Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel Cell
In this study, we investigated the development of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for simulating the physical and chemical processes in a zinc (Zn)–air fuel cell. Theoretically, the model was based on time-dependent, three-dimensional conservation equations of mass, momentum, an...
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2185 |
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| author | K. David Huang Thangavel Sangeetha Wu-Fu Cheng Chunyo Lin Po-Tuan Chen |
| author_facet | K. David Huang Thangavel Sangeetha Wu-Fu Cheng Chunyo Lin Po-Tuan Chen |
| author_sort | K. David Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we investigated the development of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for simulating the physical and chemical processes in a zinc (Zn)–air fuel cell. Theoretically, the model was based on time-dependent, three-dimensional conservation equations of mass, momentum, and species concentration. The complex electrochemical reactions occurring within the porous electrodes were described by the Butler–Volmer equation with velocity, pressure, current density, and electronic and ionic phase potentials computed in electrodes. The Zn–air fuel cell for the present study comprised of four major components, such as a porous Zn anode electrode, air cathode electrode, liquid potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte, and air flow channels. The numerical results were first compared with the experiments, showing close agreement with the predicted and experimental values of the measured voltage–current data of a single Zn–air fuel cell. Numerical results also exhibited mass fraction contours of oxygen (O2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) in the mid-cross-sectional plane. A parametric study was extended to assess the performance of a Zn–air fuel cell at various cathode and electrolyte parameters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:09:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-592d7f5f9db64ed297f561af4df6585b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:09:58Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-592d7f5f9db64ed297f561af4df6585b2022-12-22T04:00:35ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-08-01119218510.3390/en11092185en11092185Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel CellK. David Huang0Thangavel Sangeetha1Wu-Fu Cheng2Chunyo Lin3Po-Tuan Chen4Department of Vehicle Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanDepartment of Energy and Refrigerating Air-Conditioning Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanDepartment of Vehicle Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanDepartment of Vehicle Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanDepartment of Vehicle Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanIn this study, we investigated the development of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for simulating the physical and chemical processes in a zinc (Zn)–air fuel cell. Theoretically, the model was based on time-dependent, three-dimensional conservation equations of mass, momentum, and species concentration. The complex electrochemical reactions occurring within the porous electrodes were described by the Butler–Volmer equation with velocity, pressure, current density, and electronic and ionic phase potentials computed in electrodes. The Zn–air fuel cell for the present study comprised of four major components, such as a porous Zn anode electrode, air cathode electrode, liquid potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte, and air flow channels. The numerical results were first compared with the experiments, showing close agreement with the predicted and experimental values of the measured voltage–current data of a single Zn–air fuel cell. Numerical results also exhibited mass fraction contours of oxygen (O2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) in the mid-cross-sectional plane. A parametric study was extended to assess the performance of a Zn–air fuel cell at various cathode and electrolyte parameters.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2185Zn–air fuel cellelectrochemistrycomputational fluid dynamicsButler–Volmer equation |
| spellingShingle | K. David Huang Thangavel Sangeetha Wu-Fu Cheng Chunyo Lin Po-Tuan Chen Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel Cell Energies Zn–air fuel cell electrochemistry computational fluid dynamics Butler–Volmer equation |
| title | Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel Cell |
| title_full | Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel Cell |
| title_fullStr | Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel Cell |
| title_full_unstemmed | Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel Cell |
| title_short | Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for Performance Prediction in a Zinc–Air Fuel Cell |
| title_sort | computational fluid dynamics approach for performance prediction in a zinc air fuel cell |
| topic | Zn–air fuel cell electrochemistry computational fluid dynamics Butler–Volmer equation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2185 |
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