Numerical studies of cold-start phenomena in PEM fuel cells: A review

International Journal of Energy Research

Volumn 35, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 2-14

  Meng, Hua ^a   Ruan, Bo ^a  

^a ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY   (China)

Author keywords

Cold start; Ice formation; Numerical modeling; PEM fuel cell; Subfreezing temperature

Indexed keywords

COLD START; ICE FORMATION; NUMERICAL MODELING; PEM FUEL CELL; SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES;

ICE; NUMERICAL METHODS; WATER CONTENT; WATER VAPOR;

PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS (PEMFC);

EID: 78650657650     PISSN: 0363907X     EISSN: 1099114X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/er.1730     Document Type: Review

References (80)

1. Gurau V, Liu H, Kakac S. Two-dimensional model for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. AICHE Journal 1998; 44:2410-2422.
2. Um S, Wang CY, Chen KS. Computational fluid dynamics modeling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2000; 147:4485-4493.
3. Dutta S, Shimpalee S, Van Zee JW. Three-dimensional numerical simulation of straight channel PEM fuel cells. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 2000; 30:135-146.
4. Rowe A, Li X. Mathematical modeling of PEMFCs. Journal of Power Sources 2001; 102:82-96.
5. Berning T, Lu DM, Djilali N. Three-dimensional computational analysis of transport phenomena in a PEM fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources 2002; 106:284-294.
6. Siegel NP, Ellis MW, Nelson DJ, von Spakovsky MR. Single domain PEMFC model based on agglomerate catalyst geometry. Journal of Power Sources 2003; 115:81-89.
7. Mazumder S, Cole JV. Rigorous 3-D mathematical modeling of PEM fuel cells I. Model predictions without liquid water transport. Journal of ElectroChemical Society 2003; 150:A1503-A1509.
8. Meng H, Wang CY. Electron transport in PEFCs. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2004; 151:A358-A367.
9. Meng H, Wang CY. Large-scale simulation of polymer electrolyte fuel cells by parallel computing. Chemical Engineering Science 2004; 59:3331-3343.
10. Shimpalee S, Greenway S, Spuckler D, Van Zee JW. Predicting water and current distributions in a commercial-size PEMFC. Journal of Power Sources 2004; 135:79-87.
11. Meng H, Wang CY. Multidimensional modeling of polymer electrolyte fuel cells under a current density boundary condition. Fuel Cells 2005; 5:455-462.
12. Ju H, Meng H, Wang CY. A single-phase non-isothermal model for PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2005; 48:1303-1315.
13. Wang Y, Wang CY. Ultra large-scale simulation of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 153:130-135.
14. Meng H. A three-dimensional PEM fuel cell model with consistent treatment of water transport in MEA. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 162:426-435.
15. Meng H. A three-dimensional mixed-domain PEM fuel cell model with fully-coupled transport phenomena. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 164:688-696.
16. Wang ZH, Wang CY, Chen KS. Two-phase flow and transport in the air cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 2001; 94:40-50.
17. You L, Liu H. A two-phase flow and transport model for the cathode of PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2002; 45:2277-2287.
18. Berning T, Djilali N. A 3D multiphase multicomponent model of the cathode and anode of a PEM fuel cell. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2003; 150:A1589-A1598.
19. Siegel NP, Ellis MW, Nelson DJ, von Spakovsky MR. A two-dimensional computational model of PEMFC with liquid water transport. Journal of Power Sources 2004; 128:173-184.
20. Meng H, Wang CY. Model of two-phase flow and flooding dynamics in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2005; 152:A1733-A1741.
21. Mazumder S, Cole JV. Rigorous 3-D mathematical modeling of PEM fuel cells II. Model predictions with liquid water transport. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2003; 150:A1510-A1517.
22. He W, Yi JS, Nguyen TV. Two-phase flow model of the cathode of PEM fuel cells using interdigitated flow fields. AICHE Journal 2000; 46:2053-2064.
23. Lin G, Nguyen TV. A two-dimensional two-phase model of a PEM fuel cell. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2006; 153:A372-A382.
24. Hu M, Gu A, Wang M, Zhu X, Yu L. Three dimensional two phase flow mathematical model for PEM fuel cell: part I. Model development. Energy Conversion and Management 2004; 45:1861-1882.
25. Tao WQ, Min CH, Liu XL, He YL, Yin BH, Jiang W. Parameter sensitivity examination and discussion of PEM fuel cell simulation and model validation part I. Current status of modeling research and model development. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 160:359-373.
