质子交换膜燃料电池用膜增湿器仿真分析

Performance of a membrane humidifier for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

  • 摘要: 膜增湿器为质子交换膜燃料电池水热管理系统的关键部件,本研究考虑与燃料电池工作条件的强耦合,系统地进行了膜增湿器运行参数和几何参数的敏感性仿真分析。基于Matlab/Simulink建立了膜增湿器稳态数学模型,分析了湿侧和干侧的入口质量流量、温度和压力以及膜厚度和面积对膜增湿器传热量、水分传递量、干侧出口相对湿度和水分传递率的影响。研究表明:提高入口质量流量会提高传热量,并且能有效提高水分传递量,但会使水分传递率和出口相对湿度降低;干湿两侧温度的增加可以使膜中水的扩散系数和水传递量增加,但过高的温度会显著提高水蒸气饱和压力,降低水的活度,进而降低膜含水量,不利于水的传递;压力的变化对传热的影响很小,但总压的提高会使湿侧入口含湿量下降,水分传递量下降,但水分传递率升高;较大的膜面积以及较低的膜厚度能够提高膜水分传递量和水分传递率,可以有效地提高膜增湿器和燃料电池系统水热管理性能。

     

    Abstract: The liquid water produced by an electrochemical reaction at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell blocks the pores in the gas diffusion layer, resulting in “water flooding.” At the same time, membrane dehydration leads to serious ohmic polarization. Discharging liquid water from the stack as soon as possible to ensure the wetting of the proton exchange membrane is a key problem. A membrane humidifier is a key component of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system for water and thermal management. By considering coupling with the working conditions of a fuel cell, systematic sensitivity simulation analysis of the operating and geometric parameters of the membrane humidifier was carried out. The steady-state mathematical model of the membrane humidifier was established based on Matlab/Simulink. The influences of the inlet mass flow rate, temperature, and pressure, membrane thickness and area on heat transfer, water transfer, relative humidity, and water transfer rate of the membrane humidifier on the wet and dry sides were analyzed. The main conclusions are as follows: Improving the inlet mass flow rate can effectively improve the heat transfer and water transfer quantity, yet reduces the water transfer rate and the relative humidity at the drying side outlet. The increase in temperature on both dry and wet sides can improve the diffusion coefficient and transfer capacity of water in the membrane; however, high temperature significantly increases the saturation pressure of water vapor, reduce water activity, and then reduce the water content of the membrane, which is not conducive for water transfer. The change in pressure has little effect on heat transfer; however, an increase in the total pressure reduces the inlet moisture content and water transfer capacity while increasing the water transfer rate. A larger membrane area and a lower membrane thickness can improve the film moisture transfer and water transfer rates, which can effectively improve the membrane humidifier and fuel cell system hydrothermal management performance.

     

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