Uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack model

The design of a flow distribution to multiple branch channels is one of the key factors to realize the flow uniformity in a fuel cell stack. Especially for a disk-shape solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack, it is necessary to clarify the optimum structure of the multiple branch channel composed of a m...

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Main Authors: Kazumi TSUNODA, Koichi TAKEYAMA, Tsuyoshi OISHI
Format: Article
Language:Japanese
Published: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers 2020-12-01
Series:Nihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshu
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/transjsme/87/893/87_20-00325/_pdf/-char/en
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author Kazumi TSUNODA
Koichi TAKEYAMA
Tsuyoshi OISHI
author_facet Kazumi TSUNODA
Koichi TAKEYAMA
Tsuyoshi OISHI
author_sort Kazumi TSUNODA
collection DOAJ
description The design of a flow distribution to multiple branch channels is one of the key factors to realize the flow uniformity in a fuel cell stack. Especially for a disk-shape solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack, it is necessary to clarify the optimum structure of the multiple branch channel composed of a multitude of disks. In this study, velocity fields in the parallel-stacked disk channels connected to a circular supply tube are measured by using a particle image velocimetry (PIV). The PIV experiments are performed in the SOFC stack model consisting of five-layers of disk channels. Each channel has a curvature at the inlet corner of the bottom wall, and a cylinder is installed coaxially inside the circular supply tube to control an inflow condition. Mean velocity vector fields in the disk channel indicate that a small scale vortex appears near the inlet of a lower disk channel and develops into a separation bubble with an increase in the cylinder diameter. The length and height of the separation bubble are found to increase with channel inlet Reynolds number, even at very low Reynolds numbers. Distributions of the flow rate through each disk channel are also examined. The curvature of the channel inlet corner has little influence on the flow rate profile, but the cylinder diameter significantly affects the flow distribution in each channel. A standard deviation of the flow rate distribution suggests that the method of installing a cylinder with optimum diameter is effective for realizing a uniform flow distribution.
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spelling doaj.art-6b40a19f5a7143958d9621ac16a72ac22022-12-22T04:35:14ZjpnThe Japan Society of Mechanical EngineersNihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshu2187-97612020-12-018789320-0032520-0032510.1299/transjsme.20-00325transjsmeUniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack modelKazumi TSUNODA0Koichi TAKEYAMA1Tsuyoshi OISHI2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shibaura Institute of TechnologyGraduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of TechnologyGraduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of TechnologyThe design of a flow distribution to multiple branch channels is one of the key factors to realize the flow uniformity in a fuel cell stack. Especially for a disk-shape solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack, it is necessary to clarify the optimum structure of the multiple branch channel composed of a multitude of disks. In this study, velocity fields in the parallel-stacked disk channels connected to a circular supply tube are measured by using a particle image velocimetry (PIV). The PIV experiments are performed in the SOFC stack model consisting of five-layers of disk channels. Each channel has a curvature at the inlet corner of the bottom wall, and a cylinder is installed coaxially inside the circular supply tube to control an inflow condition. Mean velocity vector fields in the disk channel indicate that a small scale vortex appears near the inlet of a lower disk channel and develops into a separation bubble with an increase in the cylinder diameter. The length and height of the separation bubble are found to increase with channel inlet Reynolds number, even at very low Reynolds numbers. Distributions of the flow rate through each disk channel are also examined. The curvature of the channel inlet corner has little influence on the flow rate profile, but the cylinder diameter significantly affects the flow distribution in each channel. A standard deviation of the flow rate distribution suggests that the method of installing a cylinder with optimum diameter is effective for realizing a uniform flow distribution.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/transjsme/87/893/87_20-00325/_pdf/-char/ensolid oxide fuel celldisk shape channelflow distributionrecirculation regionseparation bubblepiv
spellingShingle Kazumi TSUNODA
Koichi TAKEYAMA
Tsuyoshi OISHI
Uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack model
Nihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshu
solid oxide fuel cell
disk shape channel
flow distribution
recirculation region
separation bubble
piv
title Uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack model
title_full Uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack model
title_fullStr Uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack model
title_full_unstemmed Uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack model
title_short Uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small-capacity SOFC stack model
title_sort uniform flow distribution to stacked parallel disk channels in a disk shape small capacity sofc stack model
topic solid oxide fuel cell
disk shape channel
flow distribution
recirculation region
separation bubble
piv
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/transjsme/87/893/87_20-00325/_pdf/-char/en
work_keys_str_mv AT kazumitsunoda uniformflowdistributiontostackedparalleldiskchannelsinadiskshapesmallcapacitysofcstackmodel
AT koichitakeyama uniformflowdistributiontostackedparalleldiskchannelsinadiskshapesmallcapacitysofcstackmodel
AT tsuyoshioishi uniformflowdistributiontostackedparalleldiskchannelsinadiskshapesmallcapacitysofcstackmodel