Computational Analysis of Transport Phenomena and Performance of Pemfc

Computational Analysis of Transport Phenomena and Performance of PEMFC presents a practical guide to the mathematical modelling and simulation of PEMFCs for all transport processes of mass, momentum, energy, ions, and electrons. Tackling one of the most important aspects of next-generation PEMFC technologies, the book brings together the state-of-the-art to model and simulate phenomena and processes at various scales including catalyst layers, electrodes, membranes, and bipolar plates of PEMFC unit cells and stacks. The opening chapters of the book introduce PEM fuel cells and explain the underlying electrochemical and thermodynamic concepts involved. Chapter 3 presents a detailed breakdown of the governing equations for overall mass, momentum, and energy conservation, charge (ions and electrons) conservation, water generation and its transport, heat generation, and heat transfer and cooling methods. Chapter 4 offers an in-depth analysis of the various single and multi-dimensional modelling approaches and considerations, including lattice Boltzmann approach, artificial neural networks, exergy and energy analysis, estimation of fuel and oxidant consumption, the differences between cell-scale, stack-scale, and system-scale approaches, and more. Chapter 5provides examples of computational investigations, including the impact of design of fuel, oxidant, and coolant channels in bipolar plates, the role of microporous layers, improvements in performance, and electrode design. Finally, chapter 6 explains modelling approaches based on continuum and non-continuum formulation and others based on first principles to handle cases where coupling of phenomena of several scales is needed. Computational Analysis of Transport Phenomena and Performance of PEMFC is a valuable guide for researchers, students, and engineers seeking practical information on the modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.