power Sources 188(1):14–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Choi KS, Kim BG, Park K, Kim HM (2012) Current advances in polymer electrolyte fuel cells based on the promotional role of under-rib convection. Fuel Cells 12(6):908–938

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Tehlar D, Flückiger R, Wokaun A, Büchi FN (2010) Investigation of channel-to-channel cross convection in serpentine flow fields. Fuel Cells 10(6):1040–1049

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yoon Y-G, Lee W-Y, Park G-G, Yang T-H, Kim C-S (2005) Effects of channel and rib widths of flow field plates on the performance of a PEMFC. Int J Hydrogen Energy 30(12):1363–1366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang Y, Ruiz Diaz DF, Chen KS, Wang Z, Adroher XC (2020) Materials, technological status, and fundamentals of PEM fuel cells – a review. Mater Today 32:178–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Arvay A, French J, Wang JC, Peng XH, Kannan AM (2013) Nature inspired flow field designs for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38(9):3717–3726

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Jang J-Y, Cheng C-H, Liao W-T, Huang Y-X, Tsai Y-C (2012) Experimental and numerical study of proton exchange membrane fuel cell with spiral flow channels. Appl Energy 99:67–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Xu Y, Kukolin A, Chen D, Yang W (2019) Multiphysics field distribution characteristics within the one-cell solid oxide fuel cell stack with typical interdigitated flow channels. Appl Sci 9(6):1190

  34. Chen D, Ding K, Chen Z, Wei T, Liu K (2018) Physics field distributions within fuel cell stacks with manifolds penetrating through the plane zone and open outlet features. Energy Convers Manage 178:190–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (CU03-10) and the Department of Education of Jiangsu Province.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, China

    Yaw Dwamena Akenteng, Xinglin Yang, Yuan Zhao, Anton Matveev & Daifen Chen

  2. National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University, Saransk, 430005, Russian Federation

    Anatoly Lysyakov & Anton Matveev

Authors
  1. Yaw Dwamena Akenteng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xinglin Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yuan Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anatoly Lysyakov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anton Matveev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Daifen Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xinglin Yang or Daifen Chen.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Akenteng, Y.D., Yang, X., Zhao, Y. et al. Computational fluid dynamics modeling of an inter-parallel flow field for proton ceramic fuel cell stack. Ionics 28, 3367–3378 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-022-04577-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-022-04577-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation