Investigation of Flow Mal-distribution in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack

Kanthabhabha Palaniappan, R. Govindarasu, R. Parthiban

Abstract


During the operation of a fuel cell stack, a uniform distribution of reactants from the manifolds to each cell is desired.  An uneven flow distribution results in uneven performance between the cells. Though desired, it is difficult to achieve uniform distribution in practice and it is of interest to analyze the nature and magnitude of those undesirable deviations from ideality. In this research works, an attempt is made to experimentally investigate those deviations using pressure drop in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) stack at various stoichiometric flow rates. Fluctuations in pressure drop and effect of increase in number of cells and stochiometric of reactants are analyzed in this works. In addition the impact of flow patterns such as U-type and Z-type are also discussed here.


Keywords


PEM Fuel Cell; Flow characterization; pressure drop; U-type and Z-type flow patterns

Full Text:

PDF

References


.Frano Barbir, “PEM Fuel Cells: Theory and Practiceâ€, Elsevier Academic Press, 2005, pp.1-200.

.Joon-Ho Koh et. al., “Pressure and flow distribution in internal gas manifolds of a fuel-cell stackâ€, Jn. of Power Sources, Vol.115,54-65, 2003.

.Paul A.C. Chang et. al., “Flow distribution in PEM fuel cell stacksâ€, Jn. of Power Sources, Vol.162, 340-355, 2006.

.Robert L. Pigford, et. al., “Flow distribution in piping manifoldsâ€, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam.,Vol.22, 463-471, 1983.

.V. E. Senegal, “Fluid Distribution in Process Equipmentâ€, Industrial and Engg. Chemistry, Vol.49, No.6, 993-995, 1983.

.Wenzhong Cao, “Performance comparison of a fuel cell-battery hybrid power train and a fuel cell-ultra capacitor hybrid power trainâ€, IEEE Trans. on Vehicular Technology, Vol.54, No.3,846-855, 2005.

.S.Um et. al.,“Computational fluid dynamics modeling of proton exchange membrane fuel cellâ€, Jn. of Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 147, 4485-4493, 2000.

.D. Singh et. al., “A two-dimension analysis of mass transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cellsâ€, Int. Jn. Eng. Sci., Vol. 37, 431-452, 1999.

.M.Y.El-Sharkh et. al., “A dynamic model for a stand-alone PEM fuel cell power plant for residential applicationsâ€, Jn. of Power Sources,Vol 138, 199-204, 2004.

.Amir M. Niroumand et. al., “PEM fuel cell low flow FDIâ€, Jn. of Process control, Vol. 21, 602-612, 2011.

.Ryan Anderson et. al., “Two-Phase Flow Pressure Drop Hysteresis in an Operating Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cellâ€, Jn. of Power Sources, Vol. 196, 8031-8040, 2011.

T. Susai et. al., “The performance of PEM fuel cells fed with oxygen through the free convection mode†Jn. of Power Sources, Vol 92, 131-138, 2001.

P. Argyropoulos et. al., “CO2 evolution patterns in direct methanol fuel cellsâ€, Electrochim. Acta, Vol 44,3575-84, 1999.

A. Hakenjos et. al., “A PEM fuel cell for combined measurement of current and temperature distribution, and flow field floodingâ€, Jn. of Power Sources, Vol. 131,213-216, 2004.

S. Um et. al., “Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cellsâ€, Jn. of Electrochem. Soc. Vol 147 (12) 4485, 2000.




DOI (PDF): https://doi.org/10.20508/ijrer.v2i4.359.g6074

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Online ISSN: 1309-0127

Publisher: Gazi University

IJRER is cited in SCOPUS, EBSCO, WEB of SCIENCE (Clarivate Analytics);

IJRER has been cited in Emerging Sources Citation Index from 2016 in web of science.

WEB of SCIENCE in 2025; 

h=35,

Average citation per item=6.59

Last three Years Impact Factor=(1947+1753+1586)/(146+201+78)=5286/425=12.43

Category Quartile:Q4