Numerical study on cold start of PEMFC with coolant circulation

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20190420

Abstract

Abstract:

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) show great potential to be considered as a renewable power system for future automobile applications due to their high power density and low operating temperature. However, a successful startup from subfreezing temperatures is a major challenge for the commercialization of PEMFC. In this research, a three-dimensional electrochemical-transport coupled model is developed. The model accounts the flow and heat transfer of the coolant during the cold start process. A detailed visualization analysis is conducted to illustrate the effects of a coolant system on the cold start performance. Our results include reactants concentration profiles, voltage curves, temperature distribution, and ice formation. The model validation results show good agreement between the model prediction and experimental data. Therefore, the model can be used to achieve a better understanding of PEMFCs cold start behavior.

Key words: fuel cells, cold start, coolant, numerical analysis, CFD

摘要：

质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)具有高能量比、环境友好、工作温度低等优点，可用作未来新能源汽车的能量来源，具有很好的发展前景。然而零下温度启动时，电池内水结冰堵塞通道，严重影响电池启动性能及寿命。提出了PEMFC冷启动三维多物理场数值模型，考虑了冷却剂流动与传热的影响，对冷启动过程组分浓度、电势、温度、含冰量等参数进行了可视化分析。数值模拟结果与试验吻合良好，表明模型可用于预测电池冷启动性能并用于机理研究。

关键词: 燃料电池, 冷启动, 冷却剂, 数值模拟, 计算流体力学

CLC Number:

TK 91

Lin WEI, Zihao LIAO, Fangming JIANG. Numerical study on cold start of PEMFC with coolant circulation[J]. CIESC Journal, 2019, 70(S2): 146-154.

魏琳, 廖梓豪, 蒋方明. PEMFC冷却剂循环条件下冷启动数值模拟[J]. 化工学报, 2019, 70(S2): 146-154.

