Microchannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

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dc.contributor.advisorHussain, Nabeelen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorChivengwa, Tapiwaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-08-10T06:42:51Z
dc.date.available2015-08-10T06:42:51Z
dc.date.issued2015en_ZA
dc.description.abstractFuel cell technology represents an efficient and relatively quiet way of generating electricity. Among the various types of fuel cells, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is the leading candidate for portable, automotive and more recently stationary applications. One of the key challenges affecting both the performance and durability of low temperature PEFCs is water management. Various water management strategies in PEFCs have been employed to date ranging from manipulation of operating conditions, fuel cell component design and flow field design to name a few. The optimisation of the flow field design for water removal has primarily focused on the use of flow channels which are in the minichannel range. This study investigated the use of a microchannel flow field design (channel hydraulic diameters of less than or equal to 200 ìm) for a low temperature PEFC. Specifically it focused on the effect of using a microchannel design on overall fuel cell performance, pressure drop and the cell voltage behaviour over time. In addition the effect of different operating conditions was also investigated. The overall aim was to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the use of a microchannel based flow field system with specific focus on water management. Fuel cell testing of two different flow field designs, namely a microchannel design and a more conventional commercial minichannel design, was performed in a single cell set up. Two operating conditions, cathode flow rate and cell compression, were varied and the effect on overall fuel cell performance and limiting current was investigated. Several diagnostic measurements including polarization curve, high frequency resistance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, pressure drop co-efficient and cell voltage monitoring were conducted to understand the water management behaviour and trends in the two different aforementioned flow field designs.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationChivengwa, T. (2015). <i>Microchannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cells</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13674en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChivengwa, Tapiwa. <i>"Microchannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cells."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13674en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChivengwa, T. 2015. Microchannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Chivengwa, Tapiwa AB - Fuel cell technology represents an efficient and relatively quiet way of generating electricity. Among the various types of fuel cells, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is the leading candidate for portable, automotive and more recently stationary applications. One of the key challenges affecting both the performance and durability of low temperature PEFCs is water management. Various water management strategies in PEFCs have been employed to date ranging from manipulation of operating conditions, fuel cell component design and flow field design to name a few. The optimisation of the flow field design for water removal has primarily focused on the use of flow channels which are in the minichannel range. This study investigated the use of a microchannel flow field design (channel hydraulic diameters of less than or equal to 200 ìm) for a low temperature PEFC. Specifically it focused on the effect of using a microchannel design on overall fuel cell performance, pressure drop and the cell voltage behaviour over time. In addition the effect of different operating conditions was also investigated. The overall aim was to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the use of a microchannel based flow field system with specific focus on water management. Fuel cell testing of two different flow field designs, namely a microchannel design and a more conventional commercial minichannel design, was performed in a single cell set up. Two operating conditions, cathode flow rate and cell compression, were varied and the effect on overall fuel cell performance and limiting current was investigated. Several diagnostic measurements including polarization curve, high frequency resistance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, pressure drop co-efficient and cell voltage monitoring were conducted to understand the water management behaviour and trends in the two different aforementioned flow field designs. DA - 2015 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2015 T1 - Microchannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cells TI - Microchannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cells UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13674 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13674
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChivengwa T. Microchannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering, 2015 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13674en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Chemical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherChemical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleMicrochannel flow fields for polymer electrolyte fuel cellsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Eng)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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