IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v179y2016icp85-98.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields

Author

Listed:
  • Yuan, Wei
  • Wang, Aoyu
  • Yan, Zhiguo
  • Tan, Zhenhao
  • Tang, Yong
  • Xia, Hongrong

Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a promising power source for portable applications. This study aims to reveal the two-phase flow characteristics of an active liquid-feed DMFC by using the visualization method. Different flow fields based on the serpentine, parallel and porous patterns and their effects on reactant and product managements are experimentally investigated. Results show that the performance of serpentine flow field is closely influenced by the change of methanol feed rate but the parallel pattern shows less sensitivity. The use of serpentine flow field enables the fuel cell to be operated with a higher methanol concentration. A higher methanol feed rate promotes removal of the produced gas bubbles. The oxygen feed rate has a negligible effect on the fuel cell with a cathode serpentine flow field but produces a more obvious performance difference in the case of parallel pattern. The visualization tests indicate that the use of a higher oxygen flow rate is helpful in water removal. The temperature characteristics of the anode serpentine channel are evaluated and how the temperature behaviors relate to different operating conditions are accordingly discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Yan, Zhiguo & Tan, Zhenhao & Tang, Yong & Xia, Hongrong, 2016. "Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 85-98.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:179:y:2016:i:c:p:85-98
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.127
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261916309023
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.127?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Achmad, F. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Daud, W.R.W. & Majlan, E.H., 2011. "Passive direct methanol fuel cells for portable electronic devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1681-1689, May.
    2. Wang, Zhigang & Zhang, Xuelin & Nie, Li & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2014. "Elimination of water flooding of cathode current collector of micro passive direct methanol fuel cell by superhydrophilic surface treatment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 107-112.
    3. Zainoodin, A.M. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Masdar, M.S. & Daud, W.R.W. & Mohamad, A.B. & Sahari, J., 2014. "Investigation of MEA degradation in a passive direct methanol fuel cell under different modes of operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 364-372.
    4. Yan, X.H. & Zhao, T.S. & An, L. & Zhao, G. & Zeng, L., 2015. "A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 331-336.
    5. Karim, N.A. & Kamarudin, S.K., 2013. "An overview on non-platinum cathode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 212-220.
    6. Kamaruddin, M.Z.F. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Daud, W.R.W. & Masdar, M.S., 2013. "An overview of fuel management in direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 557-565.
    7. Yuan, Wei & Tang, Yong & Yang, Xiaojun & Wan, Zhenping, 2012. "Porous metal materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 309-329.
    8. Yuan, Wei & Zhang, Zhaochun & Hu, Jinyi & Zhou, Bo & Tang, Yong, 2014. "Passive vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell using sintered porous metals to realize high-concentration operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 143-149.
    9. Yuan, Zhenyu & Yang, Jie & Ye, Ning & Li, Zipeng & Sun, Yuge & Shen, Hongyuan, 2015. "Analysis of the capillary-force-based μDMFC (micro direct methanol fuel cell) supplied with pure methanol," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 858-863.
    10. Yuan, Zhenyu & Yang, Jie & Li, Zipeng & Sun, Yuge & Ye, Ning & Shen, Hongyuan, 2015. "Analysis of CO2 transmission in a micro direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 496-502.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhengang Zhao & Dongjie Li & Xiaoping Xu & Dacheng Zhang, 2023. "An Adaptive Joint Operating Parameters Optimization Approach for Active Direct Methanol Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Wu, Lizhen & An, Liang & Jiao, Daokuan & Xu, Yifan & Zhang, Guobin & Jiao, Kui, 2022. "Enhanced oxygen discharge with structured mesh channel in proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    3. Li, Yang & Zhang, Xuelin & Yuan, Weijian & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2018. "A novel CO2 gas removal design for a micro passive direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 599-607.
    4. Chen, Xueye & Li, Tiechuan & Shen, Jienan & Hu, Zengliang, 2017. "From structures, packaging to application: A system-level review for micro direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 669-678.
    5. Michaela Roschger & Sigrid Wolf & Kurt Mayer & Matthias Singer & Viktor Hacker, 2022. "Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell: Effect of the Anode Flow Field Design and the Setup Parameters on Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Yang, Qinwen & Xiao, Gang & Li, Lexi & Che, Mengjie & Hu, Xu-Qu & Meng, Min, 2021. "Collaborative design of multi-type parameters for design and operational stage matching in fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 1101-1110.
    7. Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Ye, Guangzhao & Pan, Baoyou & Tang, Kairui & Chen, Haimu, 2017. "Dynamic relationship between the CO2 gas bubble behavior and the pressure drop characteristics in the anode flow field of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 431-443.