Figures/Tables 11

References 20

1	张剑波, 黄福森, 黄俊, 等. 质子交换膜燃料电池零下冷启动研究进展[J]. 化学通报, 2017, 80(6): 507-516.
	ZhangJ B, HuangF S, HuangJ, et al. A review on subzero startup of proton exchange membrane fuel cell[J]. Chemistry, 2017, 80(6): 507-516.
2	MengH. Numerical analyses of non-isothermal self-start behaviors of PEM fuel cells from subfreezing startup temperatures[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(20): 5738-5747.
3	KoJ, JuH. Comparison of numerical simulation results and experimental data during cold-start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells[J]. Applied Energy, 2012, 94: 364-374.
4	LuoY, JiaoK, JiaB. Elucidating the constant power, current and voltage cold start modes of proton exchange membrane fuel cell[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2014, 77: 489-500.
5	TabeY, SaitoM, FukuiK, et al. Cold start characteristics and freezing mechanism dependence on start-up temperature in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2012, 208: 366-373.
6	GeS, WangC Y. Characteristics of subzero startup and water/ice formation on the catalyst layer in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell[J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2007, 52(14): 4825-4835.
7	BégotS, HarelF, KauffmannJ M. Experimental studies on the influence of operational parameters on the cold start of a 2 kW fuel cell[J]. Fuel Cells, 2008, 8(2): 138-150.
8	SchießwohlE, von UnwerthT, SeyfriedF, et al. Experimental investigation of parameters influencing the freeze start ability of a fuel cell system[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2009, 193(1): 107-115.
9	罗马吉, 王芳芳, 刘威, 等. 质子交换膜燃料电池冷启动及性能衰减研究[J]. 华中科技大学学报(自然科学版), 2011, 39(6): 116-120.
	LuoM J, WangF F, LiuW, et al. Research on PEMFC start-up at subzero temperature and performance decay[J]. Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Nature Science Edition), 2011, 39(6): 116-120.
10	KoJ, KimW, HongT, et al. Impact of metallic bipolar plates on cold-start behaviors of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs)[J]. Solid State Ionics, 2012, 225: 260-267.
11	KhandelwalM, LeeS, MenchM M. One-dimensional thermal model of cold-start in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2007, 172(2): 816-830.
12	李友才, 许思传, 杨宗田. 不同参数对PEMFC电堆低温起动影响的仿真研究[J]. 电源技术, 2014, 38(9): 1657-1659.
	LiY C, XuS C, YangZ T. Simulation study on cold start of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack[J]. Chinese Journal of Power Sources, 2014, 38(9): 1657-1659.
13	KonnoN, MizunoS, NakajiH, et al. Development of compact and high-performance fuel cell stack[J]. SAE International Journal of Alternative Powertrains, 2015, 4(1): 123-129.
14	JiangF, WangC Y. Potentiostatic start-up of PEMFCs from subzero temperatures[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2008, 155(7): B743.
15	JiangF, WangC Y, ChenK S. Current ramping: a strategy for rapid start-up of PEMFCs from subfreezing environment[J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2010, 157(3): B342.
16	DuQ, JiaB, LuoY, et al. Maximum power cold start mode of proton exchange membrane fuel cell[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2014, 39(16): 8390-8400.
17	张洁, 许思传, 郑浩, 等. 基于AMESim的燃料电池系统低温起动仿真[J]. 电源技术, 2015, 39(2): 298-301.
	ZhangJ, XuS C, ZhengH, et al. Simulation of cold start of fuel cell system based on AMESim[J]. Chinese Journal of Power Sources, 2015, 39(2): 298-301.
18	GwakG, JuH. A rapid start-up strategy for polymer electrolyte fuel cells at subzero temperatures based on control of the operating current density[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2015, 40(35): 11989-11997.
19	JiangF, FangW, WangC Y. Non-isothermal cold start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells[J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2007, 53(2): 610-621.
20	汪飞杰. 燃料电池发动机-20℃冷启动研究[J]. 上海汽车, 2017, (8): 3-6.
	WangF J. -20℃ cold start research for fuel cell engine[J]. Shanghai Auto, 2017, (8): 3-6.

参数	数值
扩散层孔隙率	0.513
H₂/O₂/水蒸气扩散系数/(m²/s)	8.67×10^-5/ 1.53×10^-5/ 1.79×10^-5
双极板电导率/(S/m)	1.4×10⁶
扩散层/催化层电导率/(S/m)	300
双极板/扩散层/催化层/质子交换膜/冷却剂热导率/(W/(m·K))	16/ 1.7/ 0.27/ 0.16/ 0.25
双极板/扩散层/催化层/质子交换膜/冷却剂热质量/(kJ/(m³·K))	4000/ 230/ 580/ 2300/ 3400

参数	数值
扩散层孔隙率	0.513
H₂/O₂/水蒸气扩散系数/(m²/s)	8.67×10^-5/ 1.53×10^-5/ 1.79×10^-5
双极板电导率/(S/m)	1.4×10⁶
扩散层/催化层电导率/(S/m)	300
双极板/扩散层/催化层/质子交换膜/冷却剂热导率/(W/(m·K))	16/ 1.7/ 0.27/ 0.16/ 0.25
双极板/扩散层/催化层/质子交换膜/冷却剂热质量/(kJ/(m³·K))	4000/ 230/ 580/ 2300/ 3400

参数	数值
气体流道宽度/mm	0.4
双极板厚度/mm	0.1
扩散层厚度/mm	0.2
催化层厚度/mm	0.015
质子交换膜厚度/mm	0.018
阳极/阴极化学计量比	2/3
电池启动温度/°C	-20
H₂/O₂流道入口温度/°C	-14/-18
H₂/O₂流道入口压力/Pa	1.84×10⁵ /1.74×10⁵

