3D simulations of the impact of two-phase flow on PEM fuel cell performance

2013 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 445-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulong Ding ◽  
Xiaotao Bi ◽  
David P. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
3D Simulations ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
The Impact

PEM fuel cell performance and its two-phase mass transport

2005 ◽  
Vol 143 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 125-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Sun ◽  
Hongtan Liu ◽  
Lie-Jin Guo
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Mass Transport ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance

Modeling the Effects of Gas Channel Flooding on the Voltage-Current Characteristics of PEM Fuel Cell

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Wong ◽  
K. H. Loo ◽  
Y. M. Lai ◽  
Siew-Chong Tan ◽  
Chi K. Tse
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Gas Channel ◽  
Current Characteristics ◽  
Inlet Conditions

It has been reported recently that water flooding in the gas channel (GC) has significant effects on the voltage-current characteristics of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. However, the theoretical treatment of these effects on the fuel cell performance is still preliminary. A one-dimensional fuel cell model including the effects of two-phase flow in the GC is proposed to investigate the influences of inlet conditions on the water distribution in fuel cell and its performance by means of coupling the GC and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) modeling domains. The model predicts that the GC conditions, which are closely correlated to the inlet conditions, significantly affect the liquid water saturation level in the MEA. An increase in the inlet air pressure or humidification level leads to more severe water flooding, while an increase in the inlet air flow rate helps mitigating the water flooding. The simulated voltage-current characteristics under various inlet conditions are verified against experimental data and simulation results of a published computational fluids dynamics (CFD) model. They indicate that the relative humidity and stoichiometry of inlet air are crucial to the fuel cell performance, particularly at high current densities, due to their influences on the liquid water distribution in the fuel cell. The correlations between the inlet conditions and the fuel cell performance are addressed in the proposed model through a more accurate treatment of two-phase water transport in the cathodic MEA and GC. These are important for appropriate water management in fuel cells.

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