Investigation of current density spatial distribution in PEM fuel cells using a comprehensively validated multi-phase non-isothermal model

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) multi-phase non-isothermal model of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is present to investigate the current density spatial distributions under different output voltages, temperatures, current densities and relative humidities (RH). Two sets of experime...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of heat and mass transfer 2020-04, Vol.150, p.119294, Article 119294
Main Authors: Zhang, Guobin, Wu, Jingtian, Wang, Yun, Yin, Yan, Jiao, Kui
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air flow
Cathodes
Cathodic polarization
Current density
Current density distribution
Current distribution
Density distribution
Electrode polarization
Fuel cells
Low currents
Multi-phase model
Multiphase
Operating temperature
Oxygen consumption
Oxygen reduction reactions
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Spatial distribution
Temperature
Three dimensional models
Validation
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Summary:In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) multi-phase non-isothermal model of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is present to investigate the current density spatial distributions under different output voltages, temperatures, current densities and relative humidities (RH). Two sets of experimental data are selected for validation, including those from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States and the University of Waterloo in Canada. Reasonable agreements are achieved between the model prediction and experimental measurements, indicative of the validity of this 3D model. In addition, it is found that under a higher RH of 50%, most electric current is produced near the cathode inlet, which is primarily due to the local availability of abundant oxygen and hence small transport polarization. Low current occurs near the outlet of the cathode air flow, as a result of oxygen consumption by the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Under a lower RH of 25%, the high current density region shifts to the middle of the fuel cell, which is primarily attributed to hydration of the dry membrane by water production. In our case study, the operating temperature has little impact on the current density distribution.
ISSN:0017-9310
1879-2189
DOI:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.119294