Modelling of a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell integrated with a methanol steam reformer cell

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Paulo Ribeirinha (Author) FEUP; Abdollahzadeh M. (Author) FEUP; J. M. Sousa (Author) FEUP; Boaventura, M. (Author) FEUP; Adélio Mendes (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Applied Energy

Vol. 202

Pages: 6-19

ISSN: 0306-2619

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

Scopus - 30 Citations

Associated Projects

LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION - LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION

LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

BeingEnergy - Integrated low temperature methanol steam reforming and high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-VT1

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.120

Abstract (EN): A 3-dimensional non-isothermal simulator comprising a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) and a methanol steam-reforming cell (MSR-C) was developed in Fluent (Ansys¿). The simulator takes into account most of the significant physical processes, including the electrochemical reactions and carbon monoxide poisoning effect on the electro-catalytic activity of the FC; it also considers the methanol steam reforming (MSR), water gas shift (WGS) and methanol decomposition (MD) reactions in the MSR-C. The developed model for the integrated MSR-C/HT-PEMFC unit was simulated between 443 K and 473 K and validated with experimental results reported in the literature, showing always a very good agreement. The thermal sustainability of the MSR-C/HT-PEMFC unit was assessed, and the role of the thermal insulation and air intake (cathode) stoichiometry in the thermal equilibrium of the device were analysed. A novel integrated MSR-C/HT-PEM stack with ten cells was proposed and simulated, showing a performance above the reported in the literature for similar devices. The results indicated that the proposed stack operates at currents between 4.5 A (0.1 A cm¿2) and 54 A (1.2 A cm¿2) without any external heat source. To minimize the degradation of the components the stack should adapt the operating temperature to the current density. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific