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Numerical analysis of the optimum membrane/ionomer water content of PEMFCs: The interaction of Nafion® ionomer content and cathode relative humidity

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  • Xing, Lei
  • Das, Prodip K.
  • Song, Xueguan
  • Mamlouk, Mohamed
  • Scott, Keith

Abstract

A two dimensional, across the channel, isothermal, two-phase flow model for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is developed to investigate the interaction of dry Nafion® ionomer volume fraction (LMdry) and cathode relative humidity (RHc) in PEMFCs. The agglomerate model is used to describe the catalyst layers properties, in which the agglomerate is covered by ionomer and liquid water films. The optimum ionomer water content is suggested by maximising the oxygen diffusion rate through the ionomer film. The effects of LMdry and RHc on membrane and ionomer swelling and the cell performance are studied. The predicted current densities at fixed cell voltages are analysed by the Kriging surrogate model and used to optimise the LMdry and RHc based on analysing their interaction. The simulation results show that the optimum ionomer water content increases as the ionomer content increases. At higher current densities, e.g. 1.0Acm−2, the best cell performance is achieved with LMdry of 10%, corresponding to 0.3mgcm−2, with fully humidified inlet gases. The optimum RHc is between 60% and 80% for LMdry of 40%. The modelling results also show that at higher current densities, the optimum RHc initially decreases then increases as LMdry increases. The optimum RHc decreases from 76% to 73% as LMdry increases from 10% to 30% then it increases up to 85% as LMdry increases to 50%.

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  • Xing, Lei & Das, Prodip K. & Song, Xueguan & Mamlouk, Mohamed & Scott, Keith, 2015. "Numerical analysis of the optimum membrane/ionomer water content of PEMFCs: The interaction of Nafion® ionomer content and cathode relative humidity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 242-257.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:138:y:2015:i:c:p:242-257
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.10.011
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    3. Akira Nishimura & Daiki Mishima & Kyohei Toyoda & Syogo Ito & Mohan Lal Kolhe, 2023. "Numerical Simulation on Effect of Separator Thickness on Coupling Phenomena in Single Cell of PEFC under Higher Temperature Operation Condition at 363 K and 373 K," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-28, January.
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    9. Akira Nishimura & Kyohei Toyoda & Yuya Kojima & Syogo Ito & Eric Hu, 2021. "Numerical Simulation on Impacts of Thickness of Nafion Series Membranes and Relative Humidity on PEMFC Operated at 363 K and 373 K," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-24, December.
    10. Wu, Horng-Wen, 2016. "A review of recent development: Transport and performance modeling of PEM fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 81-106.
    11. Zhang, Ruiyuan & Min, Ting & Chen, Li & Li, Hailong & Yan, Jinyue & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2022. "Pore-scale study of effects of relative humidity on reactive transport processes in catalyst layers in PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
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    14. Wei, Pengnan & Chang, Guofeng & Fan, Ruijia & Xu, Yiming & Chen, Siqi, 2023. "Investigation of output performance and temperature distribution uniformity of PEMFC based on Pt loading gradient design," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    15. Yao, Jing & Wu, Zhen & Wang, Huan & Yang, Fusheng & Xuan, Jin & Xing, Lei & Ren, Jianwei & Zhang, Zaoxiao, 2022. "Design and multi-objective optimization of low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells with efficient water recovery and high electrochemical performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    16. Yuan, Hao & Dai, Haifeng & Ming, Pingwen & Li, Sida & Wei, Xuezhe, 2022. "A new insight into the effects of agglomerate parameters on internal dynamics of proton exchange membrane fuel cell by an advanced impedance dimension model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    17. Pan, Mingzhang & Pan, Chengjie & Li, Chao & Zhao, Jian, 2021. "A review of membranes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Transport phenomena, performance and durability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    18. Chen, Chen-Yu & Su, Sheng-Chun, 2018. "Effects of assembly torque on a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with stamped metallic bipolar plates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 440-447.
    19. Deng, Hao & Wang, Dawei & Wang, Renfang & Xie, Xu & Yin, Yan & Du, Qing & Jiao, Kui, 2016. "Effect of electrode design and operating condition on performance of hydrogen alkaline membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1272-1278.
    20. Saeidfar, Asal & Yesilyurt, Serhat, 2023. "Numerical investigation of the effects of catalyst layer composition and channel to rib width ratios for low platinum loaded PEMFCs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    21. Akira Nishimura & Yuya Kojima & Syogo Ito & Eric Hu, 2022. "Impacts of Separator Thickness on Temperature Distribution and Power Generation Characteristics of a Single PEMFC Operated at Higher Temperature of 363 and 373 K," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-33, February.
    22. Xing, Lei & Cai, Qiong & Xu, Chenxi & Liu, Chunbo & Scott, Keith & Yan, Yongsheng, 2016. "Numerical study of the effect of relative humidity and stoichiometric flow ratio on PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell performance with various channel lengths: An anode partial flooding modelli," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 631-645.
    23. Akira Nishimura & Kyohei Toyoda & Daiki Mishima & Syogo Ito & Eric Hu, 2022. "Numerical Analysis on Impact of Thickness of PEM and GDL with and without MPL on Coupling Phenomena in PEFC Operated at Higher Temperature Such as 363 K and 373 K," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-31, August.
    24. Andersson, M. & Beale, S.B. & Espinoza, M. & Wu, Z. & Lehnert, W., 2016. "A review of cell-scale multiphase flow modeling, including water management, in polymer electrolyte fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 757-778.

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