参数	数值
气体流道宽度/mm	0.4
双极板厚度/mm	0.1
扩散层厚度/mm	0.2
催化层厚度/mm	0.015
质子交换膜厚度/mm	0.018
阳极/阴极化学计量比	2/3
电池启动温度/°C	-20
H₂/O₂流道入口温度/°C	-14/-18
H₂/O₂流道入口压力/Pa	1.84×10⁵ /1.74×10⁵

[1]	Kaijie WEN, Li GUO, Zhaojie XIA, Jianhua CHEN. A rapid simulation method of gas-solid flow by coupling CFD and deep learning [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(9): 3775-3785.
[2]	Chao NIU, Shengqiang SHEN, Yan YANG, Bonian PAN, Yiqiao LI. Flow process calculation and performance analysis of methane BOG ejector [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(7): 2858-2868.
[3]	Yuanzhe SHAO, Zhonggai ZHAO, Fei LIU. Quality-related non-stationary process fault detection method by common trends model [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(6): 2522-2537.
[4]	Xin DONG, Yongrui SHAN, Yinuo LIU, Ying FENG, Jianwei ZHANG. Numerical simulation of bubble plume vortex characteristics for non-Newtonian fluids [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(5): 1950-1964.
[5]	Zhengtao LI, Zhijie YUAN, Gaohong HE, Xiaobin JIANG. Study of the mechanism of internal circulation regulation during evaporation of NaCl droplets on hydrophobic interface [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(5): 1904-1913.
[6]	Airan ZHOU, Ping LU, Jianhui XIA, Dongqin LI, Jie GUO, Ming DU, Lichun DONG. Scarring analysis and numerical simulation of TiCl₄ oxidation reactor in chloride process of titanium dioxide [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(4): 1499-1508.
[7]	Laiming LUO, Jin ZHANG, Zhibin GUO, Haining WANG, Shanfu LU, Yan XIANG. Simulation and experiment of high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells stack in the 1—5 kW range [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(4): 1724-1734.
[8]	Jinsheng REN, Kerun LIU, Zhiwei JIAO, Jiaxiang LIU, Yuan YU. Research on the mechanism of disaggregation of particle aggregates near the guide vanes of turbo air classifier [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(4): 1528-1538.
[9]	Zhiguang QIAN, Yue FAN, Shixue WANG, Like YUE, Jinshan WANG, Yu ZHU. Effect of purging conditions on the impedance relaxation phenomenon and low temperature start-up of PEMFC [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(3): 1286-1293.
[10]	Weizheng ZHANG, Jijun ZHAO, Xuezhong MA, Qixuan ZHANG, Yixiang PANG, Juntao ZHANG. Analysis of turbulence effect on face groove cooling performance of high-speed mechanical seals [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(3): 1228-1238.
[11]	Xiang GUO, Jinshuo QIAO, Zhenhua WANG, Wang SUN, Kening SUN. Progress of structure for carbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cells [J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(1): 290-302.
[12]	Wanchen ZHANG, Xiaoyang CHEN, Qiuqiu LYU, Qin ZHONG, Tenglong ZHU. Performance and durability of cobalt doped SrTi_0.3Fe_0.7O_3-_δ anode SOFC fueled with by-product gas from chemical industry [J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(9): 4079-4086.
[13]	Jian SHAO, Junzong FENG, Fengqi LIU, Yonggang JIANG, Liangjun LI, Jian FENG. Research progress on structural modulation and functionalized preparation of phenolic resin-based carbon microspheres [J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(9): 3787-3801.
[14]	Chengyi AI, Jinshuo QIAO, Zhenhuan WANG, Wang SUN, Kening SUN. Investigation on PrBaFe₂O_6-_δ anode material with in-situ FeNi nanoparticle in direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell [J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(8): 3708-3719.
[15]	Yafei LI, Jianqiang DENG, Yang HE. Numerical study on non-equilibrium condensation and flashing mechanisms in rapid expansion process of transcritical CO₂ [J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(7): 2912-2923.