Novel approach to determine cathode two-phase-flow pressure drop of proton exchange membrane fuel cell and its application on water management

Yuehua Li, Pucheng Pei, Ziyao Wu, Huachi Xu, Dongfang Chen and Shangwei Huang

Applied Energy, 2017, vol. 190, issue C, 713-724

Abstract: In proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), pressure drop at cathode can be used in water management. However, the equation to determine the cathode two-phase-flow pressure drop online and in real time has not been reported. This paper aims to develop a novel approach to calculate this pressure drop. The originalities are the fact that cathodic pressure drop actually experiences two jumps as it rises through two levels during flooding process and the proposal of spatial average water film to determine the pressure drop online. Firstly, the equation to calculate the pressure drop of cathode single-phase-flow, covering all operating conditions, is proposed and is verified at a 10kW fuel cell stack. Secondly, we find that there exists a steady two-phase-flow pressure drop linked to an equivalent film flow in unit channel and put forward a novel approach to determine this pressure drop. Finally, water management strategy based on pressure drop is applied to a 34cm2 fuel cell and the voltage drop rate decreases by 35%, from 72mV/h down to 47mV/h, at a low cathode stoichiometric ratio 2.0 in long time operation, and the parasitic consumption is reduced by up to 50%. Hence, this strategy is shown to be effective in avoiding flooding, reducing air compressor consumption and extending the running time of single operation and the lifetime of fuel cell. This paper will contribute to the commercialization of fuel cells.

Keywords: PEMFC; Cathode pressure drop; Model; Water management; Lifetime (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.01.010

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