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Toward 100% fuel utilization in protonic ceramic fuel cells: modelling gas and current density distributions in a dead-end anode

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Kunpeng
  • Nagata, Yohei
  • Murakami, Takeru
  • Kitamura, Nozomi
  • Yamauchi, Kosuke
  • Mikami, Yuichi
  • Kuroha, Tomohiro
  • Kobayashi, Shun
  • Mori, Masashi
  • Araki, Takuto

Abstract

Reaching 100% fuel utilization in protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) is advantageous for developing compact systems but remains challenging due to high overpotentials and anode material degradation caused by oxidation under low H2 partial pressure. We propose a dead-end anode design where the anode outlet is sealed, and a pre-filled H2O-H2 gas mixture ensures the required humidity for proton conductivity. The feasibility of 100% fuel utilization has been verified by a numerical model combining mass transfer (convection and diffusion) and charge transfer. Electrical performance is optimized by the pre-filled H2O mole fraction, height and length of the anode channel. Increasing the anode channel height and reducing its length significantly enhance performance of the dead-end-anode type PCFC, enabling a comparable current density–voltage performance at 100% fuel utilization to that of a relatively small coin-type configuration operating at 3% fuel utilization. Moreover, the combined effects of convection and diffusion of H2 and H2O gases help stabilize the anode gas partial pressures, thereby suppressing excessive local overpotentials. These findings, along with discussions on PCFC designs and potential applications, provide valuable insights for developing high-performance PCFCs with 100% fuel utilization for compact systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Kunpeng & Nagata, Yohei & Murakami, Takeru & Kitamura, Nozomi & Yamauchi, Kosuke & Mikami, Yuichi & Kuroha, Tomohiro & Kobayashi, Shun & Mori, Masashi & Araki, Takuto, 2025. "Toward 100% fuel utilization in protonic ceramic fuel cells: modelling gas and current density distributions in a dead-end anode," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:254:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125013679
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Zheng & Bello, Idris Temitope & Wang, Chen & Yu, Na & Chen, Xi & Zheng, Keqing & Ni, Meng, 2023. "Revealing interactions between the operating parameters of protonic ceramic electrolysis cell: A modelling study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    2. Li, Kunpeng & Murakami, Takeru & Nagata, Yohei & Mikami, Yuichi & Yamauchi, Kosuke & Kuroha, Tomohiro & Okuyama, Yuji & Mizutani, Yasunobu & Mori, Masashi & Araki, Takuto, 2025. "What kind of PCFC material physical property values do we need? —From a system efficiency perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 381(C).
    3. Wickham, David & Hawkes, Adam & Jalil-Vega, Francisca, 2022. "Hydrogen supply chain optimisation for the transport sector – Focus on hydrogen purity and purification requirements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    4. Kurnia, Jundika C. & Sasmito, Agus P. & Shamim, Tariq, 2019. "Advances in proton exchange membrane fuel cell with dead-end anode operation: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
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