    8. Ke, Yuzhi & Zhang, Baotong & Bai, Yafeng & Yuan, Wei & Li, Jinguang & Liu, Ziang & Su, Xiaoqing & Zhang, Shiwei & Ding, Xinrui & Wan, Zhenping & Tang, Yong & Zhou, Feikun, 2023. "Bubble-derived contour regeneration of flow channel by in situ tracking for direct methanol fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Calabriso, Andrea & Borello, Domenico & Romano, Giovanni Paolo & Cedola, Luca & Del Zotto, Luca & Santori, Simone Giovanni, 2017. "Bubbly flow mapping in the anode channel of a direct methanol fuel cell via PIV investigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1245-1255.
    2. Liu, Guicheng & Li, Xinyang & Wang, Hui & Liu, Xiuying & Chen, Ming & Woo, Jae Young & Kim, Ji Young & Wang, Xindong & Lee, Joong Kee, 2017. "Design of 3-electrode system for in situ monitoring direct methanol fuel cells during long-time running test at high temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 163-168.
    3. Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Ye, Guangzhao & Pan, Baoyou & Tang, Kairui & Chen, Haimu, 2017. "Dynamic relationship between the CO2 gas bubble behavior and the pressure drop characteristics in the anode flow field of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 431-443.
    4. Wang, Zhigang & Zhang, Xuelin & Nie, Li & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2014. "Elimination of water flooding of cathode current collector of micro passive direct methanol fuel cell by superhydrophilic surface treatment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 107-112.
    5. Yan, X.H. & Zhao, T.S. & An, L. & Zhao, G. & Zeng, L., 2015. "A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 331-336.
    6. Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Allagui, Anis & Sayed, Enas Taha & El Haj Assad, M. & Said, Zafar & Elsaid, Khaled, 2019. "Comparative analysis of liquid versus vapor-feed passive direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 563-584.
    7. Kim, Joon-Hee & Yang, Min-Jee & Park, Jun-Young, 2014. "Improvement on performance and efficiency of direct methanol fuel cells using hydrocarbon-based membrane electrode assembly," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 95-102.
    8. Xia, Zhangxun & Sun, Ruili & Jing, Fenning & Wang, Suli & Sun, Hai & Sun, Gongquan, 2018. "Modeling and optimization of Scaffold-like macroporous electrodes for highly efficient direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 239-248.
    9. Braz, B.A. & Oliveira, V.B. & Pinto, A.M.F.R., 2020. "Optimization of a passive direct methanol fuel cell with different current collector materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    10. Yuan, Wei & Yan, Zhiguo & Tan, Zhenhao & Wang, Aoyu & Li, Zongtao & Tang, Yong, 2016. "Anode optimization based on gradient porous control medium for passive liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 71-79.
    11. Munjewar, Seema S. & Thombre, Shashikant B. & Mallick, Ranjan K., 2017. "Approaches to overcome the barrier issues of passive direct methanol fuel cell – Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1087-1104.
    12. Liu, Guicheng & Ding, Xianan & Zhou, Hongwei & Chen, Ming & Wang, Manxiang & Zhao, Zhenxuan & Yin, Zhuang & Wang, Xindong, 2015. "Structure optimization of cathode microporous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 396-401.
    13. Jiang, Jinghui & Li, Yinshi & Liang, Jiarong & Yang, Weiwei & Li, Xianglin, 2019. "Modeling of high-efficient direct methanol fuel cells with order-structured catalyst layer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    14. Chen, Qing-Yun & Fu, Rong & Fang, Xiao-Wen & Cai, Wen-Fang & Wang, Yun-Hai & Cheng, Shao-An, 2015. "Cr-methanol fuel cell for efficient Cr(VI) removal and high power production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 31-35.
    15. Li, Yang & Zhang, Xuelin & Yuan, Weijian & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2018. "A novel CO2 gas removal design for a micro passive direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 599-607.
    16. Chen, Xueye & Li, Tiechuan & Shen, Jienan & Hu, Zengliang, 2017. "From structures, packaging to application: A system-level review for micro direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 669-678.
    17. Deng, Huichao & Zhang, Xuelin & Ma, Zezhong & Chen, Hailong & Sun, Qiu & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2014. "A micro passive direct methanol fuel cell with high performance via plasma electrolytic oxidation on aluminum-based substrate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 149-153.
    18. An, Myung-Gi & Mehmood, Asad & Ha, Heung Yong, 2014. "A sensor-less methanol concentration control system based on feedback from the stack temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 257-266.
    19. Zakaria, Zulfirdaus & Kamarudin, Siti Kartom & Abd Wahid, Khairul Anuar & Abu Hassan, Saiful Hasmady, 2021. "The progress of fuel cell for malaysian residential consumption: Energy status and prospects to introduction as a renewable power generation system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    20. Chung-Jen Chou & Shyh-Biau Jiang & Tse-Liang Yeh & Li-Duan Tsai & Ku-Yen Kang & Ching-Jung Liu, 2020. "A Portable Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Power Station for Long-Term Internet of Things Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-13, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:179:y:2016:i:c:p:85-98. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.