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Energy and Chemical Processes |
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Energy and Chemical Processes |
The aims of the Fuel Cell Area are: (i)
the understanding of the response of a FC and of FC stack to
given operative and design parameters; (ii) the optimization
of FC behaviour for specified utilisation parameters; (iii)
the qualification of the FC area as the local dissemination
structure for small and medium enterprises with interests in
high-tech applications; (iv) the qualification of the FC area
as international reference laboratory for FC theory and modelling.
Aims (i) and (ii) are pursued through the development of
1D and 2D models for the transport of chemical species and
charges in the porous media of single cells [,], and fuel cell stacks.
Numerical models of single cells are numerically solved by
means of finite volume codes developed in-house.
3D stack models are developed by means of commercial
fluid-dynamics codes. The extensive use of user-supplied
subroutines allows the insertion of our accurate single
cell models in the framework of the CFD description of the
reactant delivery and current collector structure.
The research activity of the FC Area is focussed on the following systems:
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) modelling:
The developed PEMFC models contain and improved description of
the cathode diffusion and reactive regions. This improvement was
motivated by the need to correct the wrong behaviour of PEMFC
models presented in the literature at high current densities,
where concentration overpotentials and flooding phenomena start
to appear. Extensive comparison between the results of our
simulations and a large set of experimental data shows good
agreements. The model can be considered to be the first mechanistic
model with a reliable predictive capability.
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) modelling:
The research aims at evaluating the optimal design for a
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). Mechanistic mathematical
models are developed for the calculation of temperature,
pressure and reagent concentration distributions.
Temperature distribution constitutes the input of a thermal
stress analysis which results in the prediction of the
life-cycle of the material component. The model is also
able to simulate the overall fuel cell stack performance
as a function of the operative and geometric parameters
and material properties. Model results can be used to identify
the set of parameters which maximize the system efficiency.
Fuel Cell Material modelling:
The macroscopic modelling is complemented by a more fundamental
research activity on microscopic and mesoscopic transport
mechanisms in fuel cell materials. This last activity implies
the production of atomistic models and of the corresponding
software tools, such as parallel molecular dynamics codes.
The simulation tools are also generalized and applied to the
wider field of membrane modelling for purification/separation purposes.
Examples of relevant problems are the cleaning of hydrogen
from reforming processes, and the cleaning of polluted water
out from industrial processes.
(C) 1993-2003 CRS4 Energy and Chemical Processes Group
CRS4 Energy and Chemical Processes Group - POLARIS Edificio 1, C.P. 25 - 09010 Pula (CA), ITALY
+39 070 9250 1
+39 070 9250 216
ecp@crs4.it
www.crs4.it/ecp/