Assessment of fuel cell studies with particle image velocimetry applications: A key review

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.05.027Get rights and content

Highlights

  • This work reviews fuel cell studies including the particle image velocimetry technique in the open literature.

  • The state of the art and comparative evaluation of the works done in the literature investigate and discuss in detail.

  • This paper aims to be a guideline for researchers and policymakers working on fuel cell technologies.

Abstract

Fuel cells are considered to be a promising system that is utilized in several applications and in various sectors. Particle image velocimetry is extremely practicable for the exploration of the flow field inside fuel cells and channels. This paper reviews fuel cell studies focusing on the particle image velocimetry technique in the open literature. In this regard, state-of-the-art and comparative evaluation have been investigated and are discussed. Additionally, challenges, opportunities and future direction have been studied in terms of fuel cell type, size, voltage value, current value, power output capacity, and CFD applications. It is concluded that the growing demand on fuel cells will increase system design, performance improvement and cost benefit efforts affected by the flow and design parameters and characteristics which are other important issues that could be covered using PIV methods in the future. Moreover, this review paper is expected to be a better guide for researchers, policy makers and technologists working on potential commercial applications of fuel cells in mobile and stationary platforms.

Introduction

Hydrogen is one of the elements easily found in the atmosphere [1], which can be produced from a variety of resources, such as water, organic compounds and others. Organic compounds could be considered as secondary sources of hydrogen [2]. Hydrogen shows no toxic features and is accepted as safe to breathe. However, the safety concerns of hydrogen usage cannot be neglected [3]. Although it has safety issues with regard to storage and transfer, hydrogen is referred to as an energy carrier which is extensively utilized to produce chemicals and power generation. Hydrogen provides many benefits that justify its usage in the automotive sector, the electronics sector, and in buildings. Furthermore, hydrogen has various advantages as an energy carrier:

  • The combustion reaction of hydrogen emits a minimum amount of greenhouse and hazardous gases [4].

  • Hydrogen is suitable for fuel cells [5].

  • Compared to other fuels such as gasoline, diesel, or natural gas; hydrogen can be considered as an attractive sustainable energy carrier [6].

  • Hydrogen could be produced using certain renewable energy resources, such as sunlight and biomass. In addition, other renewable resources can be used in the acquisition of hydrogen [7].

Under these considerations, it can be said that, as an important benefit, hydrogen is an important fuel for fuel cells through power generation [8,9]. Fuel cells are a promising energy system that transforms the chemical energy of hydrogen into various types of electrical energy [10] Metin girmek için buraya tıklayın veya dokunun. In fuel cell reactions, the by-products are generally heat and water vapor. Reactions occur without combustion, so the occurrence of NOx cannot be seen. To produce electrical energy, fuel and oxidant should be provided incessantly [11]. The cells are of different types, but are mainly composed of an anode, cathode, catalysts, and electrolytes. Bipolar plates and layers may also be added. Oxidation of fuels occurs in the anode. In the cathode, a reaction of oxygen reduction takes place [12,13]. Fuel cells have a number of important advantages compared to conventional energy systems. The main advantages of fuel cells are given in below [9]:

  • -

    Fuel cells are independent of fossil fuels. Therefore, low carbon-based emissions are a key feature that makes fuel cells a promising and sustainable option [9].

  • -

    Fuel cell systems work silently [14]. No rotary components or thermal cycles are included in their work scheme. Therefore, generating lower noise emissions [15] against conventional systems is another key feature that makes fuel cell applications advantageous [9].

  • -

    Fuel cell systems can offer 55–65% efficiency by way of cycle or combined system operation [9].

  • -

    Ashes, waste and hazardous molecules such as NOx and SOx are not generated during reactions [9].

  • -

    Fuel cells are extremely practical for electrical demand. The cells require no cost for overcapacity or under capacity [16].

For instance, fuel cells can be used in propulsion systems, light traction vehicles, and as emergency back-up. Furthermore, portable applications and auxiliary power units are other application areas of fuel cells [17]. In addition to these, fuel cells have a number of important features, such as modularity, long operational cycles, prompt-load following, fuel flexibility, and high efficiency when compared to internal combustion engines [17].

The applications of fuel cell systems are also considered a trending topic in aviation research since the current technology depends heavily on conventional fossil fuels. Due to emissions and sustainability efforts in aviation, conventional fuels have been less used [18]. Fuel cells, a popular product in the aviation industry, are also used in marine applications [19]. The marine sector, in particular, tends toward fuel cells after realization of their importance [20].

In this paper, a detailed literature review of the subject, state-of-the-art and comparative evaluation of studies conducted and found in the literature, main challenges, important opportunities and required future direction have been covered. Considering the infrastructure of the paper, fuel cell studies including PIV applications from the open literature have been selected and assessed. The review method of the assessment consists of fuel cell types, dimensions or sizes, capacities, and computational fluid dynamics applications that have been applied. This paper is an extended version of the conference paper presented at the International Symposium on Electric Aviation and Autonomous Systems 2020.

Section snippets

Main features of PIV

Particle image velocimetry is a non-intrusive flow measurement technique, which includes several types of equipment such as a camera, a laser, and a synchronizer [21]. Owing to non-intrusiveness, flow affection has not been observed in PIV experiments. Moreover, whole field measurements and measuring velocity indirectly are possible via particle image velocimetry [22].

Trace particles are used in PIV applications, which are used to follow the flow and allows for detecting laser lights by camera

State of the art

Assessment of open fuel cell literature with PIV involvement requires a methodology that considers different elements, such as the type, size and dimensions of the fuel cell, the power output capacity of the fuel cell, the experimental setup, and the CFD application.

Comparative evaluation

In Table 2, the types, power capacities, sizes, current values, voltage values and CFD applications in fuel cells can be seen.

Challenges and opportunities

In this paper, studies of fuel cells involved with particle image velocimetry are assessed using a methodology. Certain challenges and opportunities are given below:

  • -

    Proton exchange membrane fuel cells [9] are the most encountered type in particle image velocimetry studies. Due to their long life, simple structure, and power density proton exchange membrane fuel cells have the greatest percentage in particle image velocimetry studies.

  • -

    Studies of direct methanol fuel cells, proton exchange

Future directions

PIV methods are one of the most used CFD validation or comparison techniques. Fuel cell channel flows are a topic that should be covered in terms of the design process of fuel cells.

Applications of the fuel cell in mobile and stationary platforms are trending among researchers. Growing demand for these systems will increase design, and improvement efforts will be directed toward fuel cell technology.

Except for the design and improvement of fuel cells, there will also be efforts for UAV Fuel

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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