阳极和阴极流场组合对直接甲醇燃料电池性能的影响

采用蛇形、平行和交指流场分别作为阳极和阴极流场,考察了其对直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)性能的影响。结果表明,对于阳极流场,蛇形流场因其更易于排除CO₂气泡而性能最好,而平行和交指流场中则出现了CO₂气泡堵塞流道的现象,影响了甲醇的传输,性能较差。对于阴极流场,平行流场下半部分流道出现了"水淹"现象,影响了氧气的传输,性能较差。蛇形和交指流场均能顺利排除水滴,性能比平行流场的好;交指流场能保证氧气的充足供应,高电流密度时比蛇形流场的电池性能好。蛇形流场作为阳极流场以及交指流场作为阴极流场将是电池性能较好的流场组合形式之一。     

微型直接甲醇燃料电池阳极传质分析

针对微型直接甲醇燃料电池,将阳极流场板简化为规则结构的多孔介质,运用多孔介质理论建立了包括流场板在内的阳极传输模型。模型考虑了阳极流道内液体饱和度沿流动方向的变化、催化层的厚度以及甲醇渗透,计算并讨论了阳极流道内液体饱和度的分布和流量对电池电流密度的影响,分析了阳极过电位对甲醇浓度分布和电池性能的影响以及质子交换膜内的传质特性。     

质子交换膜燃料电池可视化研究进展

质子交换膜燃料电池(包括氢氧质子交换膜燃料电池和直接甲醇燃料电池)内的两相流动以及相应的水管理、气管理对燃料电池的性能和寿命有很大的影响,而可视化方法是研究流场槽道内两相流动非常重要的方法之一。可视化实验可以真实地展示气泡或液滴在流场槽道内的生成以及发展过程,有利于了解其进化机制,从而进一步优化气管理、水管理并提高电池性能。本文主要综述了质子交换膜燃料电池两极流场内两相流动的可视化研究进展,讨论了扩散层的润湿性以及扩散层内水的传递机理,还介绍了实现可视化的方法,并提出了可视化研究的不足及发展方向。     

质子交换膜燃料电池双层扩散层特性三维分析

针对直流道质子交换膜燃料电池提出一种混合的两相三维非等温数学模型,考虑了液态水在多孔介质内的毛细流动和分布,分析了双层扩散层结构及碳纤维特性对电池性能的影响。结果表明,扩散层第一层（靠近催化层）厚度对质子膜电导率和气体传递特性有着相互制约的影响,需进行优化;在一定范围内,扩散层第一层碳纤维直径的减小可提高质子膜电导率,有利于电池性能的改善;在保持其他参数不变的前提下,应尽可能提高多孔介质的憎水性和孔隙率以提高电池输出性能。     

质子交换膜燃料电池流场板研究进展

流场板是质子交换膜燃料电池的核心部件之一，其结构直接影响着反应气体的利用效率以及燃料电池的排水及散热性能。综述了近十余年来质子交换膜燃料电池流场板的设计与研究进展。研究者们基于平行流场、蛇形流场、交指流场、点状流场，从流道尺寸、流道截面、进口分配段、流道布置等方面开展结构设计和优化，不同程度提高了燃料电池水热管理以及电性能。此外，各种形式的组合流场可综合不同流场优点，多级分形仿生流场优化了反应物、压力与电流密度分布，三维精细化流场通过改善供气方式降低了浓差极化。     

液流电池流场结构设计与优化研究进展

液流电池结构设计与优化研究是改善电池内部电解液流动性能、提高电堆功率密度和可靠性的重要途径之一。在石墨板上设计并行、交指和蛇形等流道是液流电池使用的传统流道结构,其缺点为流道种类单一、石墨板成本高及机械性能差。为了克服上述缺点,波纹状并行、分离式蛇形、螺旋形等新型流道,在电极上构建流道、引入独立的流道部件、环形与梯形等异形结构等先后被提出。本文从双极板、电极上的结构设计和异形结构设计与优化三方面系统综述了近年来液流电池结构设计与优化研究进展,阐释流场结构等对电池性能的影响机制及其与电池运行、装配间的适配规律,并提出进一步改善电池性能并适合普及应用的流场结构形式。     

