Cross-dimensional multi-physics model and two-phase mass-transport enhancement for the hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cell

Abstract

The direct liquid fuel cell utilizing hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant is considered to be the promising energy conversion technology, owing to its superior energy density and theoretical voltage. In the hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cells, the ever-changing two-phase mass transport and multi-component reaction processes resulting from the hydrogen peroxide self-decomposition exerts a pivotal influence on their performance. In this work, taken hydrogen peroxide self-decomposition into account, a cross-dimensional multi-physics model for the hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cell was proposed and developed to clarify the complex mechanisms of transports and reactions. In this ingeniously developed model, the multi-component reaction in the porous electrode is elucidated by a two-dimensional (2D) sub-model, the two-phase mass transport in the flow field is captured by a three-dimensional (3D) sub-model, and the one-dimensional (1D) correlation equation is served as a bridge between them. The uneven distribution of gas–liquid volume, velocity and current density and their relationships in fuel cell with serpentine flow field and dot matrix flow field were thus achieved. Furthermore, a novel gradient dot matrix flow field was developed to match the two-phase mass transport and multi-component reaction processes of hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cell. It is found that the continuously increasing pressure and velocity along flow path is balanced by the gradient-downsized ribs and the formation of large-volume oxygen bubbles is prevented by the gradient-densified ribs, achieving obviously uniformized current density distribution. Moreover, the gradient dot matrix flow field enables 54 % higher average hydrogen peroxide coverage contents (49 %) and 86 % lower average pressure drop (172 Pa) compared to the serpentine flow field, yielding 6.3 % higher peak power density (210 mW cm−2) and ultra-low extra pump power in fuel cell. This work will make contribution towards gaining profound insights into the intricate mechanisms underlying mass and charge transport, and offering invaluable guidance for the flow field design for the hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cells.