DOI: 10.1615/THMT-18
ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-468-7
ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-467-0
ISSN Print: 2377-2816
Some Heat and Mass Transfer Problems in Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Systems
RESUMO
Hydrogen and fuel cell systems have been the focus of sustained research to provide a pathway to decarbonize the energy system. Fuel cell technology involves a range of materials and transport processes that allow direct and high efficiency conversion of chemical energy to electricity. Heat and mass transport processes play a critical role in all operating aspects and in every component of a fuel cell and span from multiphysics transport in nanostructured electrodes, to turbulent flow in manifolds. The distribution and storage of compressed hydrogen−the fuel of choice for fuel cells−present a number of interesting turbulent mass transfer problems involving buoyancy effects and a variety of venting/leak geometriesand environmental conditions such as cross winds. Understanding of turbulent mixing under various scenarios is critical to the formulation of safety standards. This paper provides an overview of some of the experimental and modelling challenges and progress related to this rich array of heat and mass transport problems.