A three-dimensional, full-scale, single-phase finite element model has been developed for a liquid-fed direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with serpentine flow patterns. Equations for conservation of mass, momentum, and species are coupled with electrochemical kinetics in anode and cathode catalyst layers (CCLs). At the anode and cathode sides, only the liquid and the gas phases are considered, respectively. The significant benefit of a full-scale model is that the effect of physical parameters and distribution of the concentration of species can be realized in different channels for a desired section within the flow patterns. The model is used to study the effects of different operating parameters on fuel cell performance. Comparing numerical and experimental results demonstrate that the single-phase model slightly over-predicts the results for polarization plot. The modeling results also show that the porosity, temperature, and methanol concentration play a key role in affecting the DMFC polarization curve.
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February 2017
Research-Article
Modeling of a Three-Dimensional Single-Phase Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
Alireza Bayat,
Alireza Bayat
Composite and Intelligent Materials Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: abayat@unr.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: abayat@unr.edu
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Nicholas Maus,
Nicholas Maus
Composite and Intelligent Materials Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: nmaus@unr.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: nmaus@unr.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Faramarz Gordaninejad
Faramarz Gordaninejad
Composite and Intelligent Materials Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: faramarz@unr.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: faramarz@unr.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Alireza Bayat
Composite and Intelligent Materials Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: abayat@unr.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: abayat@unr.edu
Nicholas Maus
Composite and Intelligent Materials Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: nmaus@unr.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: nmaus@unr.edu
Faramarz Gordaninejad
Composite and Intelligent Materials Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: faramarz@unr.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nevada, Reno,
Reno, NV 89557
e-mail: faramarz@unr.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received September 13, 2016; final manuscript received February 1, 2017; published online February 28, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Jan Van herle.
J. Electrochem. En. Conv. Stor. Feb 2017, 14(1): 011003 (8 pages)
Published Online: February 28, 2017
Article history
Received:
September 13, 2016
Revised:
February 1, 2017
Citation
Bayat, A., Maus, N., and Gordaninejad, F. (February 28, 2017). "Modeling of a Three-Dimensional Single-Phase Direct Methanol Fuel Cell." ASME. J. Electrochem. En. Conv. Stor. February 2017; 14(1): 011003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4035902
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