26. Weber AZ, Newman J. Coupled thermal and water management in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2006; 153:A2205-A2214.
27. Shah AA, Kim GS, Sui PC, Harvey D. Transient non-isothermal model of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 163:793-806.
28. Ju H, Luo G, Wang CY. Probing liquid water saturation in diffusion media of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2007; 154:B218-B228.
29. Luo G, Ju H, Wang CY. Prediction of dry-wet-dry transition in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2007; 154:B316-B321.
30. Ju H. Analyzing the effects of immobile liquid saturation and spatial wettability variation on liquid water transport in diffusion media of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs). Journal of Power Sources 2008; 185:55-62.
31. Wang Y. Modeling of two-phase transport in the diffusion media of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 2008; 185:261-271.
32. Wu H, Li X, Berg P. Numerical analysis of dynamic processes in fully humidified PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2007; 32:2022-2031.
33. Meng H. A two-phase non-isothermal mixed-domain PEM fuel cell model and its application to two-dimensional simulations. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 168:218-228.
34. Meng H. Numerical investigation of transient responses of a PEM fuel cell using a two-phase non-isothermal mixed-domain model. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 171:738-746.
35. Jiao K, Zhou B. Effects of electrode wettabilities on liquid water behaviors in PEM fuel cell cathode. Journal of Power Sources 2008; 175:106-119.
36. Gurau V, Zawodzinski TA, Mann JA. Two-phase transport in PEM fuel cell cathodes. Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology 2008; 5:021009-021001.
37. Wang XD, Zhang XX, Yan WM, Lee DJ, Su A. Determination of the optimal active area for proton exchange membrane fuel cells with parallel, interdigitated or serpentine designs. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2009; 34:3823-3832.
38. Nam JH, Kaviany M. Effective diffusivity and water-saturation distribution in single- and two-layer PEMFC diffusion medium. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2003; 46:4595-4611.
39. Pasaogullari U, Wang CY. Two-phase transport and the role of micro-porous layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Electrochimica Acta 2004; 49:4359-4369.
40. Weber AZ, Hickner MA. Modeling and high-resolution-imaging studies of water content profiles in a polymer-electrolyte-fuel-cell membrane-electrode assembly. Electrochimica Acta 2008; 53:7668-7674.
41. Tüber K, Pücza D, Hebling C. Visualization of water buildup in the cathode of a transparent PEM fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources 2003; 124:403-414.
42. Yang XG, Zhang FY, Lubawy AL, Wang CY. Visualization of liquid water transport in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters 2004; 7(11):A408-A411.
43. Spernjak D, Prasad AK, Advani SG. Experimental investigation of liquid water formation and transport in a transparent single-serpentine PEM fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 170:334-344.
44. Sinha PK, Halleck P, Wang CY. Quantification of liquid water saturation in a PEM fuel cell diffusion medium using X-ray microtomograph. Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters 2006; 9(7):A344-A348.
45. Tsushima S, Teranishi K, Hirai S. Magnetic resonance imaging of the water distribution within a polymer electrolyte membrane in fuel cells. Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters 2004; 7:A269-A272.
46. Manke I, Hartinig C, Grunerbel M, Lehnert W, Kardjilov K, Haibel A et al. Investigation of water evolution and transport in fuel cells with high resolution synchrotron X-ray radiograph. Applied Physics Letter 2007; 90:174105-174105-3.
47. Bazylak A, Sinton D, Liu Z-S, Djilali N. Effect of compression on liquid water transport and microstructure of PEMFC gas diffusion layers. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 163:784-792.
48. Turhan A, Heller K, Brenizer JS, Mench MM. Quantification of liquid water accumulation and distribution in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using neutron imaging. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 160:1195-1203.
49. Hussey DS, Jacobson DL, Arif M, Owejan JP, Gagliardo JJ, Trabold TA. Neutron imaging of the through-plane water distribution of an operating PEM fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 172:225-228.
50. Hickner MA, Siegel NP, Chen KS, Hussey DS, Jacobson DL, Arif M. In situ high-resolution neutron radiography of cross-sectional liquid water profiles in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2008; 155:B427-B434.
51. Bazylak A. Liquid water visualization in PEM fuel cells: a review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2009; 34:3845-3857.
