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Three-Dimensional Modeling and Development of the New Geometry PEM Fuel Cell

  • Research Article - Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

A complete three-dimensional and single phase computational fluid dynamics model for duct-shaped geometry proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell was used to investigate the effect of using different connections between bipolar plate and gas diffusion layer on the performances, current density and gas concentration. The proposed model is a full cell model, which includes all the parts of the PEM fuel cell, flow channels, gas diffusion electrodes, catalyst layers and the membrane. Coupled transport and electrochemical kinetics equations are solved in a single domain; therefore, no interfacial boundary condition is required at the internal boundaries between cell components. This computational fluid dynamics code is used as the direct problem solver, which is used to simulate the two-dimensional mass, momentum and species transport phenomena as well as the electron- and proton-transfer process taking place in a PEMFC that cannot be investigated experimentally. The results show that the predicted polarization curves using this model are in good agreement with the experimental results. Also the results show that by increasing the number of connection between GDL and bipolar plate the performance of the fuel cell enhances and the current density at the cathode catalyst layer increases.

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Abbreviations

A :

Superficial electrode area (m2)

C :

Molar concentration (mol/m3)

D :

Species diffusivity (m2/s)

i :

Current density (A/cm2)

i 0 :

Reference current density (A/cm2)

I :

Current (A)

U :

Inlet velocity (m/s)

j :

Transfer current density (A/cm3)

\({\vec{u}}\) :

Velocity vector (m/s)

p :

Pressure (Pa)

S :

Stoichiometric ratio

T :

Temperature (K)

η :

Overpotential (V)

ρ :

Density (kg/m3)

ε :

Porosity

σ :

Ionic conductivity (S/m)

\({\phi}\) :

Phase potential (V)

ν :

Volumetric flow rate (m3/s)

ξ :

Water content of the membrane

μ :

Viscosity (kg m/s)

α :

Transfer coefficient for the reaction

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Torbat-e-jam branch, Islamic Azad University, Torbat-e-jam, Iran

    Iman Khazaee

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Iman Khazaee & Mohsen Ghazikhani

Authors
  1. Iman Khazaee
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  2. Mohsen Ghazikhani
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Correspondence to Iman Khazaee.

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Khazaee, I., Ghazikhani, M. Three-Dimensional Modeling and Development of the New Geometry PEM Fuel Cell. Arab J Sci Eng 38, 1551–1564 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-013-0604-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-013-0604-3

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