Open AccessNumerical simulation of the performance of air‐breathing direct formic acid microfluidic fuel cells
Author(s) -
Herlambang Yusuf Dewantoro,
Shyu JinCherng,
Lee ShunChing
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2017.0322
Subject(s) - multiphysics , microchannel , formic acid , electrolyte , materials science , electrode , mechanics , current density , convection–diffusion equation , current (fluid) , momentum (technical analysis) , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , thermodynamics , chromatography , physics , nanotechnology , finite element method , quantum mechanics , finance , economics
This work numerically investigated the effects of various factors on the performance of air‐breathing direct formic acid microfluidic fuel cells. An MFC with a microchannel width of 1.5 mm, depth of 0.05 mm, and electrode spacing of 0.3 mm was used in the simulation. An MFC which was a 1.5‐mm‐wide, 0.05‐mm‐deep microchannel installed with two 0.3‐mm‐apart electrodes was used in the simulation. The mixture of formic acid at concentrations of 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 M and 0.5‐M sulphuric acid served as fuel, while a 0.5‐M sulphuric acid stream served as the electrolyte introduced at inlet flow rates of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mL/min. First, a three‐dimensional MFC model was built using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.1 to simulate the fuel cell performance. Subsequently, I–V curves obtained from simulations and from published experimental data under similar operating conditions were compared to ensure the validity of the simulation. Transport phenomena were formulated with a continuity equation, momentum equation, species transport equation, and charge equation. Additionally, the flow through porous media in the gas diffusion layer was described using the Brinkman equation, whereas the Butler–Volmer equation was applied to obtain I–V and P–I curves. The current density distribution resulting from internal current loss and reactant concentration on both electrodes was also determined in this work.