0
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology | Volume 1 | Issue 1 | Article
Article

Water and Thermal Balance in PEM and Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

[+] Author and Article Information
Michael G. Izenson

 Creare Incorporated, P.O. Box 71, Hanover, NH 03755mgi@creare.com

Roger W. Hill

 Creare Incorporated, P.O. Box 71, Hanover, NH 03755

J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol 1(1), 10-17 (Apr 21, 2004) (8 pages) doi:10.1115/1.1782918 History: Received January 26, 2004; Revised April 21, 2004
Article
References
Figures
Tables
Citing Articles

A key consideration for portable power systems is that they must operate simultaneously at water balance (no external water supply) and thermal balance (controlled temperature). Water and thermal management are intimately linked since evaporation is a potent source of cooling. This paper presents the basic design relationships that govern water and thermal balance in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks and systems. Hydrogen/air and direct methanol fuel cells are both addressed and compared. Operating conditions for simultaneous water and thermal balance can be specified based on the cell’s electrochemical performance and the operating environment. These conditions can be used to specify the overall size and complexity of the cooling equipment. The water balance properties can have strong effects on the size of the thermal management equipment required.
Copyright © 2004 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Your Session has timed out. Please sign back in to continue.

References

1
Dohle, H., Mergel, J., and Stolten, D., 2002, “Heat and Power Management of a Direct-Methanol-Fuel-Cell (DMFC) System, ” J. Power Sources, 111 , pp. 268–282.
2
Ahmed, S., Kopasz, J., Kumar, R., and Krumpelt, M., 2002, “Water Balance in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell System, ” J. Power Sources, 112 , pp. 519–530.
3
Kratschmar, K. W., Pastula, M. E., Wang, G. G., Merida, W. R., and Dong, Z., 2001, “"Heat Balance of An Air-Cooled Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: Theoretical Modelling and Experimental Verification",” presented at "Building the Hydrogen Economy, 11th Canadian Hydrogen Conference", Victoria, BC, Canada.
4
Larminie, J., and Dicks, A., 2000, "Fuel Cell Systems Explained", 1st ed., John Wiley & Sons, Limited, West Sussex, England, p. 308.
5
Izenson, M. G., and Hill, R. W., 2002, “Water Balance in PEM Fuel Cells,” presented at 2002 "ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition", 17–22 Nov 2002, Paper 33168.
6
Narayanan, S. R., Valdez, T. I., Rohatgi, N., Christiansen, J., Chun, W., and Halpert, G., 1998, “Electrochemical Factors in Design of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Systems, ” "Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Proton Conducting Membrane Fuel Cells", Electrochemical Society, 98-27 , pp. 316–326.
7
Picot, D., Metkemeijer, R., Bezian, J. J., and Rouveyre, L., 1998, “Impact of the Water Symmetry Factor on Humidifcation and Cooling Strategies for PEM Fuel Cell Stacks,” J. Power Sources, 75 , pp.251–260.
8
Scott, K., Taama, W. M., and Argyropoulos, P., 1999, “Engineering Aspects of the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell System,” J. Power Sources79 , pp. 43–59.
9
Scott, K., Argyropoulos, P., and TaamaW. M., 2000, “Modelling Transport Phenomena and Performance of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Stacks,” "Transactions of the Institute of Chemical Engineers", 78 , Part A, pp. 881–888.
10
Giddey, S., CiacchiF. T., and BadwalS. P. S., 2004, “Design, Assembly, and Operation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Stacks to 1 kWe Capacity, ” J. Power Sources, 125 , pp. 155–165.
11
MoranM. J., and ShapiroH. N., "Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics", 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1996.
12
Rohsenow, W. M., and Choi, H., 1961, "Heat, Mass, and Momentum Transfer", Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Figures

Grahic Jump Location
+Control volume boundary for analysis
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Control volume boundary for analysis
Figure 1

Control volume boundary for analysis

Grahic Jump Location
+Flow rates that determine water accumulation rate
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Flow rates that determine water accumulation rate
Figure 2

Flow rates that determine water accumulation rate

Grahic Jump Location
+Stack heat removal mechanisms for an HAFC over a range of cell temperatures (S=2.5, ambient conditions of 0 percent and 100 percent relative humidity at 30°C)
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Stack heat removal mechanisms for an HAFC over a range of cell temperatures (S=2.5, ambient conditions of 0 percent and 100 percent relative humidity at 30°C)
Figure 3

