Numerical Investigation of Flow Field Distributions and Water and Thermal Management for a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Cell

Dan Shao, Liangyong Hu (), Guoqing Zhang, Kaicheng Hu, Jiangyun Zhang (), Jun Liu, Kang Peng, Liqin Jiang, Wenzhao Jiang and Yuliang Wen
Additional contact information
Dan Shao: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Battery Safety, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Testing, Guangzhou 511447, China
Liangyong Hu: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Battery Safety, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Testing, Guangzhou 511447, China
Guoqing Zhang: School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Kaicheng Hu: School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jiangyun Zhang: School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jun Liu: Guangdong Greenway Technology Co., Ltd., Dongguan 523000, China
Kang Peng: Guangdong Greenway Technology Co., Ltd., Dongguan 523000, China
Liqin Jiang: Guangdong Zhuhai Supervision Testing Institute of Quality and Metrology, Zhuhai 519000, China
Wenzhao Jiang: Guangdong Zhuhai Supervision Testing Institute of Quality and Metrology, Zhuhai 519000, China
Yuliang Wen: Dongguan Guixiang Insulation Material Co., Ltd., Dongguan 523861, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: The proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell (PEMEC) has attracted considerable attention for large-scale and efficient hydrogen production because of its high current density, high hydrogen purity and fast dynamic response. Flow field distributions and water and thermal management characteristics of a PEMEC are vital for electrolytic cell structure and the determination of operating condition. A three-dimensional, non-isothermal, electrochemical model of a PEMEC was established in this manuscript. The flow field distribution and water and thermal management of the PEMEC are discussed. The corresponding results showed that the pressure of the flow channel decreased diagonally from the inlet to the outlet, and the pressure and velocity distribution exhibited a downward opening shape of a parabola. At the same inlet flow rate, when the voltage was 1.6 V, the oxygen generation rate was 15.74 mol/(cm 2 ·s), and when the voltage was 2.2 V, the oxygen generation rate was 332.05 mol/(cm 2 ·s); due to the change in the oxygen production rate, the pressure difference at 2.2 V was 2.5 times than that at 1.6 V. When the stoichiometric number was less than two, the average temperature of the catalyst layer (CL) decreased rapidly with the increase in the water flow rate. When the voltage decreased to 2.1 V, the current density came to the highest value when the stoichiometric number was 0.7, then the current density decreased with an increase in the stoichiometric number. When stoichiometric numbers were higher than five, the surface temperature and current density remained basically stable with the increase in the water flow rate, and the water and thermal management and electrolysis characteristics performed better. The research results could optimize the water supply of electrolysis cells. According to the velocity distribution law of the flow field, the water and thermal management performance of the PEMEC could be estimated, further promoting safety and reliability.

Keywords: PEMEC; water flow rates; flow field distributions; water and thermal management; numerical simulation (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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