Is the H2 economy realizable in the foreseeable future? Part III: H2 usage technologies, applications, and challenges and opportunities.

Energy enthusiasts in developed countries explore sustainable and efficient pathways for accomplishing zero carbon footprint through the H2 economy. The major objective of the H2 economy review series is to bring out the status, major issues, and opportunities associated with the key components such as H2 production, storage, transportation, distribution, and applications in various energy sectors. Specifically, Part I discussed H2 production methods including the futuristic ones such as photoelectrochemical for small, medium, and large-scale applications, while Part II dealt with the challenges and developments in H2 storage, transportation, and distribution with national and international initiatives. Part III of the H2 economy review discusses the developments and challenges in the areas of H2 application in chemical/metallurgical industries, combustion, and fuel cells. Currently, the majority of H2 is being utilized by a few chemical industries with >60% in the oil refineries sector, by producing grey H2 by steam methane reforming on a large scale. In addition, the review also presents the challenges in various technologies for establishing greener and sustainable H2 society.

Dataset and measurements from a current density sensor during experimental testing of dynamic load cycling for a parallel-serpentine design of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

A dataset from experimental tests of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with an active area of approximately 50 cm2, parallel-serpentine channels and cross-flow field distribution between anode and cathode is presented. Tests were performed for four different gas inlet and outlet configurations. In particular, tests were performed for the original configuration, hydrogen inlet and outlet reversed, air inlet and outlet reversed, and hoses reversed for both gases. The operating conditions for all gas configurations were: pressure of 0.5 bar, temperature of 65 °C, anode and cathode relative humidity of 60 %, and anode and cathode stoichiometry of 1.3 and 2.5 respectively. The tests performed were the polarization curve (PC) for each gas configuration and the dynamic load cycles (FC-DLC) also for each hose position. A current density mapping (CDM) sensor, capable of measuring both the current density distribution and the temperature distribution inside the cell, was inserted into the fuel cell system during all tests. The use of the sensor during the experiments makes it possible to know how these distributions behave and to observe whether or not there is homogeneity in its measurements, thus verifying that the design of the flow channels is adequate and fulfilling its function. The results can be used to investigate and compare other bipolar plates and channel designs, or to compare with results from other test benches and environmental conditions.

Dataset of the liquid water distribution in a biomimetic PEM fuel cell.

This dataset gathers the initial formation and the evolution of water content and distribution, as well as water evacuation, within a lung-inspired PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell with a 50 cm2 active area for various operating conditions such as cell pressure, relative humidity of the reactant (anode and cathode), temperature, and cell current density. Neutron imaging was used since it has been shown to be an effective technique for quantitative analysis of water distribution, obtaining the thickness of the water with the Lambert-Beer law, thus obtaining the numerical data that composes the tables and graphs in this dataset. A series of videos compiling the individual images obtained through neutron imaging, showing the water distribution evolution are presented. Numerical and graphical compilation of the amount of water in a cell through time in different regions of the cell and for a total of 10 experiments are provided. This dataset provides a deeper knowledge on the complex phenomena that liquid water is subjected to in fuel cells along time, as well as a basis for an experimental validation for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.

Dataset and mesh of the CFD numerical model for the modelling and simulation of a PEM fuel cell.

A CFD mesh corresponding to a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) with an active area of 50 cm2, serpentine channels and cross-flow field distribution is presented. The mesh was developed using ANSYS ICEM CFD hexa (v12.0) and it is divided into 3D regions corresponding to the different components of the fuel cell: bipolar plates (anode and cathode), gas diffusion layers (GDLs), catalytic layers (CLs) and membrane. The mesh was generated following Best Practice Guidelines, and mesh quality parameters are reported including minimum cell angle or maximum aspect ratio amongst others. Mesh independence results were checked in the corresponding CFD model and simulation of an experimental fuel cell ANSYS FLUENT with the PEM Fuel Cell module. Simulation results were also validated with the experimental data available from a fuel cell test bench for a set of different operating conditions. The experimental validation provides credibility to the CFD model and supports the use of the proposed mesh for fuel cell research, ensuring accurate results and enabling further validation works and comparison of different designs and operating conditions using numerical simulations.