Numerical Analysis of the Influence of Different Flow Patterns on Power and Reactant Transmission in Tubular-Shaped PEMFC

Lei Yuan, Zunlong Jin, Penghui Yang, Youchen Yang, Dingbiao Wang and Xiaotang Chen
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Lei Yuan: School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Zunlong Jin: School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Penghui Yang: School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Youchen Yang: School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Dingbiao Wang: School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Xiaotang Chen: Editorial Board of Journal of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: The influence of a tubular structure PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell) with different flow patterns is investigated in this study. A complete 3D non-isothermal model is constructed for square and circular tubular PEMFCs, and the distribution of oxygen and water concentration in cathode channels, current density, power density and cell net power are studied. To this end, the four arrangements of tubular PEMFC are square chordal (SC), square peripheral (SP), circular chordal (CC) and circular peripheral (CP). The calculation of the effective area and boundary conditions remains the same when performing all four configurations. The consequent results show that for the tubular structure PEMFC, compared with the co-flow mode, the counter-flow mode has better performance and provides more power. Using a counter-flow pattern, the permeability of the species increases, so a more uniform reaction occurs at the cell. The entire performance of the SP and CP model is not as good as that of the SC and CC models because the SP and CP models have a higher flow velocity. Moreover, the SC model using the counter-flow pattern has the maximum predicted net power among the other models.

Keywords: tubular-shaped PEMFC; three-dimensional non-isothermal model; flow pattern; power production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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