Mass transfer and round-trip efficiency evaluation of unitized regeneration proton exchange membrane fuel cell during bi-directional mode switching cycle

Wenshang Chen, Kai Meng, Haoran Zhou, Ning Zhang, Qihao Deng, Ke Chen and Ben Chen

Applied Energy, 2024, vol. 374, issue C, No S0306261924014594

Abstract: Bi-directional mode switching is a crucial operation in unitized regenerative proton exchange membrane fuel cells (UR-PEMFC). Mass transfer plays a direct role in influencing the performance of both the fuel cell (FC) mode and the electrolytic cell (EC) mode, consequently impacting the round-trip efficiency (RTE). This study enhanced the three-dimensional two-phase model of UR-PEMFC by incorporating the mass transfer dynamics of the flow field. The round-trip efficiency (RTE) was systematically assessed throughout the bidirectional mode switching cycle. The results indicate that UR-PEMFC with triple-serpentine flow fields (TSF) performed well in FC mode, which was attributed to its good oxygen distribution uniformity and liquid water detachment capacity, in EC mode, its poor effective mass transfer coefficient and higher mass transfer resistance led to higher electrolytic energy consumption. However, UR-PEMFCs with TSF and parallel flow field (PFF) had better dynamic response performance during the bidirectional mode switching, and their voltage undershoot (overshoot) and response time were improved, which were attributed to uniform flow field structures. The UR-PEMFC reached optimum RTE operating at 0.1 A/cm2 in FC mode and 1.1 A/cm2 in EC mode, and the RTEs of the UR-PEMFCs with PFF and TSF were more advantageous, their highest RTEs were 36.62% and 36.30%, respectively. This study proposes two switching strategies to enhance the stability of URFC mode switching, offering a viable new approach for optimizing the flow field and improving overall performance.

Keywords: UR-PEMFC; Mass transfer; Flow field; Round-trip efficiency; Bi-directional mode switching cycle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124076

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