Numerical Analysis of Temperature Distributions in Single Cell of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell when Operated in Elevated Temperature Range

Abstract

Abstract:The purpose of this study is to analyze the temperature distribution on the interface between the polymer electrolyte membrane and catalyst layer at the cathode in single cell of polymer electrolyte fuel cell when operated in elevated temperature range than usual. In this study, the interface between the polymer electrolyte membrane and catalyst layer at the cathode is named as reaction surface. This study has considered the 1D multi-plate heat transfer model estimating the temperature distribution on the reaction surface and verified with the 3D numerical simulation model solving many governing equations on the coupling phenomena of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The 3D numerical simulation model coverers a half size of actual cell including three straight parts and two turn-back corners, which can display the essential phenomena of single cell. The results from both models/simulations agreed well. The effects of initial operation temperature, flow rate, and relative humidity of supply gas on temperature distribution on the reaction surface have been investigated. Though the effect of flow rate of supply gas on temperature distribution on reaction surface has been small, low relative humidity of supply gas has caused higher temperature on the reaction surface compared to high relative humidity of the supply gas. The temperature rise of reaction surface from initial operation temperature has increased with the increasing in initial operation temperature of cell.

Impact of Separator Thickness on Temperature Distribution in Single Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Based on 1D Heat Transfer

“…However, we have confirmed the temperature gradients for the targeted regions are almost the same tendency under the similar operational conditions [42]. In addition, the authors [43] have already simulated by the commercial CFD software with 3D model in order to predict the distributions of T react . This 3D model bases on the governing equations consisting of conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy in porous region and electro-chemical reaction.…”

Impact of MPL on Temperature Distribution in Single Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with Various Thicknesses of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane

“…Consequently, we can ignore the impact of the observation window on the power generation performance. In addition, we estimated the in-plane temperature distribution on the interface between PEM and cathode catalyst layer using the temperature data measured by thermograph and the proposed heat transfer model, and compared with the temperature distribution calculated by 3D numerical simulation considering the electrochemical reaction, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and gas diffusion [29]. As a result, the maximum and the minimum temperature difference between these studies was 0.7 • C and 0.1 • C respectively for anode 80% RH and cathode 80% RH at T ini = 90 • C. Additionally, the tendency of in-plane temperature distribution was almost similar, e.g., the temperature rise and drop were observed at the same points, respectively, among these studies.…”

Impact of Separator Thickness on Temperature Distribution in Single Cell of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Operated at Higher Temperature of 90 °C and 100 °C

“…However, it can be observed that the temperature gradients, for the targeted regions under similar operation conditions, show the same tendency [39]. In addition, the authors [40] have already studied the numerical simulation using a 3D model, by means of commercial CFD software, in order to predict the distributions of T react . This numerical simulation, with a 3D model, considers the governing equations that consist of conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy in the porous region as well as the electrochemical reaction.…”