Numerical simulation of a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell using computational fluid dynamics method

A detailed mathematical model of a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell （DIR-SOFC） incorporating with simulation of chemical and physical processes in the fuel cell is presented. The model is developed based on the reforming and electrochemical reaction mechanisms, mass and energy conservation, and heat transfer. A computational fluid dynamics （CFD） method is used for solving the complicated multiple partial differential equations （PDEs） to obtain the numerical approximations. The resulting distributions of chemical species concentrations, temperature and current density in a cross-flow DIR-SOFC are given and analyzed in detail. Further, the influence between distributions of chemical species concentrations, temperature and current density during the simulation is illustrated and discussed. The heat and mass transfer, and the kinetics of reforming and electrochemical reactions have significant effects on the parameter distributions within the cell. The results show the particular characteristics of the DIR-SOFC among fuel cells, and can aid in stack design and control.     

Predictive control of a direct internal reforming SOFC using a self recurrent wavelet network model

In this paper, an application of a nonlinear predictive controller based on a self recurrent wavelet network （SRWN） model for a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell （DIR-SOFC） is presented. As operating temperature and fuel utilization are two important parameters, the SOFC is identified using an SRWN with inlet fuel flow rate, inlet air flow rate and current as inputs, and temperature and fuel utilization as outputs. To improve the operating performance of the DIR-SOFC and guarantee proper operating conditions, the nonlinear predictive control is implemented using the off-line trained and on-line modified SRWN model, to manipulate the inlet flow rates to keep the temperature and the fuel utilization at desired levels. Simulation results show satisfactory predictive accuracy of the SRWN model, and demonstrate the excellence of the SRWN-based predictive controller for the DIR-SOFC.     

固体氧化物燃料电池的研究进展

文章介绍了几种主要燃料电池的发展和研究现状、固体氧化物燃料电池(SOFC)的工作原理和特点,综述了SOFC的主要组件(阴极、阳极、电解质材料)制备方法及其进展,对SOFC在能源开发利用与市场化的前景进行了展望。     

Optimization study of a PEM fuel cell performance using 3D multi-phase computational fluid dynamics model

INTRODUCTION Water management is one of the critical opera-tion issues in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuelcells. Spatially varying concentrations of water inboth vapour and liquid form are expected throughoutthe cell because of varying rates of production andtransport (Sui and Djilali, 2005). Devising betterwater management is therefore a key issue in PEMFCdesign, and this requires improved understanding ofthe parameters affecting water transport in the mem-brane. Proper thermal m…     

Evaluating the effect of midpalatal corticotomy-assisted rapid maxillary expansion on the upper airway in young adults using computational fluid dynamics

Midpalatal corticotomy-assisted rapid maxillary expansion(MCRME)is a minimally invasive treatment of maxillary transverse deficiency(MTD)in young adults.However,the effect of MCRME on respiratory function still needs to be determined.In this study,we evaluated the changes in maxillary morphology and the upper airway following MCRME using computational fluid dynamics(CFD).Twenty patients with MTD(8 males,12 females;mean age 20.55 years)had cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT)images taken before and after MCRME.The CBCT data were used to construct a threedimensional(3 D)upper airway model.The upper airway flow characteristics were simulated using CFD,and measurements were made based on the CBCT images and CFD.The results showed that the widths of the palatal bone and nasal cavity,and the intermolar width were increased significantly after MCRME.The volume of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx increased significantly,while there were no obvious changes in the volumes of the oropharynx and hypopharynx.CFD simulation of the upper airway showed that the pressure drop and maximum velocity of the upper airway decreased significantly after treatment.Our results suggest that in these young adults with MTD,increasing the maxillary width,upper airway volume,and quantity of airflow by MCRME substantially improved upper airway ventilation.     

Numerical simulation of a gas pipeline network using computational fluid dynamics simulators

This article describes numerical simulation of gas pipeline network operation using high-accuracy computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulators of the modes of gas mixture transmission through long, multi-line pipeline systems (CFD-simulator). The approach used in CFD-simulators for modeling gas mixture transmission through long, branched, multi-section pipelines is based on tailoring the full system of fluid dynamics equations to conditions of unsteady, non-isothermal processes of the gas mixture flow. Identification, in a CFD-simulator, of safe parameters for gas transmission through compressor stations amounts to finding the interior points of admissible sets described by systems of nonlinear algebraic equalities and inequalities. Such systems of equalities and inequalities comprise a formal statement of technological, design, operational and other constraints to which operation of the network equipment is subject. To illustrate the practicability of the method of numerical simulation of a gas transmission network, we compare computation results and gas flow parameters measured on-site at the gas transmission enter-prise.     

The impact of NiO on microstructure and electrical property of solid oxide fuel cell anode

INTRODUCTION The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has attracted much attention as a promising source of electrical power generation because of its high efficiency in converting chemical energy to electrical power. De- velopment of SOFC with operating temperature of less than 800 °C has been extensively studied. SOFC has the potential to have the cost of its materials, cell fabrication, and corrosion of its stack components dramatically reduced. Gadolinia-doped ceria with the chemical fo…     

Numerical simulation and optimization design of the EGR cooler in vehicle

The EGR （exhaust gas recirculation） technique can greatly reduce the NOx emission of diesel engines, especially when an EGR cooler is employed. Numerical simulations are applied to study the flow field and temperature distributions inside the EGR cooler. Three different models of EGR cooler are investigated, among which model A is a traditional one, and models B and C are improved by adding a helical baffle in the cooling area. In models B and C the entry directions of cooling water are different, which mostly influences the flow resistance. The results show that the improved structures not only lengthen the flow path of the cooling water, but also enhance the heat exchange rate between the cool and hot media. In conclusion we suggest that the improved structures are more powerful than the traditional one.