基于框架设计的液流电池流场优化模拟研究

液流电池通常采用对角平推流流场,会形成电解液滞留区,造成电池局部浓差极化大,影响综合性能。鉴于此,提出了一种基于框架设计的流场优化方法,通过设计电极框架,可以得到“蛇形流道”和“平行流道”两类流场。以全钒液流电池为例,通过数学建模,研究了不同流场结构和参数对于多孔电极内电解液流动特性、电化学反应和温度变化特性的影响规律。计算结果与实验结果一致性良好,结果表明：电解液在“平行流场”内的流动均匀性比在“蛇形流场”内好,且不存在滞留区,同时在“平行流场”内浓差极化也较“蛇形流场”低;此外,对于同样的电极面积,在电极内部的“平行流道”越多,电解液的流速分布越均匀,反应特性越好。     

圆盘反应器流场数值模拟

以圆盘反应器的开发和应用为背景,根据反应器内气液两相的流动特点和接触方式,采用流体体积函数(VOF)模型研究圆盘表面液膜厚度、速度分布和槽内液相流型,得到反应器的流场特性。从轴功率、持液量两方面对反应器性能进行研究,并考察了流场和性能的关系。结果表明,圆盘表面液膜分为起始区、加速区和匀速区。起始区液膜厚,速度慢,部分液体回流;加速区液膜变薄,加速,表面更新快;匀速区膜厚和速度变化较小。液相主体以Stewartson流型为主,盘间距对液相流型影响明显。圆盘液膜与槽内液相通过"垂直涡"进行物质传递,当圆盘间距与圆盘直径之比(L/D)为0.2~0.4时,最有利于两者混合和物质传递。将数值模拟和量纲分析结合,得到功率数(NP)和平均膜厚表达式,并与文献进行比较,表明计算流体力学(CFD)方法能够较好的模拟圆盘反应器内流体力学特性,预测流场和性能。     

焦炉煤气脱硫吸收塔两相流场计算流体力学数值模拟

以商业化软件FLUENT为计算平台,将计算流体力学(CFD)与两相流流动结合起来预测复杂吸收塔内的两相流动情况。计算在三维体系中展开,在满足收敛以及质量守恒条件后,得到了稳态条件下的单相流场,并引入欧拉多相模型和多孔介质模型,对单相流含填料流场和两相流场进行了计算。计算结果表明,使用标准k-ε湍流模型和欧拉-欧拉多相流模型可以模拟出脱硫吸收塔内的复杂流场,呈现出极好的对称性并且流场的各项性质定性正确,可以确定塔结构及操作参数均已达到要求;多孔介质项对于塔内两相逆流的速度差起到了较好的平衡作用,与填料塔中的预期结果定性相符,同时说明该模型可以较好地完成对散装填料的模拟,在计算中表达出其应有的性质。     

基于框架设计的液流电池流场优化模拟研究

液流电池通常采用对角平推流流场,会形成电解液滞留区,造成电池局部浓差极化大,影响综合性能。鉴于此,提出了一种基于框架设计的流场优化方法,通过设计电极框架,可以得到"蛇形流道"和"平行流道"两类流场。以全钒液流电池为例,通过数学建模,研究了不同流场结构和参数对于多孔电极内电解液流动特性、电化学反应和温度变化特性的影响规律。计算结果与实验结果一致性良好,结果表明:电解液在"平行流场"内的流动均匀性比在"蛇形流场"内好,且不存在滞留区,同时在"平行流场"内浓差极化也较"蛇形流场"低;此外,对于同样的电极面积,在电极内部的"平行流道"越多,电解液的流速分布越均匀,反应特性越好。     

