Nonisothermal two-phase modeling of the effect of linear nonuniform catalyst layer on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance

• In this research, it is investigated to numerically evaluate the performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The performance is investigated through the nonuniformity gradient loading at the catalyst layer (CL) of the considered PEMFC. Computational fluid dynamics is used to simulate a 2D domain in which a steady-state laminar compressible flow in two-phase for the PEMFC has been considered. In this case, a particular nonuniform variation inside the CL along the channel is assumed. The nonuniform gradient is created using a nonisothermal domain to predict the flooding effects on the performance of the PEMFC. The computational domain is considered as the cathode of PEMFC, which is divided into three regions: a gas channel, a gas diffusion layer, and a CL. The loading variation inside the catalyst is defined as a constant slope along the channel. In order to find the optimum slope, different slope angles are analyzed. The results point out that the nonuniform loading distribution of the catalyst (platinum) along the channel could improve the fuel cell performance up to 1.6% and 5% for power density and voltage generation, respectively. It is inferred that it is better to use more catalyst in the final section of the channel if the performance is the main concern.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Energiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Energy Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

computational fluid dynamics

gas diffusion

nonuniform catalyst layer

polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

two-phase flow

Catalysts

Diffusion in gases

Polyelectrolytes

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)

Two phase flow

Computational domains

Different slopes

Fuel cell performance

Gas diffusion layers

Non-uniform catalysts

Nonuniform loadings

Polymer electrolyte membranes

Voltage generations

Solid electrolytes

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