Stack heat removal mechanisms for an HAFC over a range of cell temperatures (S=2.5, ambient conditions of 0 percent and 100 percent relative humidity at 30°C)

Grahic Jump Location
+Direct stack cooling approach
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Direct stack cooling approach
Figure 4

Direct stack cooling approach

Grahic Jump Location
+Fluid temperatures in direct stack cooling
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Fluid temperatures in direct stack cooling
Figure 5

Fluid temperatures in direct stack cooling

Grahic Jump Location
+Condenser cooling approach
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Condenser cooling approach
Figure 6

Condenser cooling approach

Grahic Jump Location
+Fluid temperatures for condenser cooling
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Fluid temperatures for condenser cooling
Figure 7

Fluid temperatures for condenser cooling

Grahic Jump Location
+Temperature profiles for condenser and stack cooling
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Temperature profiles for condenser and stack cooling
Figure 8

Temperature profiles for condenser and stack cooling

Grahic Jump Location
+Water and heat balance temperatures for a range of air flow rates (dry (0 percent) and saturated (100 percent) ambient air at 30°C)
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Water and heat balance temperatures for a range of air flow rates (dry (0 percent) and saturated (100 percent) ambient air at 30°C)
Figure 9

Water and heat balance temperatures for a range of air flow rates (dry (0 percent) and saturated (100 percent) ambient air at 30°C)

Grahic Jump Location
+Comparison of HAFC and DMFC cooling requirements (baseline conditions, see Table 1)
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Comparison of HAFC and DMFC cooling requirements (baseline conditions, see Table 1)
Figure 10

Comparison of HAFC and DMFC cooling requirements (baseline conditions, see Table 1)

Grahic Jump Location
+Generalized heat exchanger sizing for HAFCs (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio, S)
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Generalized heat exchanger sizing for HAFCs (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio, S)
Figure 11

Generalized heat exchanger sizing for HAFCs (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio, S)

Grahic Jump Location
+Effects of cathode pressure on HAFC thermal management (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for cathode pressure, Pc)
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Effects of cathode pressure on HAFC thermal management (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for cathode pressure, Pc)
Figure 12

Effects of cathode pressure on HAFC thermal management (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for cathode pressure, Pc)

Grahic Jump Location
+Generalized heat exchanger sizing for DMFCs (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio S)
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Generalized heat exchanger sizing for DMFCs (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio S)
Figure 13

Generalized heat exchanger sizing for DMFCs (baseline conditions from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio S)

Grahic Jump Location
+Effects of ambient humidity and stoichiometric flow ratio on DMFC exchanger size (baseline conditinos from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio, S, and ambient relative humidity, φa)
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Effects of ambient humidity and stoichiometric flow ratio on DMFC exchanger size (baseline conditinos from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio, S, and ambient relative humidity, φa)
Figure 14

Effects of ambient humidity and stoichiometric flow ratio on DMFC exchanger size (baseline conditinos from Table 1 except for stoichiometric ratio, S, and ambient relative humidity, φa)

Grahic Jump Location
+Capacity rate ratio and thermal effectiveness for typical HAFC
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
Capacity rate ratio and thermal effectiveness for typical HAFC
Figure 15

Capacity rate ratio and thermal effectiveness for typical HAFC

Grahic Jump Location
+“F Factors” for crossflow heat exchangers (from Rohsenow and Choi (12))
View Large  |  Save Figure  |  Download Slide (.ppt)
“F Factors” for crossflow heat exchangers (from Rohsenow and Choi (12))
Figure 16

“F Factors” for crossflow heat exchangers (from Rohsenow and Choi (12))

Tables

Errata

Discussions

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging and repositioning the boxes below.

Related Journal Articles
Related eBook Content
Threshold Functions
Closed-Cycle Gas Turbines> Chapter 3
Engineering and Physical Modeling of Power Plant Cooling Systems
Thermal Power Plant Cooling> Chapter 3
Scope of Section I, Organization, and Service Limits
Power Boilers> Chapter 1
Introduction
Consensus on Operating Practices for Control of Water and Steam Chemistry in Combined Cycle and Cogeneration> Chapter 1
New Generation Reactors
Energy and Power Generation Handbook> Chapter 23
Topic Collections

Sorry! You do not have access to this content. For assistance or to subscribe, please contact us:

  • TELEPHONE: 1-800-843-2763 (Toll-free in the USA)
  • EMAIL: asmedigitalcollection@asme.org
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. | Accept
Sign In