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Knowledge-based simulator aids fuel cell design

A CD-adapco product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 12, 2003

A new "expert system" software tool, es-pemfc, is destined to play an important role in optimising proton exchange membrane fuel cell design for practical automotive and stationary applications.

A new "expert system" software tool, es-pemfc, is destined to play an important role in optimising PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell) design for practical automotive and stationary applications.

The new tool is "knowledge based", carrying with it the essential electrochemistry, fluid flow, heat transfer and geometrical modelling capabilities required for advanced PEMFC design.

es-pemfc works with Star-CD (the CD Adapco Group's computational fluid dynamics code) as a specialised virtual design, prototyping and testing environment.

Typical issues that can be handled include: cooling channel design, water management to optimise humidity and avoid flooding, design and operation with safe pressure balance across the membrane, and more.

These aspects together with gaining a better understanding of the electrochemistry and electrical properties involved enable a better overall balance between all parameters to be achieved, leading to optimised fuel cell performance.

John Van Zee, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the NSF Industry/University Co-operative Research Centre for Fuel Cells at the University of South Carolina, says: "Our role is to assist industry in moving toward the commercialisation of fuel cell technology and in educating well-qualified engineers and scientists.

CFD helps us with this mission by allowing us to understand our experimental data.

Our close collaboration with the CD Adapco Group has led to the integration of the electrochemistry aspects of fuel cells with es-pemfc and Star-CD.

The result es-pemfc, has proven to be very useful for many companies".

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