Abstract
This study presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for modelling gas evolution and current distribution in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The improved two-phase model includes a new sub-model for estimating the interface mass transfer without empirical correlations. Simulation results in a horizontal channel of the DMFC agree with typical trends reported in the literature for bubbly flows. The increase in inlet flow rate is found to lead to a decrease in the gas content in the outlet of the anode channels. A case study illustrates applications of the CFD model for modelling gas evolution and current distribution in a DMFC with a parallel flow-field design. Simulation results with a improved two-phase model provide an explanation of experimental observations of a transparent DMFC with parallel channels. An improved three-dimensional CFD model includes all relevant phenomena and is valuable for gas management in a DMFC design.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 992-1002 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Power Sources |
| Volume | 162 |
| Issue number | 2 SPEC. ISS. |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 Nov 22 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by a grant from the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
