LIBPF^® FC

Fuel Cells modeling based on LIBPF^®

The LIBPF^® FC (Fuel Cell) module is an extension to LIBPF^® to support fuel cell and fuel cell system modeling.

The development of this module was supported from Università di Genova's PERT group.

With respect to the core modeling features of LIBPF^®, the LIBPF^® FC adds:

• Distributed parameters unit operations: generic multi-stage 2-D unit, with spiral, co-, cross- or counter-flow pattern;

• Fuel cell model with 2 or more streams, each supporting multiple equilibrium or fixed conversion reactions; one or more electrochemical reactions supported.

Modeling Features

• Steady state simulation of fuel cells as well as fuel cell power generation systems

• Detailed 2D simulation of fuel cell, supports co-flow, cross-flow, counter-flow, spiral flow patterns

• Simplified simulation of fuel cell, supports voltage correction maps to reproduce results of detailed model

• Reactive heat exchangers with equilibrium or partial equilibrium reactions

Detailed 2D Simulation of the Fuel Cell

Sample solid temperature field for an industrial-size MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell):

Supported flow patterns

The flow pattern of the anode and cathode gases can be set easily using a simple symbology, whereby:

	the blue color indicates a source is located in the cell
	the red color indicates a sink is located in the cell
	the arrows indicate the direction of the flow coming out of the cell

An example of cross-flow pattern:

An example of co-cross-flow spiral pattern:

Simulation of fuel cell power generation systems

Static or dynamic simulation of entire fuel cell power generation systems can  be performed with LIBPF^®. All key unit operations are modeled, including reactive heat exchangers, compressor, fuel cell; typically with a concentrated parameters approach.