ANALYSIS OF PEMFC WITH 2-PASSES SERPENTINE FLOW CHANNELS CONFIGURATION USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v87.21724Keywords:
PEMFC, 2-passes serpentine flow channels, simulations, water activity, molar fractionAbstract
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells have attracted considerable attention for their potential as clean energy sources. The efficient operation of fuel cells depends greatly on proper water management, which directly influences performance by affecting mass transport and conductivity. This study aimed to simulate and analyze the evolution of parameters such as hydrogen and oxygen molar fractions, relative humidity in the channels, water activity, and electrolyte conductivity in the membrane on fuel cell performance. A three-dimensional proton exchange membrane model with 2-pass serpentine flow channels was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The software was employed to numerically solve the complete model with governing equations of continuity, momentum, energy, and mass transport. Simulation results showed a significantly larger depletion of oxygen compared to hydrogen. Additionally, higher water activity near the air inlet led to increased oxygen content and local current density due to oxygen transport limiting the reaction rate. Furthermore, the membrane conductivity was significant where water activity was high, increasing current density distribution until 1A/cm2. The developed fuel cell model's performance was evaluated by comparing it with experimental data, demonstrating favorable agreement. This work contributes to understanding fuel cell operation for enhanced efficiency and reliability in practical applications.
References
Jourdani, M., Mounir, H., and El Marjani, A. 2014. Compilation of Factors Affecting Durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). 2014 International Renewable and Sustainable Energy Conference (IRSEC). IEEE. 542–547.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IRSEC.2014.7059906.
Wang, M., Ruan, J., Tao, F., Zhu, J., Zhang, Y., Xiong, Y., and Ang, Y. S. 2023. A Technically Feasible Strategy using Liquid-state Thermocells to Efficiently Recover the Waste Heat Released from Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. Energy Conversion and Management. 294: 117541.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117541.
Amadane, Y., Mounir, H., Elmarjani, A., and Karim, E. M. 2019. Numerical Investigation of Hydrogen Consumption in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation. Mediterranean Journal of Chemistry. 7(6): 396–415.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13171/mjc7618121415ya.
Zhang, Y., He, S., Jiang, X., Fang, H., Wang, Z., Cao, J., and Li, Q. 2024. Performance Evaluation on Full-scale Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: Mutual Validation of One-dimensional, Three-dimensional and Experimental Investigations. Energy Conversion and Management. 299: 117905.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117905.
Guo, X. and Ghadimi, N. 2023. Optimal Design of the Proton-exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Connected to the Network Utilizing an Improved Version of the Metaheuristic Algorithm. Sustainability. 15(18): 13877.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su151813877.
Wang, Y., Yang, X., Sun, Z., and Chen, Z. 2023. A Systematic Review of System Modeling and Control Strategy of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. Energy Reviews. 3(1): 100054.
Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enrev.2023.100054.
Ponnaiyan, D., Palaniswamy, K., Chandran, M., and Visvanathan, V. K. 2023. Investigating the Impact of Variable Aspect Ratio Cathode Flow Field on Temperature Distribution and Performance in a PEM Fuel Cell. Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications. 1–25.
Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10407782.2023.2275274.
Ghasemi, M., and Rezk, H. 2024. Performance Improvement of Microbial Fuel Cell using Experimental Investigation and Fuzzy Modelling. Energy. 286: 129486.
Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129486.
Tang, X., Zhang, Y., and Xu, S. 2023. Experimental Study of PEM Fuel Cell Temperature Characteristic and Corresponding Automated Optimal Temperature Calibration Model. Energy. 283: 128456.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.128456.
Ciobanu, A. and Voinea, S. 2023. Software Applications for the Study of Fuel Cells. Romanian Reports in Physics. 75: 905.
Doddathimmaiah, A. and Andrews, J. 2009. Theory, Modelling and Performance Measurement of Unitised Regenerative Fuel Cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 34(19): 8157–8170.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.07.116.
Ogungbemi, E., Wilberforce, T., Ijaodola, O., Thompson, J., and Olabi, A. G. 2021. Review of Operating Condition, Design Parameters and Material Properties for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. International Journal of Energy Research. 45(2): 1227–1245.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/er.5810.
