Transmission characteristics of cathode water in direct methanol fuel cell

doi:10.11949/j.issn.0438-1157.20170610

Abstract

Abstract:

The characteristic of cathode water transport in direct methanol fuel cell was investigated using COMSOL Multiphysics,including the effect of the distribution of pressure,velocity,water,oxygen and liquid saturation,as well as diffusion layer under different physical parameters,such as thickness,porosity,size and hydrophobicity. A further mathematical model of diffusion layer with gradient porosity distribution was established to study the effect of porosity gradient and support layer parameters on cell performance and mass transfer. The results show that the diffusion layer with high porosity and thin layer is beneficial to oxygen transfer. The gradient porosity distribution of diffusion layer can reduce oxygen transport resistance,and thus improving the cell performance.

Key words: fuel cell, phase change, porous media, mass transfer, numerical simulation

摘要：

利用COMSOL Multiphysics软件对直接甲醇燃料电池（DMFC）阴极模型进行计算，获得压力、速度、水、氧气和液态饱和度分布情况，研究扩散层在不同物理参数（如厚度、孔隙率、孔径大小和亲憎水性）下电池阴极水和氧气的传输情况，进一步建立扩散层孔隙率梯度的数学模型，研究扩散层孔隙率梯度以及支撑层参数对直接甲醇燃料电池性能和物质传输的影响。结果表明，扩散层具有大孔隙率、薄扩散层时均有利于氧气传质，可以使电池性能提高；扩散层孔隙率梯度的存在可以减轻氧气传输阻力，提高电池性能。

关键词: 燃料电池, 相变, 多孔介质, 传质, 数值模拟

CLC Number:

TK124

JIANG Jinghui, GONG Liang, LI Yinshi. Transmission characteristics of cathode water in direct methanol fuel cell[J]. CIESC Journal, 2017, 68(S1): 83-89.

蒋静慧, 巩亮, 李印实. 直接甲醇燃料电池阴极水的传输特性[J]. 化工学报, 2017, 68(S1): 83-89.

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