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Numerical simulation of vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell

  • XIE Xu ,
  • DENG Hao ,
  • JIAO Kui
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  • State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Received date: 2016-04-19

  Revised date: 2016-07-31

  Online published: 2017-03-15

Abstract

A two-dimensional, two-phase, and non-isothermal model is developed for a vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) based on alkaline anion exchange membrane system by using the multi-fluid approach. The model will lead to better understanding of the mass-transfer and electrochemical phenomenon in the cell. In the model, the vapor generated from the liquid methanol in the tank goes through a composite material made of Nafion membrane and hydrophobic porous layer into the cell. In the study, the vapor transport layer (VTL) and micro porous layer (MPL) are taken into account, and two symmetrical exits in the VTL are set for the CO2 removal. With this model, effects of the CO2 exit length and the hydrophobic MPL on performance and inner water distribution of DMFC are investigated.

Cite this article

XIE Xu , DENG Hao , JIAO Kui . Numerical simulation of vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell[J]. Journal of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017 , 34(2) : 244 -250 . DOI: 10.7523/j.issn.2095-6134.2017.02.019

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