Fly, A;
Butcher, D;
Meyer, Q;
Whiteley, M;
Spencer, A;
Kim, C;
Shearing, PR;
... Chen, R; + view all
(2018)
Characterisation of the diffusion properties of metal foam hybrid flow-fields for fuel cells using optical flow visualisation and X-ray computed tomography.
Journal of Power Sources
, 395
pp. 171-178.
10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.05.070.
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Abstract
The flow distribution behaviour of open-cell metallic foam fuel cell flow-fields are evaluated using ex-situ optical analysis and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). Five different manifold designs are evaluated and flow distribution and pressure drop quantitatively evaluated with reference to applications in polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and heat exchangers. A ‘hybrid’ foam flow-field is presented consisting of flow channels pressed into the foam to promote flow distribution and reduce pressure drop. Cross- and through-channel pressure drop measurements are conducted, along with X-ray CT analysis. Results using dyed water show that metallic foams provide excellent fluid distribution across the fuel cell flow-field, closely following the theoretical filling rate. The time for dye to cover 80% of the flow-field area was 61% faster with a foam flow-field then with no flow-field present. Pressure drop was seen to reduce with increasing foam inlet area to levels comparable to multi-serpentine flow-fields. The introduction of flow channels in the foam can further reduce pressure drop and provide more even filling of the foam, at the expense of increased residence time.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Characterisation of the diffusion properties of metal foam hybrid flow-fields for fuel cells using optical flow visualisation and X-ray computed tomography |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.05.070 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.05.070 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | Metal foam, Flow-field, PEMFC, Flow distribution, X-ray CT, Residence time |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > VP: Advancement > OVPA Development |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10050320 |
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