Fuel Cell with Polymer Electrolyte: Calculation of Overall Characteristics of Oxygen Cathode with Account for Processes of Gas, Vapor, and Heat Exchange

作者：Chirkov Yu G^*; Rostokin V I

来源：Russian Journal of Electrochemistry, 2009, 45(11): 1253-1265.

DOI：10.1134/S1023193509110068

• fuel cell with Nafion and platinum
• oxygen cathode
• computer simulation of the process of current generation in the cathode
• heating of the cathode active layer
• Tafel curves of the cathode
• water vapor flow in the direction from the cathode active layer to the bipolar plate
• oxygen solubility in Nafion
• partial pressure of oxygen at the interface between the active and gas-diffusion layers

Computer simulation was performed for the processes occurring in the basic elements of the cathode (active layer, gas-diffusion layer) and bipolar plate of a fuel cell with Nafion as electrolyte and a platinum catalyst. Current generation in the active layer was considered together with the heat exchange processes (release of the heat formed in the active layer through the gas-diffusion layer into the bipolar plate), gas and vapor exchange in the gas-diffusion layer and process of the gas reagent (oxygen) saturation by water vapor in the bipolar plate channels. Voltammetric curves and dependences on the cathode potential of the power density, vapor flow dissipated from the active layer to the bipolar plate, actual active layer temperature and reduced partial pressures of oxygen and water vapors near the interface between the active and gas-diffusion layers were calculated. Analysis is performed of the way the heating of the cathode active layer intensifies the process of current generation in it, significantly increasing the value of overall characteristics of the cathode (current and power density).

• 出版日期2009-11