采用不同流场的质子交换膜燃料电池内部传递现象模拟

A numerical model for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is developed, which can simulate such basic transport phenomena as gas-liquid two-phase flow in a working fuel cell. Boundary conditions for both the conventional and the interdigitated modes of flow are presented on a three-dimensional basis. Numerical techniques for this model are discussed in detail. Validation shows good agreement between simulating results and experimental data. Furthermore, internal transport phenomena are discussed and compared for PEM fuel cells with conventional and interdigitated flows. It is found that the dead-ended structure of an interdigitated flow does increase the oxygen mass fraction and decrease the liquid water saturation in the gas diffusion layer as compared to the conventional mode of flow. However, the cathode humidification is important for an interdigitated flow to acquire better performance than a conventional flow fuel cell.     

Effect of direct liquid water injection and interdigitated flow field on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Proper water management is vital to ensuring successful performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The effectiveness of the direct liquid water injection scheme and the interdigitated flow field design towards providing adequate gas humidification to maintain membrane optimal hydration and alleviating the mass transport limitations of the reactants and electrode flooding is investigated. It is found that the direct liquid water injection used in conjunction with the interdigitated flow fields as a humidification technique is an extremely effective method of water management. The forced flow-through-the-electrode characteristic of the interdigitated flow field (1) provides higher transport rates of reactant and products to and from the inner catalyst layers, (2) increases the hydration state and conductivity of the membrane by bringing its anode/membrane interface in direct contact with liquid water and (3) increases the cell tolerance limits for excess injected liquid water, which could be used to provide simultaneous evaporative cooling. Experimental results show substantial improvements in performance as a result of these improvements.     

A two-dimensional, two-phase mass transport model for liquid-feed DMFCs

A two-dimensional, isothermal two-phase mass transport model for a liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is presented in this paper. The two-phase mass transport in the anode and cathode porous regions is formulated based on the classical multiphase flow in porous media without invoking the assumption of constant gas pressure in the unsaturated porous medium flow theory. The two-phase flow behavior in the anode flow channel is modeled by utilizing the drift-flux model, while in the cathode flow channel the homogeneous mist-flow model is used. In addition, a micro-agglomerate model is developed for the cathode catalyst layer. The model also accounts for the effects of both methanol and water crossover through the membrane. The comprehensive model formed by integrating those in the different regions is solved numerically using a home-written computer code and validated against the experimental data in the literature. The model is then used to investigate the effects of various operating and structural parameters, such as methanol concentration, anode flow rate, porosities of both anode and cathode electrodes, the rate of methanol crossover, and the agglomerate size, on cell performance.     

A three-dimensional numerical simulation of the transport phenomena in the cathodic side of a PEMFC

A three-dimensional numerical model is developed to simulate the transport phenomena on the cathodic side of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that is in contact with parallel and interdigitated gas distributors. The computational domain consists of a flow channel together with a gas diffusion layer on the cathode of a PEMFC. The effective diffusivities according to the Bruggman correlation and Darcy's law for porous media are used for the gas diffusion layer. In addition, the Tafel equation is used to describe the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the catalyst layer surface. Three-dimensional transport equations for the channel flow and the gas diffusion layer are solved numerically using a finite-volume-based numerical technique. The nature of the multi-dimensional transport in the cathode side of a PEMFC is illustrated by the fluid flow, mass fraction and current density distribution. The interdigitated gas distributor gives a higher average current density on the catalyst layer surface than that with the parallel gas distributor under the same mass flow rate and cathode overpotential. Moreover, the limiting current density increased by 40% by using the interdigitated flow field design instead of the parallel one.     

