Skip to main content

Numerical investigation of gas channel shape effect on proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance

Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering volume 37, pages 789–802 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

A three-dimensional, single-phase model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with both the gas distribution flow channels and the membrane–electrode assembly has been developed. A single set of conservation equations which are valid for the flow channels, gas-diffusion electrodes, catalyst layers, and the membrane region is developed and numerically solved using a finite volume-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. In this research, some parameters such as oxygen consumption, water production, temperature distribution, ohmic losses, anode water activity, cathode over potential and the fuel cell performance for straight single cell were investigated in more detail. The numerical simulations reveal that these important operating parameters are highly dependent on each other and the fuel cell efficiency is affected by the kind of species distribution. So for especial uses in desirable voltages, for preventing the unwilling losses, these numerical results can be useful. The important goal of this research is the investigation of serpentine channel performance compared with the conventional straight channels, which is highlighted in the results section with more details. Finally, the numerical results of proposed CFD model have been compared with the published experimental data that represent good agreement.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 27
Fig. 28

Abbreviations

A MEA :

Surface area of electrode–membrane assembly (m2)

A ch :

Channel cross-section (m2)

[H2]:

Local concentration of hydrogen (mol m−3)

[O2]:

Local concentration of oxygen (mol m−3)

F :

Faraday constant (C mol−1)

M :

Molecular weight (g mol−1)

M m :

Dry membrane weight (kg)

R an :

Exchange current density of anode (A m−3)

R cat :

Exchange current density of cathode (A m−3)

S :

Sink source

u :

Velocity in x direction (m s−1)

v :

Velocity in y direction (m s−1)

w :

Velocity in z direction (m s−1)

\(\eta\) :

Surface over potential (V)

σmem :

Electrical conductivity of membrane (S m−1)

σsol :

Electrical conductivity of electrode (S m−1)

αan :

Anode charge transport coefficient

αcat :

Cathode charge transport coefficient

λ:

Water content of membrane

ε:

Porosity

μ:

Dynamic viscosity (kg s m−2)

ρ:

Density (kg m−3)

References

  1. Arasti MR, Bagheri Moghaddam N (2010) Use of technology mapping in identification of fuel cell sub-technologies. Int J Hydrog Energy 35:9516–9525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sadeghzadeh K, Salehi MB (2011) Mathematical analysis of fuel cell strategic technologies development solutions in the automotive industry by the TOPSIS multi-criteria decision making method. Int J Hydrog Energy 36:13272–13280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Zaidi SMJ, Rahman SU, Zaidi HH (2007) R&D activities of fuel cell research at KFUPM. Desalination 209:319–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ashraf Khorasani MR, Asghari S, Mokmeli A, Shahsamandi MH, Faghih Imani B (2010) A diagnosis method for identification of the defected cell(s) in the PEM fuel cells. Int J Hydrog Energy 35:9269–9275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Costamagna P, Srinivasan S (2001) Quantum jumps in the PEMFC science and technology from the 1960s to the year 2000: part I. Fundamental scientific aspects. J Power Sources 102:242–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Rismanchi B, Akbari MH (2008) Performance prediction of proton exchange membrane fuel cells using a three-dimensional model. Int J Hydrog Energy 33:439–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Akbari MH, Rismanchi B (2008) Numerical investigation of flow field configuration and contact resistance for PEM fuel cell performance. Renew Energy 33:1775–1783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Khajeh-Hosseini-Dalasm N, Kermani MJ, Moghaddam DG, Stockie JM (2010) A parametric study of cathode catalyst layer structural parameters on the performance of a PEM fuel cell. Int J Hydrog Energy 35:2417–2427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Mokmeli A, Asghari S (2010) An investigation into the effect of anode purging on the fuel cell performance. Int J Hydrog Energy 35:9276–9282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Jang J-H, Yan W-M, Shih C–C (2006) Numerical study of reactant gas transport phenomena and cell performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Power Sources 156:244–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hontañón E, Escudero MJ, Bautista C, García-Ybarra PL, Daza L (2000) Optimisation of flow-field in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells using computational fluid dynamics techniques. J Power Sources 86:363–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yan W-M, Li H-Y, Chiu P-C, Wang X-D (2008) Effects of serpentine flow field with outlet channel contraction on cell performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Power Sources 178:174–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bernardi DM, Verbrugge MW (1991) Mathematical model of a gas dissusion electrode bonded to a polymer electrolyte. AIChE J 37(8):1151–1163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bernardi DM, Verbrugge MW (1992) A mathematical model of the solid- polymer-electrolyte fuel cell. J Electrochem Soc 139(9):2477–2491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Fuller TF, Newman J (1993) Water and thermal management in solid-polymer-electrolyte fuel cells. J Electrochem Soc 140(5):1218–1225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Nguyen TV, White RE (1993) Water and heat management model for proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells. J Electrochem Soc 140:2178–2186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Baschuk JJ, Li X (2000) Modelling of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with variable degrees of water flooding. J Power Sources 86:181–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gurau V, Liu H, Kakac S (1998) Two-dimensional model for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. AIChE J 44(11):2410–2422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Dutta S, Shimpalee S, Van Zee JW (2001) Numerical prediction of mass-exchange between cathode and anode channels in a PEM fuel cell. Int J Heat Mass Transf 44:2029–2042

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  20. Rezazadeh S, Mehrabi M, Pashaee T, Mirzaee I (2012) Using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance modeling. J Mech Sci Technol 26(11):3701–3709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Pourmahmoud Nader, Rezazadeh Sajad, Mirzaee I, Faed SM (2012) A computational study of a three-dimensional proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with conventional and deflected membrane electrode assembly. J Mech Sci Technol 26(9):2959–2968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wang L, Husar A, Zhou T, Liu H (2003) A parametric study of PEM fuel cell performances. Int J Hydrog Energy 28(11):1263–1272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Springer TE, Zawodzinski TA, Gottesfeld S (1991) Polymer electrolyte fuel cell model. J Electrochem Soc 138:2334–2342

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Urmia University of Technology, Urmia, Iran

    Sajad Rezazadeh & Nima Ahmadi

Authors
  1. Sajad Rezazadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nima Ahmadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sajad Rezazadeh.

Additional information

Technical Editor: Francisco Ricardo Cunha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rezazadeh, S., Ahmadi, N. Numerical investigation of gas channel shape effect on proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 37, 789–802 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-014-0209-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-014-0209-0

Keywords

  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Fuel cell performance
  • Membrane
  • PEM fuel cells
  • Relative humidity