52. McDonald RC, Mittelsteadt CK, Thompson EL. Effects of deep temperature cycling on nafion 112 membranes and membrane electrode assemblies. Fuel Cells 2004; 4:208-213.
53. Cho E, Ko JJ, Ha HY et al. Characteristics of the PEMFC repetitively brought to temperatures below 0°C. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2003; 150:A1667-A1670.
54. Cho E, Ko JJ, Ha HY et al. Effects of water removal on the performance degradation of PEMFCs repetitively brought to <0°C. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2004; 151:A661-A665.
55. Hou J, Yu H, Zhang S et al. Analysis of PEMFC freeze degradation at -20°C after gas purging. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 162:513-520.
56. Kagami F, Ogawa T, Hishinuma Y et al. Simulating the performance of a PEFC at temperature below freezing. Fuel Cell Seminar Abstract 2002; 239.
57. Yan Q, Toghiani H, Lee YW et al. Effect of sub-freezing temperatures on a PEM fuel cell performance, startup and fuel cell components. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 160:1242-1250.
58. Oszcipok M, Riemann D, Kronenwett U et al. Statistic analysis of operational influences on the cold start behavior of PEM fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 2005; 145:407-415.
59. Oszcipok M, Hakenjos A, Riemann D et al. Start up and freezing processes in PEM fuel cells. Fuel Cells 2007; 7:135-141.
60. Tajiri K, Tabuchi Y, Wang CY. Isothermal cold start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2007; 154:B147-B152.
61. Tajiri K, Tabuchi Y, Kagami F et al. Effects of operating and design parameters on PEFC cold start. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 165:279-286.
62. Thompson EL, Jorne J, Gasteiger HA. Oxygen reduction reaction kinetics in subfreezing PEM fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2007; 154:B783-B792.
63. Thompson EL, Capehart TW, Fuller TJ et al. Investigation of low-temperature proton transport in nafion using direct current conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2006; 153:A2351-A2362.
64. Thompson EL, Jorne J, Gu W et al. PEM fuel cell operation at -20°C. I. Electrode and membrane water (charge) storage. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2008; 155:B625-B634.
65. Ge S, Wang CY. In situ imaging of liquid water and ice formation in an operating PEFC during cold start. Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters 2006; 9:A499-A503.
66. Ge S, Wang CY. Characteristics of subzero startup and water/ice formation on the catalyst layer in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Electrochimica Acta 2007; 52:4825-4835.
67. Ishikawa Y, Morita T, Nakata K et al. Behaviors of water below the freezing point in PEFCs. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 163:708-712.
68. Ishikawa Y, Hamada H, Uehara M et al. Super-cooled water behavior inside polymer electrolyte fuel cell cross-section below freezing temperature. Journal of Power Sources 2008; 179:547-552.
69. Mao L, Wang CY. Analysis of cold start in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2007; 154:B139-B146.
70. Wang Y. Analysis of the key parameters in the cold start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2007; 154:B1041-B1048.
71. Sundaresan M, Moore RM. Polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack thermal model to evaluate sub-freezing startup. Journal of Power Sources 2005; 145:534-545.
72. Khandelwal M, Lee S, Mench MM. One-dimensional thermal model of cold-start in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack. Journal of Power Sources 2007; 172:816-830.
73. Ahluwalia RK, Wang X. Rapid self-start of polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks from subfreezing temperatures. Journal of Power Sources 2006; 162:502-512.
74. Mao L, Wang CY. A multiphase model for cold start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Electrochemical Society 2007; 154:B341-B351.
75. Jiang F, Fang W, Wang CY. Non-isothermal cold start of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Electrochimica Acta 2007; 53:610-621.
76. Meng H. A PEM fuel cell model for cold-start simulations. Journal of Power Sources 2008; 178:141-150.
77. Meng H. Numerical studies of cold-start phenomenon in PEM fuel cells. Electrochimica Acta 2008; 53:6521-6529.
78. Meng H. Numerical analyses of non-isothermal self-start behaviors of PEM fuel cells from subfreezing startup temperatures. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2008; 33:5738-5747.
79. Jiao K, Li X. Three-dimensional multiphase modeling of cold start processes in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Electrochimica Acta 2009; 54:6876-6891.
80. Voller VR. Fast implicit finite-difference method for the analysis of phase-changing problems. Numerical Heat Transfer Part B 1990; 17:155-169.