Low stoichiometry operation of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell employing the interdigitated flow field - A modeling study
- 作者：T. Berning ; tbe@et.aau.dk ; S.K. Kæ ; r
- 关键词：PEMFC ; Operating conditions ; Low stoichiometry operation ; Water uptake layer ; Water management
- 刊名：International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
- 出版年：2012
- 期刊代码：42_03603199
- 类别：ch
- 出版时间：May, 2012
- 卷：37
- 期：10
- 页码：8477-8489
- 文件大小：3076 K
摘要
A multiphase fuel cell model based on computational fluid dynamics is used to investigate the possibility of operating a proton exchange membrane fuel cell at low stoichiometric flow ratios (尉聽<聽1.5) employing the interdigitated flow field design and using completely dry inlet gases. A case study of two different operating temperatures and two different operating pressures is presented. In all cases the cathode side stoichiometric flow ratio was varied from 尉c聽=聽1.5 to 1.2, and the anode side varied to as low as 尉a聽=聽1.05. It is found that operating at ambient pressure leads to a generally dryer cell, and the only possibility to prevent membrane dry-out is to operate at or below 70聽掳C. The cell is generally better humidified at an elevated pressure, and here it is found that the cathode channels will become flooded when the operating temperature is too low, e.g. 70聽掳C, while membrane hydration levels of 位聽=聽7-10 can be achieved at 80聽掳C. Operation at stoichiometric flow ratios as low as 尉聽=聽1.2 at the cathode side and 尉聽=聽1.05 at the anode side appear feasible. If this can be verified, it would allow open-ended anode operation without recirculation or flow shifting, thus significantly reducing system complexity and cost.