Development of a centrifugal fan with increased part-load efficiency for fuel cell applications

authored by: Sebastian Burgmann, Tore Fischer, Manuel Rudersdorf, Alexander Roos, Angelika Heinzel, Jörg Seume
Abstract: Centrifugal fans are suitable for the air supply of fuel cells because of their relatively high efficiency and low power consumption. Fuel cells are operated over a broad range of current densities, which is proportional to the air mass flow rate, i.e., the air supply system needs to provide high efficiencies over a wide range of mass flow. To achieve this target, a centrifugal fan equipped with a diffuser and volute with variable cross-sectional area is developed based on numerical simulations (CFD), laser-optical flow measurements (PIV) and performance measurements of the centrifugal fan. The geometrical variability is achieved by a movable backplate of the diffuser and the volute. The variable cross-sectional area of the diffuser and volute allows maintaining high efficiencies and pressure ratios for operating points at off-design. A small diffuser width is suitable for low mass flow rates, and a large diffuser width for high mass flow rates. Thus, efficiency of the centrifugal fan can be increased at part-load operation by up to 7.1% points by appropriately adjusting the diffuser width. As a result the parasitic power consumption of the air supply system is reduced and hence the overall efficiency of the fuel cell system increases.
Organisation(s): Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics
External Organisation(s): The hydrogen and fuel cell center ZBT GmbH
The University of Wuppertal
Type: Article
Journal: Renewable energy
Volume: 116
Pages: 815-826
No. of pages: 12
ISSN: 0960-1481
Publication date: 02.2018
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.09.075 (Access: Closed)