STUDY ON SELF-HUMIDIFYING PROPERTIES OF THIN-MEMBRANE PEMFC AT HIGH CURRENT DENSITY

Chen Xiaosong; Zhu Ruijie; Song Hao; Shu Zhanhong; Zhang Heng; Zhan Zhigang

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2022-0992

PDF(2427 KB)

Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (10) : 564-571. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2022-0992

STUDY ON SELF-HUMIDIFYING PROPERTIES OF THIN-MEMBRANE PEMFC AT HIGH CURRENT DENSITY

Chen Xiaosong¹, Zhu Ruijie¹, Song Hao¹, Shu Zhanhong¹, Zhang Heng^1,2, Zhan Zhigang^1,2

Author information +

History +

Abstract

To study self-humidifying properties of thin-membrane proton exchange membrane fuel cells at high current density, a three-dimensional, multi-physical steady-state model is established via FLUENT in this study. The simulation results are validated by the experimental data to ensure the reliability of the present model. It is found that with the increase of current density, the uniformity of water vapor distribution is improved. The critical point of the self-humidifying current density of the thin-membrane is 1200 mA/cm², and the self-humidifying in the thin-membrane can be achieved well. The external humidification of the cathode aggravates the local flooding phenomenon and leads to the degradation of the cell performance at high current density. Decreasing the temperature and membrane thickness, increasing the operation pressure can improve the self-humidifying properties of the membrane. The thickness of membrane has the most significant effect on the self-humidifying properties of the thin-membrane.

Key words

PEMFC / water content / high current density / self-humidifying / thin-membrane

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Chen Xiaosong, Zhu Ruijie, Song Hao, Shu Zhanhong, Zhang Heng, Zhan Zhigang. STUDY ON SELF-HUMIDIFYING PROPERTIES OF THIN-MEMBRANE PEMFC AT HIGH CURRENT DENSITY[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2023, 44(10): 564-571 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2022-0992

References

[1] LEE F C, ISMAIL M S, INGHAM D B, et al.Alternative architectures and materials for PEMFC gas diffusion layers: a review and outlook[J]. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 2022, 166: 112640.
[2] ELWAN H A, MAMLOUK M, SCOTT K.A review of proton exchange membranes based on protic ionic liquid/polymer blends for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells[J]. Journal of power sources, 2021, 484: 229197.
[3] CHENG Z Y, LUO L Z, HUANG B, et al.Effect of humidification on distribution and uniformity of reactants and water content in PEMFC[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2021, 46(52): 26560-26574.
[4] CHANG Y F, QIN Y Z, YIN Y, et al.Humidification strategy for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: a review[J]. Applied energy, 2018, 230: 643-662.
[5] LIAN Y S, YOU C T, ZHU Z C, et al.Preparation and performance of a self-humidifying fuel cell using a fiber sintered sheet as flow field[J]. Journal of power sources, 2022, 536: 231513.
[6] GELLETT W L, DUNWOODY D C, LEDDY J.Window gasketing for self humidified H₂|O₂ and H₂ |air polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells fed dry gases[J]. Journal of electroanalytical chemistry, 2020, 875: 114695.
[7] KONG I M, CHOI J W, KIM S I, et al.Experimental study on the self-humidification effect in proton exchange membrane fuel cells containing double gas diffusion backing layer[J]. Applied energy, 2015, 145: 345-353.
[8] OH K, KWON O, SON B, et al.Nafion-sulfonated silica composite membrane for proton exchange membrane fuel cells under operating low humidity condition[J]. Journal of membrane science, 2019, 583: 103-109.
[9] SHAO Y B, XU L F, ZHAO X W, et al.Comparison of self-humidification effect on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with anodic and cathodic exhaust gas recirculation[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2020, 45(4): 3108-3122.
[10] ZHAO X W, XU L F, FANG C, et al.Study on voltage clamping and self-humidification effects of pem fuel cell system with dual recirculation based on orthogonal test method[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2018, 43(33): 16268-16278.
[11] WANG J A, WANG B W, TONGSH C, et al.Combining proton and anion exchange membrane fuel cells for enhancing the overall performance and self-humidification[J]. Chemical engineering journal, 2022, 428: 131969.
[12] SUBIN K, JITHESH P K.Experimental study on self-humidified operation in PEM fuel cells[J]. Sustainable energy technologies and assessments, 2018, 27: 17-22.
[13] LI Y B, ZHOU Z F, LIU X L, et al.Modeling of PEM fuel cell with thin MEA under low humidity operating condition[J]. Applied energy, 2019, 242: 1513-1527.
[14] SHIN S, MAIYALAGAN T, JOTHI V R, et al.Numerical analysis on transport properties of self-humidifying dual catalyst layer via 3-D reconstruction technique[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2021, 46(27): 14639-14650.
[15] 游志宇, 邵仕泉, 刘涛, 等. 空冷自增湿燃料电池最优控制方法研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2019, 40(1): 259-267.
YOU Z Y, SHAO S Q, LIU T, et al.Study on optimal control method for self-humidifying fuel cell with air-cooled[J]. Acta energiae solaris sinica, 2019, 40(1): 259-267.
[16] FAN L H, ZHANG G B, JIAO K.Characteristics of PEMFC operating at high current density with low external humidification[J]. Energy conversion and management, 2017, 150: 763-774.
[17] 王智捷, 谭金婷, 詹志刚, 等. 燃料电池薄膜在不同电流密度下的水传递规律[J]. 科学通报, 2019, 64(21): 2254-2261.
WANG Z J, TAN J T, ZHAN Z G, et al.Water transport law of fuel cell membranes at different current densities[J]. Chinese science bulletin, 2019, 64(21): 2254-2261.
[18] HOUREH N B, SHOKOUHMAND H, AFSHARI E.Effect of inserting obstacles in flow field on a membrane humidifier performance for PEMFC application: a CFD model[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2019, 44(57): 30420-30439.
[19] YU Y A, ZHAN Z G, HE L Y, et al.Effects of distribution zone design on flow uniformity and pressure drop in PEMFC[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2021, 168(9): 094505.
[20] MIN C H, HE Y L, LIU X L, et al.Parameter sensitivity examination and discussion of PEM fuel cell simulation model validation[J]. Journal of power sources, 2006, 160(1): 374-385.
[21] SHI J R, ZHAN Z G, ZHANG D, et al.Effects of cracks on the mass transfer of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with high performance membrane electrode assembly[J]. Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-material science edition, 2021, 36(3): 318-330.