2+1D modelling of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell with glassy-carbon microstructures

Schumacher, Jürgen; Eller, Jens; Sartoris, Guido; Colinart, Thibaut; Seyfang, Bernhard C.

doi:10.1080/13873954.2011.642390

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	2+1D modelling of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell with glassy-carbon microstructures
Authors:	Schumacher, Jürgen Eller, Jens Sartoris, Guido Colinart, Thibaut Seyfang, Bernhard C.
DOI:	10.1080/13873954.2011.642390
Published in:	Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems
Volume(Issue):	18
Issue:	4
Page(s):	355
Pages to:	377
Issue Date:	3-Jan-2012
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	1387-3954 1744-5051
Language:	English
Subjects:	Model reduction; Modelling; Polymer electrolyte fuel cell
Subject (DDC):	621.3: Electrical, communications, control engineering
Abstract:	A computationally efficient model of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is presented, based on a 2+1D FEM modelling approach. This approach is suitable to take the high aspect ratio between the in-plane and the through-plane dimensions of fuel cells into account, and to avoid expensive 3D calculations. The anode and cathode are described by 2D transport models. The coupling between the anode and cathode side is established by a nonlinear point-to-point 1D model representing the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This 1D boundary value problem is formulated using the computer algebra software Mathematica. The approach is based on the symbolic weak form expressions of a nonlinear system of PDEs. The integrands of the tangential element stiffness matrix and the element residual vector of the coupled FEM problem are computed analytically. These integrands are converted to C code automatically. The model is applied to simulate a micro PEFC without gas diffusion layers (GDLs). The simulations reveal an inhomogeneous in-plane electric current density. Further, neutron radiography data obtained with the micro fuel cell is compared to the calculated water flux between the 1D MEA model and the 2D domains. The model is used to explain the locations where water condensation is found.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/11608
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Engineering
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Computational Physics (ICP)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Engineering

Files in This Item:

There are no files associated with this item.

Show full item record

Schumacher, J., Eller, J., Sartoris, G., Colinart, T., & Seyfang, B. C. (2012). 2+1D modelling of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell with glassy-carbon microstructures. Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems, 18(4), 355–377. https://doi.org/10.1080/13873954.2011.642390

Schumacher, J. et al. (2012) ‘2+1D modelling of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell with glassy-carbon microstructures’, Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems, 18(4), pp. 355–377. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13873954.2011.642390.

J. Schumacher, J. Eller, G. Sartoris, T. Colinart, and B. C. Seyfang, “2+1D modelling of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell with glassy-carbon microstructures,” Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 355–377, Jan. 2012, doi: 10.1080/13873954.2011.642390.

SCHUMACHER, Jürgen, Jens ELLER, Guido SARTORIS, Thibaut COLINART und Bernhard C. SEYFANG, 2012. 2+1D modelling of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell with glassy-carbon microstructures. Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems. 3 Januar 2012. Bd. 18, Nr. 4, S. 355–377. DOI 10.1080/13873954.2011.642390

Schumacher, Jürgen, Jens Eller, Guido Sartoris, Thibaut Colinart, and Bernhard C. Seyfang. 2012. “2+1D Modelling of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with Glassy-Carbon Microstructures.” Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems 18 (4): 355–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/13873954.2011.642390.

Schumacher, Jürgen, et al. “2+1D Modelling of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with Glassy-Carbon Microstructures.” Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems, vol. 18, no. 4, Jan. 2012, pp. 355–77, https://doi.org/10.1080/13873954.2011.642390.