Development of multi-scale simulation for water/vapor transport in PEFC

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K14188
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 19020:Thermal engineering-related
• Research Institution: Ibaraki University
• Principal Investigator: Sakaida Satoshi 茨城大学, 理工学研究科(工学野), 講師 (40816170)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 固体高分子形燃料電池 / 格子ボルツマン法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), which generate electricity from hydrogen and oxygen in the air, are a clean power source that does not emit carbon dioxide, but their power density should be increased. The key for improving the power density is the water/vapor transport in the fuel cell. In this study, a water/vapor transport simulation using the lattice Boltzmann method was developed to investigate the water accumulation process in the fuel cell under various operating conditions.

Free Research Field

熱工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

固体高分子形燃料電池は水素社会における核となるエネルギー変換装置である．しかし，現在の固体高分子形燃料電池の価格は高く，これを低減するには出力密度を改善し，単位出力あたりのコストを下げる必要がある．そのためには電池構造の改善，最適化が必要となる．本研究で開発したシミュレーション技術は比較的低スペックなPCでも利用でき，電池設計を容易する可能性を秘めている．