Wilberforce, T., El Hassan, Z., Ogungbemi, E., Ijaodola, O., Khatib, F. N., Durrant, A., and Olabi, A. G. 2019. A Comprehensive Study of the Effect of Bipolar Plate (BP) Geometry Design on the Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 111: 236–260.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.04.081.
Afshari, E. 2020. Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer in a PEM Fuel Cell with Metal Foam as a Flow Field. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 139: 2423–2434.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08354-x.
Wu, H. W. 2016. A Review of Recent Development: Transport and Performance Modeling of PEM Fuel Cells. Applied Energy. 165: 81–106.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.075.
Jayakumar, A., Madheswaran, D. K., and Velu, R. 2023. Metal Additive Manufacturing of PEM Fuel Cell Flow Field Plates and the Scope of Nanomaterials for Its Fabrication. Nanotechnology‐based Additive Manufacturing: Product Design, Properties and Applications. 1: 103–129.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9783527835478.ch4.
Sauermoser, M., Kizilova, N., Pollet, B. G., and Kjelstrup, S. 2020. Flow Field Patterns for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. Frontiers in Energy Research. 8: 13.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2020.00013.
Pan, W., Wang, P., Chen, X., Wang, F., and Dai, G. 2020. Combined Effects of Flow Channel Configuration and Operating Conditions on PEM Fuel Cell Performance. Energy Conversion and Management. 220: 113046.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113046.
Girimurugan, R., Karthikeyan, S., Thottan, J. D., Kirubakaran, C. E., and Bharathi, L. K. 2015. Performance Analysis of PEM Fuel Cell with Three Passes Curved Serpentine Flow Field Design. International Journal of Innovative Research and Creative Technology. 1(01): 124–130.
Lim, B. H., Majlan, E. H., Daud, W. R. W., Rosli, M. I., and Husaini, T. 2017. Numerical Analysis of Modified Parallel Flow Field Designs for Fuel Cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 42(14): 9210–9218.
Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.03.189.
Xia, L., Yu, Z., Xu, G., Ji, S., and Sun, B. 2021. Design and Optimization of a novel Composite Bionic Flow Field Structure using Three-dimensional Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamic Method for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. Energy Conversion and Management. 247: 114707.
Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114707.
Tellez-Cruz, M. M., Escorihuela, J., Solorza-Feria, O., and Compañ, V. 2021. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs): Advances and Challenges. Polymers. 13(18): 3064.
Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym13183064.
Huang, Z., Xing, L., and Tu, Z. 2022. Load Changing Characteristics of the Hydrogen‐air and Hydrogen‐oxygen Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. International Journal of Energy Research. 46(2): 1909–1921.
Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/er.7306.
Ioroi, T., Siroma, Z., Yamazaki, S. I., and Yasuda, K. 2019. Electrocatalysts for PEM Fuel Cells. Advanced Energy Materials. 9(23): 1801284.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201801284.
Mitra, U., Arya, A., and Gupta, S. 2023. A Comprehensive and Comparative Review on Parameter Estimation Methods for Modelling Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. Fuel. 335: 127080.
Doi: http://dx. doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.127080.
Jang, J. H., Yan, W. M., Li, H. Y., and Tsai, W. C. 2008. Three-dimensional Numerical Study on Cell Performance and Transport Phenomena of PEM Fuel Cells with Conventional Flow Fields. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 33(1): 156164.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2007.09.005
Guo, N., Leu, M. C., and Koylu, U. O. 2014. Bio-inspired Flow Field Designs for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 39(36): 21185–21195.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.10.069.
Taylor, R. and Krishna, R. 1993. Multicomponent Mass Transfer. John Wiley & Sons.
Din, S. M., Azmi, A., Song, C. P., Rahim, R. A., and Ling, L. P. 2014. Electric Potential of Various 4-electrode Segmentation Excitation for Electrical Capacitance Tomography System. Jurnal Teknologi. 69(8): 35–38.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11113/jt.v69.3293.
Wang, L., Husar, A., Zhou, T., and Liu, H. 2003. A parametric Study of PEM Fuel Cell Performances. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 28(11): 1263–1272.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright of articles that appear in Jurnal Teknologi belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions, or any other reproductions of similar nature.
