Experimental and theoretical investigations of transport processes in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

聚合物电解质燃料电池传输过程的实验和理论研究

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-04108
• 负责人: Secanell, Marc
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=684708
• 关键词: Experimental; theoretical; investigations; transport; processes

Canada's current fossil fuelled transportation sector consumes nearly 30% of our primary energy. Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and batteries present viable alternatives to replace the current transportation energy system. Hydrogen, produced by water splitting in a polymer electrolyte electrolyzer (PEE) using electricity from renewable energy sources, could be used in PEFCs to power a vehicle. PEFCs produce only water vapor thereby eliminating pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. PEFC vehicles have demonstrated all the attributes that customers expect such as quick start-up and refuelling, long range, and durability. Prerequisites for an increase in market penetration of PEE, and PEFC vehicles, are production cost reductions as well as performance and durability improvements.***In order to reduce the cost of PEFCs and PEEs to commercialization targets, i.e., $30/kW and $300/kW respectively (2020 U.S. Department of Energy targets), it is necessary to improve mass transport in the electrode in order to enable higher power density operation and the use of less precious catalysts. Due to the complex materials and physical phenomena, numerical modelling is required for PEFC and PEE analysis and design.***Remarkable progress has been achieved in macroscale numerical modelling of fuel cells and electrolyzers. These models however cannot account for how microscopic features in the porous composite materials in PEFCs and PEEs affect mass transport properties and reactions. Nanometer scale imaging combined with statistical analysis, reconstruction, and simulation should be used to account for these effects. At high current density, liquid water accumulation in the electrode also reduces transport to the reaction site, thereby limiting the fuel cell maximum power. Water accumulation can be minimized by designing better transport layers using micro-fabrication techniques such as inkjet printing. The issues above, degradation, and material research are critical to PEFCs and PEEs.***The proposed Discovery grant program aims at developing: a) micro-scale statistical analysis, reconstruction, and numerical models, and ex-situ experimental tools to study the effect of electrode micro-structures on transport properties and water accumulation; and, b) novel fuel cell architectures that aim at minimizing water accumulation. The focus will be in PEFCs, however, due to the closeness of physical processes, the numerical and experimental tools are also applicable to PEEs.***The new numerical models and architectures aim at designing electrodes with increased catalyst utilization and maximum power density which can lead to cheaper and better performing PEFCs. This research will contribute to the Canadian economy by developing fundamental understanding, novel tools, and training HQP to maintain Canada's leadership in fuel cells. My software is already in use at Canadian industries.**

加拿大目前的化石助长了运输部门，消耗了我们的主要能源的30％。聚合物电解质燃料电池（PEFC）和电池提供了可行的替代方案，以取代当前的运输能源系统。通过可再生能源的电力在聚合物电解质电解仪（PEE）中分裂产生的氢，可以在PEFC中用于为车辆供电。 PEFC仅产生水蒸气，从而消除污染和温室气体排放。 PEFC车辆已经证明了客户期望的所有属性，例如快速启动和加油，远距离和耐用性。 PEE市场渗透和PEFC车辆增加的先决条件是生产成本降低以及性能和耐用性的提高。催化剂。由于复杂的材料和物理现象，PEFC和PEE分析和设计需要数值建模。但是，这些模型无法说明PEFC和PEE中多孔复合材料中的微观特征如何影响质量传输的特性和反应。应使用纳米尺度成像与统计分析，重建和模拟相结合来解释这些效果。在高电流密度下，电极中的液态水积聚也减少了向反应位点的传输，从而限制了燃料电池最大功率。可以通过使用微型制造技术（例如喷墨打印）设计更好的传输层来最小化水的积累。上面的问题，退化和物质研究对PEFC和PEES至关重要。 b）旨在最大程度地蓄水的新型燃料电池结构。但是，由于物理过程的接近度，重点将放在PEFC中，数值和实验工具也适用于PEES。这项研究将通过发展基本的理解，新颖的工具和HQP来维持加拿大在加拿大燃料电池中的领导地位，从而为加拿大经济做出贡献。我的软件已经在加拿大行业使用。**