A three-dimensional (3D) model has been developed to simulate proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The model accounts simultaneously for electrochemical kinetics, current distribution, hydrodynamics, and multi-components transport. A single set of conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy, species, and electric current are developed and numerically solved using a finite-volume-based computational fluid dynamics technique (by computational fluid dynamics commercial code). The physical model is presented for a 3D geometry test cell with serpentine channels and counter flow. Subsequently, the model is applied to explore cell temperature effects in the cell environment with different relative humidity of inlet. The numerical model is validated and agreed well with the experimental data. The nonuniformity of thermal and water-saturation distributions is calculated and analyzed as well as its influence on the cell performance. As the cell is operated at low voltages (or high current densities), the thermal field of fuel cell tends to be nonuniform and exists locally in hot spots. The mechanism of thermal field and water content interacted with membrane dehydration and cathode water flooding will be discussed and revealed their influences on the cell performance, stability and degradation will be revealed.
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e-mail: peter.chiph@msa.hinet.net
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August 2006
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Special Issue Research Papers
Numerical Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell With Considering Thermal and Relative Humidity Effects on the Cell Performance
Pei-Hung Chi,
Pei-Hung Chi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: peter.chiph@msa.hinet.net
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for other works by this author on:
Fang-Bor Weng,
Fang-Bor Weng
Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Fuel Cells Research Center,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for other works by this author on:
Ay Su,
Ay Su
Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Fuel Cells Research Center,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for other works by this author on:
Shih-Hung Chan
Shih-Hung Chan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Fuel Cells Research Center,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.
Search for other works by this author on:
Pei-Hung Chi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.e-mail: peter.chiph@msa.hinet.net
Fang-Bor Weng
Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Fuel Cells Research Center,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.
Ay Su
Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Fuel Cells Research Center,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.
Shih-Hung Chan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Fuel Cells Research Center,
Yuan Ze University
, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Tao Yuan, 320 Taiwan, R.O.C.J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Aug 2006, 3(3): 292-302 (11 pages)
Published Online: February 11, 2006
Article history
Received:
November 30, 2005
Revised:
February 11, 2006
Citation
Chi, P., Weng, F., Su, A., and Chan, S. (February 11, 2006). "Numerical Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell With Considering Thermal and Relative Humidity Effects on the Cell Performance." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. August 2006; 3(3): 292–302. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2211632
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