Stack-level analysis of the performance variation in air-cooled PEMFC with Z-type anode manifold

Xianxian Yu, Shanshan Cai, Zhengkai Tu and Siew Hwa Chan

Energy, 2024, vol. 305, issue C

Abstract: Air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack holds significant promise due to its potential to reduce system complexity. The anode manifold type leads to gas maldistribution in an air-cooled stack, and affects the efficiency and life span of the stack. In this study, 3D multi-physics model of stacks ranging from 10 to 40 cells are established to investigate the gas distribution characteristic of Z-type anode manifold. Considering the heat dissipation aspects only, it is advisable to keep a thin endplate while meeting the required stress tolerances. The core temperature of the stack with 20 mm endplates measures 43.8 °C, while the stack with 6 mm endplates reaches a core temperature of 45.5 °C. Under a cathode air flow velocity condition of 4 m‧s−1, the maximum net oxygen consumption reaches 1.69 mol‧s−1 in Cell-4. Furthermore, the electrochemical reaction intensity decreases sequentially from Cell-4 and Cell-5 in the middle to Cell-1 and Cell-10 in the edges of the stack. Additionally, cells near the anode inlet and outlet are prone to have the insufficient gas supply in the Z-type anode manifold stack.

Keywords: Air-cooled; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Stack-level; Manifolds; Hydrogen distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:305:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224021297

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.132355

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