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Numerical modeling and simulation of PEM fuel cells: Progress and perspective

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Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review on the research and development in multi-scale numerical modeling and simulation of PEM fuel cells. An overview of recent progress in PEM fuel cell modeling has been provided. Fundamental transport phenomena in PEM fuel cells and the corresponding mathematical formulation of macroscale models are analyzed. Various important issues in PEM fuel cell modeling and simulation are examined in detail, including fluid flow and species transport, electron and proton transport, heat transfer and thermal management, liquid water transport and water management, transient response behaviors, and cold-start processes. Key areas for further improvements have also been discussed.

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Abbreviations

a :

Water activity or specific electrochemically active area, m2/m3

c :

Molar concentration, mol/m3

c p :

Constant-pressure heat capacity, J /(kg·K)

D :

Mass diffusivity, m2/s

EW :

Equivalent weight of membrane, kg/mol

F :

Faraday constant, 96 487 C/mol

h pc :

Phase-change parameter

i :

Current density, A/m2

j :

Transfer current density, A/m3

J :

Leverett’s function

k :

Thermal conductivity, W/(m·K)

K :

Permeability, m2

p :

Pressure, Pa

R u :

Universal gas constant, 8.314 J/(mol·K)

s :

Liquid saturation or ice fraction

S :

Source term in transport equations

t :

Time, s

T :

Temperature, K

u :

Fluid velocity and superficial velocity in porous medium, m/s

U o :

Open-circuit potential, V

W w :

Water molecular weight, kg/mol

α :

Transfer coefficient

ɛ :

Porosity

Φ :

Phase potential, V

η :

Over potential, V

λ :

Water content

κ :

Proton conductivity, S/m

ρ :

Density, kg/m3

σ :

Electronic conductivity, S/m

θ :

Contact angle

τ :

Viscous stress tensor

eff:

Effective value

ref:

Reference value

sat:

Saturation

v:

Vapor

a:

Anode

c:

Cathode or capillary

e:

Electrolyte

i:

Species

ice:

Ice

l:

Liquid

m:

Mass or membrane

s:

Electron

T:

Temperature

u:

Velocity

vi:

Vapor to ice

vl:

Vapor to liquid

w:

Water

λ :

Water content

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  1. School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, 310027, Hangzhou, China

    Guang-Hua Song & Hua Meng

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  1. Guang-Hua Song
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  2. Hua Meng
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Correspondence to Hua Meng.

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The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10972197).

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Song, GH., Meng, H. Numerical modeling and simulation of PEM fuel cells: Progress and perspective. Acta Mech Sin 29, 318–334 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-013-0037-y

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