An open-source two-phase non-isothermal mathematical model of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

• Author / Creator

  Bhaiya,Madhur

• A comprehensive open-source two-phase non-isothermal MEA model including the microporous layer and accounting for multi-step reaction kinetics for the ORR and HOR is developed for the first time. The model is integrated into openFCST, an open-source FEM based fuel cell simulation framework. All the significant non-isothermal effects such as anisotropic heat transport, irreversible and reversible heating due to electrochemical reactions, ohmic heating, heat of sorption and thermal osmosis are accounted for in the model. Accurate experimental data for capillary pressure-saturation relationships are reformulated and incorporated into a liquid water saturation transport equation. The model showed, for the first time, that thermal osmosis effects account for up to 15% water-crossover in membrane, and the heat of sorption can be as large as protonic ohmic heating. The model could accurately predict the performance drops corresponding to mass transport limitations due to presence of liquid water and ohmic losses due to membrane dry-out.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Finite-element-method
  • Polymer electrolyte fuel cells
  • Open-source
  • Two-phase
  • Non-isothermal
  • Simulations
  • Membrane electrode assembly

• Graduation date

  Spring 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3T727P0B

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.