Numerical Modeling of Velocity and Temperature Distributions in a Bipolar Plate of PEM Electrolysis Cell With Greatly Improved Flow Uniformity

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jephanya Kasukurthi ◽  
K. M. Veepuri ◽  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Temperature Distributions ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

In this present work, finite volume method was used to simulate the three-dimensional water flow and heat transfer in a flow field plate of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis cell. The standard k-ε model together with standard wall function method was used to model three-dimensional fluid flow and heat transfer. First, numerical simulations were performed for a basic bipolar plate and it was found that the flow distribution inside the channels in not uniform. The design of the basic bipolar plate has been changed to a new model, which is featured with multiple inlets and multiple outlets. Numerical results show that the flow and temperature distributions for the new design become much homogeneous.

Velocity and Temperature Distributions in Bipolar Plate of PEM Electrolysis Cell

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Steve Cohen ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Blake Carter ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Solid Wall ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Constant Heat Flux ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Constant Heat ◽  
Temperature Distributions ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

Numerical simulations of three-dimensional water flow were performed for the purpose of examining velocity and temperature distributions in the bipolar plate of a simplified PEM electrolysis cell. The flow range in the present study is assumed to be hydrodynamically stable and steady with uniform inlet temperature. All solid wall surfaces are maintained as being adiabatically insulated except that the walls adjacent to the active area of the MEA are supplied with constant heat flux. A minimum of the peak values of mainstream velocity component in the channels develops in the middle of the plate. The maximum of these peak values appears in the channel near the exit tube. The maximum temperature develops in the channels in the center of the plate and near the exit header section. The maximum temperature decreases with increasing flowrate.

Uniform Distribution of Species in Fuel Cells Using a Multiple Flow Bifurcation Design

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiwen Li ◽  
Devasubramaniam Coopamah ◽  
Jeong-Pill Ki
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Flow Uniformity ◽  
Bifurcation Structure

This paper presents the results obtained from the study about flow distribution in maintaining uniformity of flow fields in fuel cells. Three novel flow distribution designs on bipolar plates are proposed for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The flow distributors have multiple levels of bifurcations to split a flow into sub-streams of equal flow rates. There are three types of bifurcation structure proposed and studied, which are the 90° tee-type, rounded-type and slanted-type. Experiments were carried out to test the velocities of flows from the multiple channels after bifurcations, and the flow uniformity on the bipolar plate is estimated and studied. Overall evaluation of flow uniformity in the three designs was conducted. The rounded-type bifurcation structure showed the best flow uniformity. After experimental verification of the uniform flow distribution in the novel design, three PEM fuel cell was fabricated which adopted the novel flow fields. From the experimental test and comparison under dry fuel and air condition, it is found that the PEMFC with new flow field can have a better performance. Thorough experimental investigation is planned for the future study.

Numerical Simulation of Fractal Tree-Shaped Flow Field Structures in PEMFC

2012 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 32-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Hua Dong ◽  
Shun Fang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Fractal Theory ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Field Structure ◽  
Proton Exchange

The fractal tree-shaped structure such as tree, plant root, leaves, animal lung and so on is universal and unique in nature. These structures possess the symmetric micro-channel distributions and the efficient transport characteristics. They are considered to be an optimal network channel of mass transfer and heat transfer. The mass transfer and heat transfer feature of bipolar plate in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is similar with animal lungs and leaves. In this paper, fractal theory is used to study tree-shaped flow field structure of bipolar plate in PEMFC. It is demonstrated by numerical simulation that fractal tree-shaped flow field structure can provide substantially flow-field distribution, current density and heat transfer compared to the traditional flow field structure.

Non-Uniform Velocity Distributions in Bipolar Plate PEM Electrolysis Cell

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Steve Cohen ◽  
Blake Carter ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Component ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Pressure Drops ◽  
Exit Tube ◽  
Inlet Tube ◽  
Pem Electrolysis ◽  
A Minor

The rate of hydrogen production within the PEM electrolysis cell is influenced by the temperature, the velocity distributions, and the pressure distribution. In order to design and use a PEM electrolyzer cell effectively, analytical and/or numerical models for the device are necessary so that the system may be optimized. Numerical simulations of three-dimensional water flow were performed for the purpose of examining pressure and velocity distributions in the bipolar plate of a simplified PEM electrolysis cell. The flow range in the present study is assumed to be hydrodynamically stable and steady. The numerical results show that the pressure drops diagonally from the inlet tube to the exit tube. The velocity distribution is very non-uniform in the channels. A minimum of the peak values of mainstream velocity component in the channels develops in the middle of the plate. The maximum of these peak values appears in the channel near the exit tube. The lines along which the mainstream velocity component is a peak in the channel almost overlay with each other, except that a minor difference can be noticed in the channel near the exit tube.

Improving the Performance of a PEMFC by Means of Achieving Uniform Flow Distribution

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bladimir Ramos-Alvarado ◽  
Abel Hernandez-Guerrero ◽  
Francisco Elizalde-Blancas ◽  
Cuauhtemoc Rubio-Arana
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Channel Configuration

A performance analysis of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is reported in this work. Two different flow patterns are modeled as gas distributors and current collectors of a PEM fuel cell. Both flow patterns have the same active area with similar channel distribution over the membrane electrode assembly. Three dimensional models are used in order to simulate the performance of the fuel cells. The Navier-Stokes equations as well as potential fields (potentiostatic and galvanostatic) are solved using computational fluid dynamics techniques. Two dimensionless parameters were computed to quantify and compare the uniformity of the flow over the reaction area. The present analysis shows that achieving a good flow distribution is a key parameter in the PEMFC performance. The reduction of the concentration losses is the main result when a parallel channel configuration operates with uniform reactants distribution. In this study is demonstrated that the conventional parallel channels flow pattern does not achieve similar flow conditions in each sub-stream and therefore, irregular energy generation is obtained.

Numerical and experimental study of three-dimensional fluid flow in the bipolar plate of a PEM electrolysis cell

2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 1914-1922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Steve Cohen ◽  
Blake D. Carter ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Pem Electrolysis

Numerical Modeling of Two-Phase Flow in a Bipolar Plate of a PEM Electrolyzer Cell

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhu Nie ◽  
Yitung Chen ◽  
Robert F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Bubble Generation ◽  
Oxygen Bubble

Optimization of electrolysis cell for producing hydrogen is dependent of a set of complex physical and chemical processes simultaneously occurring within the electrolysis cell. Similar to fuel cells, it has been demonstrated that these processes are strongly dependent on the fluid dynamics inside the electrolysis & fuel cell. Bipolar plates are important components of PEM electrolysis cells because they are the first stage of the flow distribution system. Numerical simulations were performed for three-dimensional two-phase water/oxygen flow in the anode side of a bipolar plate with a diagonal flow design. The water flowrate was maintained as constant of 260 ml/min, while the oxygen bubble generation rate was assumed to change from 0–0.014 g/s. Numerical results reveal that a minimum of the peak values of mainstream velocity component in the channels develops in the middle of the plate. Pressure drop and volume fraction of oxygen at the exit become higher as the oxygen bubble generation flowrate increases. The irregular velocity profile (locally low velocity magnitude near the exit port section) is not observed when the oxygen bubble flowrate is relatively low.

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