A computational fluid dynamics model for high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) is developed. This allows for three-dimensional (3D) transport-coupled calculations to be conducted. All major transport phenomena and electrochemical processes are taken into consideration. Verification of the present model is achieved by comparison with current density and oxygen concentration distributions along a one-dimensional (1D) channel. Validation is achieved by comparison with polarization curves from experimental data gathered in-house. Deviations between experimental and numerical results are minor. Internal transport phenomena are also analyzed. Local variations of current density from under channel regions and under rib regions are displayed, as are oxygen mole fractions. The serpentine gas channels contribute positively to gas redistribution in the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) and channels.
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August 2019
Research-Article
Numerical Modeling of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells With Analytical and Experimental Validation
S. Zhang,
S. Zhang
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: s.zhang@fz-juelich.de
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: s.zhang@fz-juelich.de
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U. Reimer,
U. Reimer
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: u.reimer@fz-juelich.de
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: u.reimer@fz-juelich.de
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Y. Rahim,
Y. Rahim
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: y.rahim@fz-juelich.de
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: y.rahim@fz-juelich.de
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S. B. Beale,
S. B. Beale
Fellow ASME
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Queen's University,
Kingston K7L 3N6, ON, Canada
e-mail: s.beale@fz-juelich.de
Queen's University,
Kingston K7L 3N6, ON, Canada
e-mail: s.beale@fz-juelich.de
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W. Lehnert
W. Lehnert
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Modeling in Electrochemical Process
Engineering,
RWTH Aachen University,
Aachen 52056, Germany;
Engineering,
RWTH Aachen University,
Aachen 52056, Germany;
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S. Zhang
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: s.zhang@fz-juelich.de
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: s.zhang@fz-juelich.de
U. Reimer
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: u.reimer@fz-juelich.de
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: u.reimer@fz-juelich.de
Y. Rahim
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: y.rahim@fz-juelich.de
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany
e-mail: y.rahim@fz-juelich.de
S. B. Beale
Fellow ASME
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Queen's University,
Kingston K7L 3N6, ON, Canada
e-mail: s.beale@fz-juelich.de
Queen's University,
Kingston K7L 3N6, ON, Canada
e-mail: s.beale@fz-juelich.de
W. Lehnert
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH IEK-3,
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Electrochemical Process Engineering,
Jülich 52425, Germany;
Modeling in Electrochemical Process
Engineering,
RWTH Aachen University,
Aachen 52056, Germany;
Engineering,
RWTH Aachen University,
Aachen 52056, Germany;
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received August 15, 2018; final manuscript received November 12, 2018; published online January 22, 2019. Assoc. Editor: Partha P. Mukherjee.
J. Electrochem. En. Conv. Stor. Aug 2019, 16(3): 031002 (12 pages)
Published Online: January 22, 2019
Article history
Received:
August 15, 2018
Revised:
November 12, 2018
Citation
Zhang, S., Reimer, U., Rahim, Y., Beale, S. B., and Lehnert, W. (January 22, 2019). "Numerical Modeling of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells With Analytical and Experimental Validation." ASME. J. Electrochem. En. Conv. Stor. August 2019; 16(3): 031002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4042063
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