Predicting Liquid Water Condensation in PEM Fuel Cells by Coupling CFD with 1D Models
Maximilian Schmitz (schmitz_max@tme.rwth-aachen.de),
Fynn Matthiesen,
Steffen Dirkes and
Stefan Pischinger
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Maximilian Schmitz: Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Fynn Matthiesen: Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Steffen Dirkes: Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Stefan Pischinger: Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 4, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-18
Abstract:
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are a promising technology for future transportation applications. However, start-up procedures that are not optimized for low temperatures can lead to the early failure of the cells. Detailed CFD models can support the optimization of cold start procedures, but they often cannot be solved in a stable way due to their complexity. One-dimensional (1D) models can be calculated quickly but are simplified so that the behavior of the cells can no longer be determined accurately. In this contribution, a coupling between a 2D CFD model of the gas channels and a 1D model of the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) is realized. This method allows not only to determine the location and amount of the condensed water but also to calculate the exact concentration of the reactant gases along the channels. The investigations show that the concentrations of the gases and the relative humidities in the gas channels are strongly influenced by the current density. It has been found that it is not possible to avoid the formation of liquid water at low operating temperatures by controlling the current density.
Keywords: proton exchange membrane fuel cell; cold start; water condensation; model coupling; computational fluid dynamics; low temperature operation; membrane electrode assembly; relative humidity; current density control (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: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:5:p:1259-:d:1352326
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