Two-phase flow distributors for fuel cell flow channels

All existing proton exchange membrane （PEM） fuel cell gas flow fields have been designed on the basis of single-phase gas flow distribution. The presence of liquid water in the flow causes non-uniform gas distribution, leading to poor cell performance. This paper demonstrates that a gas flow restrictor/distributor, as is commonly used in two-phase flow to stabilize multiphase transport lines and multiphase reactors, can improve the gas flow distribution by significantly reducing gas real-distribution caused by either non-uniform water formation in parallel flow channels or flow instability associated with negative-slope pressure drop characteristic of two-phase horizontal flow systems.     

Enhancement of the electrocatalytic O2 reduction on Pt–Fe alloys

The design of high performance cathode electrocatalysts is essential for polymer–electrolyte fuel cells, which are now attracting enormous interest as a primary power source for zero-emission electric vehicles. We have discovered a significant enhancement of electrocatalytic activity of Pt by alloying with Fe, and found a maximum activity at ca. 50% Fe content, which results in 25 times higher activity than pure Pt activity. It was confirmed experimentally at Pt–Fe bulk alloys that the alloy catalyst surface consists of a pure Pt skin-layer (<1 nm in thickness) that is modified in the electronic structure by that of the bulk alloy. The enhancement could be well explained by the 5d-vacancy of the surface, but not by Pt interatomic distance or roughening of the surfaces.     

Cloud point prediction of fuels and fuel blends

The cloud point temperature, the temperature at which the first wax crystals appear in solution, is one of the most important specifications associated with the low temperature behaviour of a fuel. A database of about 80 fuels and fuel blends was collected and used to assess the performance of the three predictive local composition models (Wilson, NRTL and UNIQUAC) for cloud point prediction. The results indicates that Predictive UNIQUAC can predict the cloud points of the fuels within the experimental uncertainty of the measurements. It could thus be a useful tool in the production of fuels both in the design of refining process and the blend of fuels to meet the low temperature specifications.     

The Reclaim Screw in Mammoth Silos Operating on a Free Surface: Comparison Between Horizontal and Inclined Operation on Free Flowing Bulk Solids

Although the screw conveyor, operating on a free surface, has been used for years as reclaim and storage equipment in mammoth silos, there is no documented knowledge about its spill characteristics. Research at Delft University of Technology together with ESI Eurosilo B.V. on the inclined use of the reclaim screw to achieve homogenization in mammoth silos made this lack of knowledge apparent. This paper presents the results of experiments to gain insight into the spill during reclaiming. Experiments were conducted reclaiming a horizontal surface and up‐ and downwards along an inclined surface, using a free‐flowing bulk material. A relationship was found between the theoretical and effective fill ratio. This relationship shows a certain maximum effective fill ratio and a dependence on the reclaim‐depth. As expected, the effective fill ratio drops quickly when reclaiming upwards, mostly due to flow‐ and throwback: the fill is spilled behind the screw blades and over the axis. Unexpectedly, the effective fill ratio also decreases when reclaiming downwards due to a shift of material towards the non‐reclaiming side where it is left behind forming ridges on the surface. It is expected that all three mechanisms will cause less spill when reclaiming a cohesive material. The experiments provide the desired insight into spill mechanisms during reclaiming. Indeed, the inclined use of the reclaim screw to achieve homogenization is thought feasible when reclaiming downwards.     

Numerical simulation of effects of flow maldistribution on heat and mass transfer in a PEM fuel cell stack

A 3D numerical study was carried out to analyze flow, heat and mass transfer first in a single half-cell cathode channel of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. From practical point of view, it is necessary to put the appropriate number of cells in a stack. Hence, the above study on a single half-cell is extended to a stack of channels. Due to stacking, the assumption of uniform flow distribution would no longer hold true. Therefore, the channel flow-maldistribution is considered. The water formed at the active surface due to the electrochemical reaction diffuses through the porous layer and eventually enters the gas flow duct. The higher gas velocities in the duct result in faster water vapour removal which leads to a lower value of water vapour into the duct and hence a lower Nusselt number.     

相选择性凝胶因子及其在油品污染处理中的应用研究进展

近年来含油污水及海上油品泄漏问题日益严重,威胁着人类的生存环境和海洋生态环境。相选择性凝胶因子因其制备简单、生物相容性好、快速高效、可重复利用等优点为油品污染处理提供了新选择。本文首先介绍了相选择性凝胶因子的分类和自组装机理及相选择性凝胶因子的发展现状,重点对小分子凝胶因子进行了阐述,其中小分子凝胶因子包括氨基酸类、有机酸及其盐类、胆固醇类和糖类衍生物类等,并对有机高分子凝胶因子做了简单介绍;最后对相选择性凝胶因子的发展做出了展望。     

Synthesis and characterization of BaGa2O4 and Ba3Co2O6(CO3)0.6 compounds in the search of alternative materials for Proton Ceramic Fuel Cell (PCFC)

