The flow of fuel and oxidant through a PEMFC is analyzed for prediction of maldistribution. Flow distribution of both fuel and oxidant from the port to the individual cells critically control the performance of a PEMFC stack in combination. The distribution of fluids was simulated by analytical approach utilizing flow channeling model of a manifold. A detailed numerical modeling is also carried out considering flow in each cell between the electrodes as flow through an equivalent porous medium offering identical resistance. The results show a close match between the analytical and numerical results. The parametric study reveals that flow rate and port size plays major role determining maldistribution of the fluids, which can be considerably skewed when large numbers of cells are stacked for larger power output.
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December 2004
Technical Papers
Analysis of Flow Maldistribution of Fuel and Oxidant in a PEMFC
Ganesh Mohan,
Ganesh Mohan
Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India
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B. Prabhakara Rao,
B. Prabhakara Rao
Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India
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Sarit K. Das,
Sarit K. Das
Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India
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S. Pandiyan,
S. Pandiyan
SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai 600 032, India
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N. Rajalakshmi,
N. Rajalakshmi
SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai 600 032, India
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K. S. Dhathathreyan
K. S. Dhathathreyan
SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai 600 032, India
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Ganesh Mohan
Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India
B. Prabhakara Rao
Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India
Sarit K. Das
Heat Transfer and Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India
S. Pandiyan
SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai 600 032, India
N. Rajalakshmi
SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai 600 032, India
K. S. Dhathathreyan
SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai 600 032, India
Contributed by the Advanced Energy Systems Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received at the AES Division March 31, 2003; revised manuscript received February 24, 2004. Associate Editor: S. M. Aceves.
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Dec 2004, 126(4): 262-270 (9 pages)
Published Online: December 21, 2004
Article history
Received:
March 31, 2003
Revised:
February 24, 2004
Online:
December 21, 2004
Citation
Mohan , G., Rao , B. P., Das, S. K., Pandiyan , S., Rajalakshmi , N., and Dhathathreyan, K. S. (December 21, 2004). "Analysis of Flow Maldistribution of Fuel and Oxidant in a PEMFC ." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. December 2004; 126(4): 262–270. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1789519
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