Designing multifunctional materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Project of the research network "Reduction and reuse of CO2: renewable fuels for efficient electricity production"
At a glance
- Project leader : Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schumacher
- Project team : Luigino Capone, Dr. Jaka Dujc, Dr. Lorenz Holzer, Philip Marmet, Dr. Omar Pecho, Dr. Ole Stenzel, Dr. Roman Vetter
- Project budget : CHF 341'998
- Project status : completed
- Funding partner : SNSF (NFP 70 «Energiewende»)
- Project partner : Paul Scherrer Institut PSI / Fuel Cell Systems and Diagnostics
- Contact person : Jürgen Schumacher
Description
IN SUMMARY
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells convert the chemical energy
from a fuel (hydrogen) into electricity through a chemical reaction
with water being the only by-product.
The fuel cell operation is determined by several physical and electrochemical processes. For this, special multifunctional materials are required. Efficient operation of a fuel cell requires tailored transport properties that take place in the porous materials. The research topic of this project is the experimental characterisation and model-based design of the multi-functional materials.
SUBJECT AND PURPOSE
The goal of the research project is to improve multi-functional
materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The materials
serve for optimal water management in the cells – in which the
transport of liquid water, that is produced in the electrochemical
reaction, is particularly important. Furthermore, the materials
need to be cost-efficient and allow for simultaneous charge
transport, heat transport, and gas transport.
Our goal is to develop and experimentally validate a computer model of fuel cells that includes the effects due to the production and transport of liquid water. To achieve this goal, we will: (i) determine the properties of the dry materials by using X-ray imaging and the algorithms for post-processing, (ii) develop a pore-scale model that includes the liquid water transport and its impact on other transport properties (gas transport, heat and charge) and (iii) investigate the behaviour of water in the vicinity of the material interfaces in the fuel cell.
SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT
The project will contribute to improve the performance of fuel
cells and lower the price of conversion of chemical energy (stored
in e.g. hydrogen) to electricity. An attractive price and a high
power density will make proton exchange membrane fuel cells a
competitive zero-emission opponent in comparison with the fossil
fuel technologies in the mobility sector. Their application will
contribute to lower the CO2-emissions in the transport sector. The
same kind of fuel cells are used in residential applications for
the combined production of heat and power.
KEYWORDS
proton exchange membrane fuel cells, multifunctional materials,
multiphysics model, pore-scale model, mathematical modeling and
simulation, microstructure analysis, tomography
Further information
Publications
-
Vetter, Roman; Schumacher, Jürgen,
2019.
Free open reference implementation of a two-phase PEM fuel cell model.
Computer Physics Communications.
234, pp. 223-234.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2018.07.023
-
Vetter, Roman; Schumacher, Jürgen O.,
2018.
A new open-source PEMFC simulation tool for easy assessment of material parameterizations [poster].
In:
15th Symposium on Modeling and Validation of Electrochemical Energy Devices. ModVal 2018 : Book of Abstracts.
34th PSI Electrochemistry Symposium, Villigen, 25. April 2018.
Winterthur:
ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000240521
-
Vetter, Roman; Schumacher, Jürgen,
2017.
Toward predictive PEFC simulation : the importance of thermal and electrical contact resistance [poster].
In:
14th Symposium on Fuel Cell and Battery Modeling and Experimental Validation (ModVal 14), Karlsruhe, 2-3 March 2017.
Winterthur:
ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3634
-
Marmet, Philip; Capone, Luigino; Lamibrac, Adrien; Dujc, Jaka; Schumacher, Jürgen,
2016.
Ensemble-based study of equilibrium liquid water distribution in PEM gas diffusion layer.
In:
13th Symposium on Modeling and Experimental Validation of Fuel Cells, Electrolysers and Batteries, EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland, 22 March 2016.