Modelling of performance of PEM fuel cells with conventional and interdigitated flow fields

A simple mathematical model is developed to investigate the superiority of the interdigitated flow field design over the conventional one, especially in terms of maximum power density. Darcy's equation for porous media and the standard diffusion equation with effective diffusivity are used in the gas diffuser, and a coupled boundary condition given by the Butler–Volmer equation is used at the catalyst layer interface. The performance of PEM fuel cells with a conventional flow field and an interdigitated flow field is studied with other appropriate boundary conditions. The theoretical results show that the limiting current density of a fuel cell with an interdigitated flow field is about three times the current density of a fuel cell with a conventional flow field. The results also demonstrate that the interdigitated flow field design can double the maximum power density of a PEM fuel cell. The modelling results compared well with experimental data in the literature.     

Effects of flow channel geometry on cell performance for PEM fuel cells with parallel and interdigitated flow fields

A 3D numerical model was developed to explore the effects of the cathode flow channel configuration on the local transport phenomena and cell performance for parallel and interdigitated flow fields in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The effect of liquid water formation on the reactant transport is taken into account in the model. For operating voltages greater than 0.7 V, the electrochemical reaction rates are low with a small amount of oxygen consumption and liquid water production, and all cell designs provide sufficient oxygen for the electrochemical reactions. Thus, the flow channel aspect ratio and the flow channel cross-sectional area have little effect on the cell performance. For operating voltages lower than 0.7 V, as the operating voltage decreases the electrochemical reaction rates gradually increase with a large amount of oxygen consumption and liquid water production, so the cell performance is strongly dependent on the flow field design. For the parallel flow field design, lower flow channel aspect ratios and flow channel cross-sectional area areas improve liquid water removal, thus, decreasing both improves cell performance. However, the interdigitated design has an optimal aspect ratio of 1.00 and an optimal cross-sectional area of 1.000 mm × 1.000 mm.     

Three-dimensional two-phase mass transport model for direct methanol fuel cells

A three-dimensional (3D) steady-state model for liquid feed direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) is presented in this paper. This 3D mass transport model is formed by integrating five sub-models, including a modified drift-flux model for the anode flow field, a two-phase mass transport model for the porous anode, a single-phase model for the polymer electrolyte membrane, a two-phase mass transport model for the porous cathode, and a homogeneous mist-flow model for the cathode flow field. The two-phase mass transport models take account the effect of non-equilibrium evaporation/ condensation at the gas-liquid interface. A 3D computer code is then developed based on the integrated model. After being validated against the experimental data reported in the literature, the code was used to investigate numerically transport behaviors at the DMFC anode and their effects on cell performance.     

PEM燃料电池阴极中的液态水及其影响因素

阴极多孔介质中液态水的含量对PEM燃料电池阴极中的传质及其性能具有极其重要的影响。提出了一个二维、两相、稳态数学模型,研究PEM燃料电池阴极中两相水的传递及其对电池性能的影响。模型耦合了连续方程、动量方程和组分守恒方程,并将质子膜中的净水迁移通量作为边界条件之一来处理。通过实验的方法和数值模拟的方法,研究了电池操作压力和温度对电池性能的影响,同时验证了模型的有效性。模拟发现:提高操作压力和升高阴极加湿温度使电池阴极催化剂层(CTL)和扩散层(GDL)界面上的液态水含量大幅提高;升高阳极加湿温度,电池阴极CTL和GDL界面上的液态水含量变化不明显;而升高燃料电池的操作温度,阴极CTL和GDL界面上液态水的含量降低。     

Non-isothermal effects of single or double serpentine proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Mathematical models on transport processes and reactions in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell generally assume an isothermal cell behavior for sake of simplicity. This work aims at exploring how a non-isothermal cell body affects the performance of PEM fuel cells with single and double serpentine cathode flow fields, considering the effects of flow channel cross-sectional areas. Low thermal conductivities of porous layers in the cell and low heat transfer coefficients at the surface of current collectors, as commonly adopted in cell design, increase the cell temperature. High cell temperature evaporates fast the liquid water, hence reducing the cathode flooding; however, the yielded low membrane water content reduces proton transport rate, thereby increasing ohmic resistance of membrane. An optimal cell temperature is presented to maximize the cell performance.