An Agglomerate Model for Evaluating the Electrochemical and Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Subject Areas : Journal of Simulation and Analysis of Novel Technologies in Mechanical Engineering

Pouya Barnoon ¹ , Davood Toghraie ² , Babak Mehmandosut ³ , Mohammad Ali Fazilati ⁴ , S. Ali Eftekhari ⁵

1 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran
2 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran
3 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran
4 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran
5 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran

Received: 2021-06-30 Accepted : 2021-07-06 Published : 2021-08-01

Keywords: fuel cell, Electrochemical, Agglomerate, Hydrodynamic, PEM,

Abstract :

In this study, the electrochemical and hydrodynamic characteristics of a PEM fuel cell are investigated using an agglomerate model. Modeling is single-phase, two-dimensional, incompressible and steady-state. In this study, current density, water distribution and gas velocity inside the anode and cathode gas diffusion layers are obtained. This study using the present agglomerate model can provide a good prediction of the current density. The results show that the highest current density occurs in the areas of the interface between current collectors and gas diffusion layers. In addition, in the sharp areas, where the interface is between the current collectors and the gas diffusion layers, there is the highest flow velocity. In these areas, values of velocity gradients that can affect cell performance. Therefore, in order to achieve better performance, it is necessary to design different flow channels and gas diffusion layers and compare them with each other. The amount of water in the gas diffusion layer should be controlled so as not to reduce the chemical reaction on the cathode side.

References:

[1] Barnoon, P., Toghraie, D., Mehmandoust, B., Fazilati, M. A., & Eftekhari, S. A. (2021). Comprehensive study on hydrogen production via propane steam reforming inside a reactor. Energy Reports, 7, 929-941.

[2] Baschuk, J. J., & Li, X. (2000). Modelling of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with variable degrees of water flooding. Journal of power sources, 86(1-2), 181-196.

[3] Meng, H. (2007). A two-phase non-isothermal mixed-domain PEM fuel cell model and its application to two-dimensional simulations. Journal of Power Sources, 168(1), 218-228.

[4] Das, P. K., Li, X., & Liu, Z. S. (2010). Analysis of liquid water transport in cathode catalyst layer of PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 35(6), 2403-2416.

[5] Leo, T. J., Durango, J. A., & Navarro, E. (2010). Exergy analysis of PEM fuel cells for marine applications. Energy, 35(2), 1164-1171.

[6] Kim, J. Y., Oh, T. K., Shin, Y., Bonnett, J., & Weil, K. S. (2011). A novel non-platinum group electrocatalyst for PEM fuel cell application. International journal of hydrogen energy, 36(7), 4557-4564.

[7] Xing, L. (2018). An agglomerate model for PEM fuel cells operated with non-precious carbon-based ORR catalysts. Chemical Engineering Science, 179, 198-213.

[8] Molaeimanesh, G. R., & Akbari, M. H. (2015). Agglomerate modeling of cathode catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell by the lattice Boltzmann method. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 40(15), 5169-5185.

[9] Das, P. K., Li, X., & Liu, Z. S. (2008). A three-dimensional agglomerate model for the cathode catalyst layer of PEM fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources, 179(1), 186-199.

[10] Zhang, X., Ostadi, H., Jiang, K., & Chen, R. (2014). Reliability of the spherical agglomerate models for catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Electrochimica Acta, 133, 475-483.

[11] Wang, Q., Eikerling, M., Song, D., & Liu, Z. (2004). Structure and performance of different types of agglomerates in cathode catalyst layers of PEM fuel cells. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 573(1), 61-69.

[12] Zhang, X., Gao, Y., Ostadi, H., Jiang, K., & Chen, R. (2014). A proposed agglomerate model for oxygen reduction in the catalyst layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Electrochimica Acta, 150, 320-328.

[13] Machado, B. S., Mamlouk, M., & Chakraborty, N. (2019). Three-dimensional agglomerate model of an anion exchange membrane fuel cell using air at the cathode–A parametric study. Journal of Power Sources, 412, 105-117.

