螺旋流场设计对PEM电解槽性能影响的模拟研究

Simulation Study on the Effect of Spiral Flow Field Design on the Performance of PEM Electrolytic Cells

为提高质子交换膜(PEM)电解槽的性能,在一定的假设条件下,通过ComsolMultiphysics软件设计并模拟一种基于避免转角设计考虑的PEM电解槽阳极螺旋流场,对比不同形式的流场(平行流场、蛇形流场)对达到稳定运行时的电解槽电解电压、膜电极组件的平均温度和多孔传输层(PTL)的平均氧气质量分数的影响,并对新型流场设计的尺寸进行优化。仿真结果表明,新型螺旋流场设计性能最佳。和平行流场相比,电解槽的电解电压降低约0.05 V,膜电极平均温度降低约5.6 K,PTL内的平均氧气质量分数降低约13.9%,下降幅度达到60%。同时探究该螺旋流场的流道宽度和高度对PEM电解槽性能的影响。新型螺旋流场设计降低了电解电压和氧气气泡堵塞扩散层空隙的可能性,提高了电解槽运行的稳定性。

In order to improve the performance of proton exchange membrane(PEM)electrolysis cell,a PEM anode spiral flow field based on avoiding corner design considerations was designed and simulated by ComsolMultiphysics software under certain assumptions.The effects of different configurations of flow fields(parallel flow field and serpentine flow field)on the electrolysis voltage,average temperature of membrane electrode,and average oxygen mass fraction of porous transport layer(PTL)when achieving stable operation were compared.The sizes of the new flow field were also optimized.The results indicated that the new spiral flow field has the best performance.Compared with the parallel flow field,the electrolysis voltage of the electrolytic cell decreased by about 0.05V,the average temperature of the membrane electrode assembly decreased by about 5.6K,and the average oxygen mass fraction in the PTL decreased by about 13.9%,with a decrease of up to 60%.At the same time,the influence of the width and height of the flow channel in the spiral flow field on the effects of PEM electrolysis cell was explored.The new spiral flow field reduces the contents of oxygen bubbles blocking the gaps in the diffusion layer and electrolytic voltage,and improves the stability of the electrolytic cell operation.