BaGa₂O₄ and Ba₃Co₂O₆(CO₃)_0.6 compounds were studied as electrolyte and cathode materials for Proton Ceramic Fuel Cells (PCFC), respectively. Not only BaGa₂O₄ rapidly reacts with atmospheric H₂O and CO₂ and leads to a progressive material decomposition, but it does not present real hydration properties in normal conditions of pressure. On the other hand, the basic cobalt oxocarbonate Ba₃Co₂O₆(CO₃)_0.6 exhibits an interesting tendency for weight uptake and formation of hydrogencarbonate groups in moist heating/cooling conditions. This material was therefore considered for complementary studies in order to confirm its potential use as mixed proton-electron conductor, taking into account the ordered intergrowth of carbonates and face sharing Co-octahedra columns forming a pseudo-one-dimensional structure. Some preliminary results concerning electrochemical properties of the barium cobalt oxocarbonate as a PCFC cathode are also described and show at the moment modest performance, possibly related to a hydrated/carbonated surface layer contribution and/or the lack of electron percolation within the electrode layer.     

Thermogravimetric analysis of SPEEK membranes: Thermal stability, degree of sulfonation and cross-linking reaction

Thermal degradation of SPEEK membranes is studied by coupling thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mass spectrometry (MS). Main mass losses can be attributed to water evaporation, desulfonation and oxidative pyrolysis of polymer main chain. The analysis can be used to determine the degree of sulfonation (DS) and the degree of cross-linking (DCL) between macromolecular chains. Furthermore, the thermogravimetric curves can be modelled using non-isothermal chemical kinetics, allowing determination of activation energies during thermal degradation of SPEEK membranes.     

Combined chemical and phase equilibrium for the hydration of ethylene to ethanol calculated by means of the Peng-Robinson-Stryjek-Vera equation of state and the Wong-Sandler mixing rules

Due to the economics of the ethylene market and the subsidized production of fermentation-based ethanol in some countries, use of the ethylene hydration process to make ethanol has been steadily declining. The economics of this process might improve by combining the reaction and separation in a reactive distillation column, whose conceptual design requires a study of the combined chemical and phase equilibrium (CPE) of the reacting system. In this work, the Peng-Robinson-Stryjek-Vera equation of state was combined with the UNIQUAC activity coefficient model through the Wong-Sandler (WS) mixing rules in order to correlate the available experimental data for the vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) of the ethylene-water, ethylene-ethanol, and ethanol-water binary systems at 200 °C. The interaction energies of the UNIQUAC model and the binary interaction coefficient of the WS mixing rules were used as the fitting parameters. From the optimum values of these parameters, both the VLE and the combined CPE of the ethylene-water-ethanol ternary system were predicted at 200 °C and various pressures. At this temperature, the catalytic activity of a H-pentasil zeolite has already been reported to exhibit a maximum for ethylene hydration, and also the experimentally measured two-phase region of the ternary system is sufficiently wide. By means of the reactive flash method, the chemical equilibrium compositions of the liquid and vapor phases were determined for several pressures, and the equilibrium conversion and the vapor fraction were calculated as functions of the ethylene to water feed mole ratio. It turns out that the vapor-liquid mixed-phase hydration of ethylene achieves equilibrium conversions much higher than those computed for a vapor-phase reaction that would hypothetically occur at the same conditions of pressure and feed mole ratio. It was found that the reactive phase diagram of the ternary system exhibits a critical point at 200 °C and 155 atm.     

纳米碳纤维载铂作为质子交换膜燃料电池阳极催化剂

采用化学还原法合成了微结构不同的纳米碳纤维(板式、鱼骨式、管式)载铂催化剂(分别记为Pt/p-CNF、Pt/f-CNF、Pt/t-CNF). 通过高分辨透射电镜(HRTEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)等分析技术对催化剂的微观结构进行了表征, 并利用循环伏安(CV)法分析了催化剂的电化学比表面积(ESA). 在此基础上, 制备了膜电极(MEA), 通过单电池测试了催化剂的电催化性能. 结果表明: 铂纳米粒子在不同的纳米碳载体上表现出不同的粒径, 在板式、鱼骨式和管式纳米碳纤维上的铂纳米粒子平均粒径分别为2.4、2.7和2.8 nm. 板式纳米碳纤维载铂催化剂作单电池阳极时表现出良好的电催化性能, 其对应的最高功率密度可达0.569 W·cm^-2, 高于鱼骨式纳米碳纤维载铂催化剂和管式纳米碳纤维载铂催化剂对应的最高功率密度(分别为0.550和0.496 W·cm^-2). 同时, 也制备了碳黑(Pt/XC-72)载铂催化剂. 相比于Pt/XC-72, 纳米碳纤维载体上的铂纳米颗粒有较小的粒径、较好的分散和较高的催化活性, 说明纳米碳纤维是质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFCs)催化剂的良好载体.