Abstract
The present paper aims at investigating the main sources of irreversibility in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) using a Fermat spiral as flow distributor and also to direct possible improvements in its design. The numerical analysis is based on a finite volume technique with a SIMPLE algorithm as numerical procedure. In order to have a more complete and rigorous analysis a new dimensionless parameter is proposed here. The parameter represents the ratio of the entropy generation due to mass transfer to the total entropy generation is proposed here. Results demonstrate that the main sources of irreversibility in a fuel cell are the concentration losses for the most part of the operational domain, whereas the heat transfer effect is not dominant.
Highlights
In these last decades, fuel cells technology have emerged as an alternative to conventional electricity generation systems [1, 2]
As for the humidity conditions, these have been labeled as very high humidity (VHH), high humidity (HH), very low humidity (VLH) and low humidity (LH) according to Dutta et al [16]
The SIMPLE algorithm is used in the solution of the governing equations in a segregated form. This algorithm uses a relationship between velocity and pressure corrections to enforce mass conservation and to obtain the pressure path using the following steps: first the NaviereStokes equations are solved in the x, y and z direction; a pressure correction equation is used to enforce a mass balance; the species equations are solved with the data obtained in the previous steps; the potential fields are solved
Summary
Fuel cells technology have emerged as an alternative to conventional electricity generation systems [1, 2]. Many research projects have been undertaken by academic and industrial sectors intended to improve the technology [3] In this regard, some of these works have focused mainly on the optimization of the cell geometry [4,5,6,7]. An innovative design consisted of a bipolar plate with interdigitated flow field [8] Such flow field conducts the reactants gases onto the active area and helps to eliminate the need for a separate cooling layer in the stack. Such improvement provides an increment in the performance of the PEMFC. The parameter is helpful in unveiling the effect of the mass transfer on the overall entropy generation
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