Simulation and optimization of large-scale (200cm2) multiple-serpentine flow field for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

doi:10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2021-0046

Abstract

Abstract:

This work investigates the influence of the arrangements of a large-scale (100mm×200mm, 200cm²) multiple-serpentine flow field on the output performance of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) by numerical simulation and experimental study. Compared with the vertical arrangement manner, the horizontal one allowed the fuel cell to produce a higher average current density of 222.78mA/cm² and a more uniform current density distribution (uniformity index of 75.3%) when the air intake was 1.527L/min and the cell voltage was 0.6V. Furthermore, the number of the gas channels in the flow field was optimized. The results showed that the increase of inlet gas channels significantly reduce the pressure drop, but the average output current density and uniformity index of the fuel cell were decreased accordingly. The multiple-serpentine flow field with 9 channels horizontally arranged showed higher output performance and better current density distribution uniformity than that with 14 channels and lower pressure drop than that with 6 channels. This work provides a good guide for improving the performance and stability of HT-PEMFCs and their commercial applications.

Key words: high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs), flow field design, arrangement, simulation, structural optimization

摘要：

以大尺寸（100mm×200mm, 200cm²）多蛇形流场为研究对象，通过数值模拟和实验的方法探究了阴极多蛇形流场的排布方式对高温聚合物电解质膜燃料电池输出性能的影响。相比于竖向排布多蛇形流场，基于横向排布的多蛇形流场的电池在进气量1.527L/min和电压0.6V时展示出了更高的平均输出电流密度222.78mA/cm²和更均匀的电流密度分布（均一指数为75.3%）。在此基础上，进一步对横向排布流场结构的气体通道数进行了优化。结果表明入口气体通道数的增加可以显著减少流场进出口的压降损失，但电池平均输出电流密度和均一指数也有所降低。其中，9通道横排多蛇形流场有较高的电池性能和较好的电流密度分布均匀性（相对于14通道）和较低的压降损失（相对于6通道），对进一步提高高温聚合物电解质膜燃料电池的性能及稳定性和商业化应用具有指导意义。

关键词: 高温聚合物电解质膜燃料电池, 流场设计, 排布方式, 数值模拟, 结构优化

CLC Number:

LUO Laiming, CHEN Si’an, WANG Haining, ZHANG Jin, LU Shanfu, XIANG Yan. Simulation and optimization of large-scale (200cm²) multiple-serpentine flow field for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells[J]. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress, 2021, 40(9): 4975-4985.

罗来明, 陈思安, 王海宁, 张劲, 卢善富, 相艳. 高温聚合物电解质膜燃料电池大尺寸（200cm²）多蛇形流场模拟与优化[J]. 化工进展, 2021, 40(9): 4975-4985.

Figures/Tables 13

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流场	流场长度/mm	流场宽度/mm	通道宽度/mm	通道深度/mm	脊宽度/mm	扩散层厚度/mm
Hor-S	200.0	100.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.3
Ver-S	200.0	100.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.3

流场	流场长度/mm	流场宽度/mm	通道宽度/mm	通道深度/mm	脊宽度/mm	扩散层厚度/mm
Hor-S	200.0	100.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.3
Ver-S	200.0	100.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.3

参数	数值
出口压强/Pa	101325
工作温度/℃	150
阴极参考交换电流密度/A·m^-2	0.02
阴极转移系数	0.88381
开路电压/V	1.23
工作电压/V	0.6
氧质量分数	0.228
扩散层孔隙率	0.4
扩散层渗透率/m²	1×10^-12
气体黏度/Pa·s	2.46×10^-5
氧气参考浓度/mol·m^-3	40.88
氧气-氮气二元扩散系数/m²·s^-1	4.1807×10^-5
氧气-水蒸气二元扩散系数/m²·s^-1	4.9136×10^-5
氮气-水蒸气二元扩散系数/m²·s^-1	4.4848×10^-5
集总电阻/Ω·m²	0.15×10^-5

参数	数值
出口压强/Pa	101325
工作温度/℃	150
阴极参考交换电流密度/A·m^-2	0.02
阴极转移系数	0.88381
开路电压/V	1.23
工作电压/V	0.6
氧质量分数	0.228
扩散层孔隙率	0.4
扩散层渗透率/m²	1×10^-12
气体黏度/Pa·s	2.46×10^-5
氧气参考浓度/mol·m^-3	40.88
氧气-氮气二元扩散系数/m²·s^-1	4.1807×10^-5
氧气-水蒸气二元扩散系数/m²·s^-1	4.9136×10^-5
氮气-水蒸气二元扩散系数/m²·s^-1	4.4848×10^-5
集总电阻/Ω·m²	0.15×10^-5

流场	进气量/L·min^-1	平均电流密度/mA·cm^-2	压降/Pa	出口氧气质量分数	均一指数/%
Hor-S	0.672	120.64	448.17	0.0019	27.3
Ver-S	0.672	115.35	316.53	0.0015	23.2
Hor-S	0.840	148.09	559.83	0.0065	44.2
Ver-S	0.840	145.73	391.19	0.0063	43.1
Hor-S	1.008	171.69	649.72	0.0133	55.3
Ver-S	1.008	169.33	468.76	0.0137	55.1
Hor-S	1.176	191.79	760.04	0.0230	64.1
Ver-S	1.176	189.10	546.59	0.0232	63.8
Hor-S	1.344	208.24	871.90	0.0339	70.3
Ver-S	1.344	205.35	624.88	0.0339	69.9
Hor-S	1.527	222.78	996.07	0.0459	75.3
Ver-S	1.527	219.77	711.07	0.0456	74.8

Simulation and optimization of large-scale (200cm²) multiple-serpentine flow field for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

高温聚合物电解质膜燃料电池大尺寸（200cm²）多蛇形流场模拟与优化

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Figures/Tables 13

References 40

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（气体通道数/流速）/m·s^-1	进气量/L·min^-1	平均电流密度/mA·cm^-2	压降/Pa	出口氧气质量分数	均一指数/%
6/1.867	0.672	127.16	2386.83	0.0029	31.6
7/1.600	0.672	126.05	1751.36	0.0027	31.0
9/1.244	0.672	122.66	1116.0	0.0020	28.3
11/1.018	0.672	121.50	733.65	0.0019	27.7
14/0.800	0.672	120.64	448.17	0.0019	27.3

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