Conference article

Comparison of Three Anode Channel Configurations and Their Effects on DMFC Performance

S. SH. Khoshmanesh
Islamic Azad University, Khormoj branch, khormoj, Boushehr, Iran

S. Bordbar
Petroiran company, Tehran, Iran

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110571211

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:11, p. 1211-1218

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Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

Here the 3D two phase homogenous CFD modeling for the anode channel and 1D two phase mathematical modeling for the porous media were considered. The challenging issue is to define the interface boundary conditions such as gradient of CO2 and methanol mass fraction between the diffuser layer and the anode channel. To overcome this difficulty; CFD modeling in the anode channel and mathematical modeling in the porous media were coupled. This combination models gives an accurate model to evaluate the cell performance and also to predict accumulation of CO2 in the channel and its negative effects on the cell performance. Output results of the combination’s model are in very good agreement with the experimental data.

The distribution of CO2 in the anode channel shows that the accumulation of CO2 in the MSFF is less than SSFF and PFF configuration so the negative effect of CO2 decrease in the MSFF case relative to two other cases. Accumulation of CO2 is more in the channel rib relative to other places of channel. This is true for all three channel configurations.

The cell voltage-Current density graph shows that the MSFF performance is better than two other cases. Comparing MSFF configuration with the SSFF shows that the performance of MSFF is a little more than SSFF.

Keywords

Direct methanol fuel cell; Anode flow configurations; CFD modeling; Mathematical modeling

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