[14] Jung, C. Y., Park, C. H., Lee, Y. M., Kim, W. J., & Yi, S. C. (2010). Numerical analysis of catalyst agglomerates and liquid water transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. International journal of hydrogen energy, 35(16), 8433-8445.

[15] Baca, C. M., Travis, R., & Bang, M. (2008). Three-dimensional, single-phase, non-isothermal CFD model of a PEM fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources, 178(1), 269-281.

[16] Scott, H. F. (2016). Elements of chemical reaction engineering. Prentice Hall.

[17] Bird, R. B., Stewart, W. E., & Lightfoot, E. N. (2006). Transport phenomena (Vol. 1). John Wiley & Sons.

[18] Broka, K., & Ekdunge, P. (1997). Modelling the PEM fuel cell cathode. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 27(3), 281-289.

[19] Dannenberg, K., Ekdunge, P., & Lindbergh, G. (2000). Mathematical model of the PEMFC. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 30(12), 1377-1387.

[20] Barnoon, P., & Ashkiyan, M. (2020). Magnetic field generation due to the microwaves by an antenna connected to a power supply to destroy damaged tissue in the liver considering heat control. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 513, 167245.

[21] Shahsavar, A., Entezari, S., Toghraie, D., & Barnoon, P. (2020). Effects of the porous medium and water-silver biological nanofluid on the performance of a newly designed heat sink by using first and second laws of thermodynamics. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 28(11), 2928-2937.

[22] Shahsavar, A., Noori, S., Toghraie, D., & Barnoon, P. (2021). Free convection of non‐Newtonian nanofluid flow inside an eccentric annulus from the point of view of first‐law and second‐law of thermodynamics. ZAMM‐Journal of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics/Zeitschrift für Angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik, 101(5).

[23] Barnoon, P., Toghraie, D., Salarnia, M., & Karimipour, A. (2020). Mixed thermomagnetic convection of ferrofluid in a porous cavity equipped with rotating cylinders: LTE and LTNE models. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 1-40.

[24] Nguyen, Q., Naghieh, A., Kalbasi, R., Akbari, M., Karimipour, A., & Tlili, I. (2021). Efficacy of incorporating PCMs into the commercial wall on the energy-saving annual thermal analysis. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 143(3), 2179-2187.

[25] Chen, Z., Akbari, M., Forouharmanesh, F., Keshani, M., Akbari, M., Afrand, M., & Karimipour, A. (2020). A new correlation for predicting the thermal conductivity of liquid refrigerants. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 1-6.

[26] Parsian, A., & Akbari, M. (2018). New experimental correlation for the thermal conductivity of ethylene glycol containing Al 2 O 3–Cu hybrid nanoparticles. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 131(2), 1605-1613.

[27] Delshekasteh, N., & Kolahdooz, A. (2019). Statistical Approach on Microstructure and Hardness of Semi-Solid Cast‎ Aluminum Alloy A380 Produced by Mechanical Vibration in Argon Gas Atmosphere. Founding Research Journal, 2(4), 275-286.

[28] Kolahdooz, A. (2019). Investigation of the hardness improvement for Al-A380 alloy using the controlled atmosphere in the mechanical stirring casting method. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 233(2), 225-233.

[29] Kolahdooz, A., & Latifi Rostami, S. A. (2018). Experimental and FEM Analysis of Ribs Defects on Composite Lattice Cylindrical Shells. Journal of Modern Processes in Manufacturing and Production, 7(3), 5-18.

[30] Gholami, O., Shakeri, M., Imen, S. J., & Jamshidi Aval, H. (2021). Small‐scale resistance seam welding of stainless steel bipolar plates of PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Energy Research.

[31] Vazifeshenas, Y., Sedighi, K., & Shakeri, M. (2020). Open Cell Metal Foam as Extended Coolant Surface–Fuel Cell Application. Fuel Cells, 20(2), 108-115.