Numerical investigation of water droplet dynamics in a low-temperature fuel cell microchannel: Effect of channel geometry

Zhu, Xun; Liu, Qiang; Sui, Pang‐Chieh; Djilali, Ned

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.08.021

Cited by 109 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…At low operating temperatures (25°C) and ambient pressure, they observed that the parallel flow field was the most unsuitable flow field design for water removal, resulting in the worst performance of the PEM fuel cell. In a study by Zhu et al [31], the effect of micro-channel geometry on water droplet dynamics in a PEM fuel cell using a 3-D VOF model, was investigated. They compared many different micro-channel designs; rectangular, trapezoid, upside down trapezoid, triangular, rectangular with curved bottom wall and semicircular with respect to evolution and motion of the droplets, flow resistance, saturation and coverage ratio.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Water droplet accumulation and motion in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell mini-channels

Carton

Lawlor

Olabi

et al. 2012

Energy

235

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effective water management is one of the key strategies for improving low temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance and durability. Phenomena such as membrane dehydration, catalyst layer flooding, mass transport and fluid flow regimes can be affected by the interaction, distribution and movement of water in flow plate channels.In this paper a literature review is completed in relation to PEM fuel cell water flooding. It is clear that droplet formation, movement and interaction with the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) have been studied extensively. However slug formation and droplet accumulation in the flow channels has not been analysed in detail. In this study, a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model and Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is used to simulate water droplet movement and slug formation in PEM fuel cell mini-channels. In addition, water slug visualisation is recorded in ex situ PEM fuel cell mini-channels.Observation and simulation results are discussed with relation to slug formation and the implications to PEM fuel cell performance.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Water droplet accumulation and motion in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell mini-channels

Carton

Lawlor

Olabi

et al. 2012

Energy

235

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Jiao et al [18] studied water transport in a fuel cell stack with serpentine flow channel layout and pointed out that water was not evenly distributed in the flow channel, which could cause the reactant gas distribution and fuel cell performance deviation among fuel cells. Water transport and removal in the flow channel with various channel cross section shapes was analyzed by Zhu et al [19] and in the GDL with various designs by Park et al [20] and Yin et al [21]. Using the same approach, Cai et al [22] investigated the channel/MEA surface wettability (static contact angle) on water transport and found that water droplet was transported faster on a more hydrophobic surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Transport and Removal in PEMFC Gas Flow Channel with Various Water Droplet Locations and Channel Surface Wettability

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Water transport and removal in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is critically important to fuel cell performance, stability, and durability. Water emerging locations on the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) surface and the channel surface wettability significantly influence the water transport and removal in PEMFC. In most simulations of water transport and removal in the PEMFC flow channel, liquid water is usually introduced at the center of the MEA surface, which is fortuitous, since water droplet can emerge randomly on the MEA surface in PEMFC. In addition, the commonly used no-slip wall boundary condition greatly confines the water sliding features on hydrophobic MEA/channel surfaces, degrading the simulation accuracy. In this study, water droplet is introduced with various locations along the channel width direction on the MEA surface, and water transport and removal is investigated numerically using an improved model incorporating the sliding flow property by using the shear wall boundary condition. It is found that the water droplet can be driven to the channel sidewall by aerodynamics when the initial water location deviates from the MEA center to a certain amount, forming the water corner flow in the flow channel. The channel surface wettability on the water transport is also studied and is shown to have a significant impact on the water corner flow in the flow channel.

show abstract

“…Among many factors affecting the water transport characteristics in the GCs, the design of cross-sectional geometry is also found to be important based on experimental and numerical investigations [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Applying the neutron radiography method to operating PEM fuel cells, Owejan et al [8] compared the volume of accumulated water in the GCs between rectangular and triangular cross-sectional geometries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Liquid Water Dynamics in Bent Gas Channels of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell with Different Channel Cross Sections in a Channel Flooding Situation

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The transport characteristics of water slugs in a bent gas channel of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell are numerically studied using the volume of fluid (VOF) method. To investigate the effects of channel cross-sectional shape in a channel flooding situation, the gas channels (GCs) with one rectangular and two trapezoidal cross sections are compared. Parametric studies are also conducted to evaluate the effects of the contact angle of the top and side walls, the contact angle of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) surface, and the air inlet velocity. Considering both of the water volume fraction (WVF) and GDL water coverage ratio (WCR), the trapezoidal channel with open angles of 60 degrees provides the most favorable performance in a channel flooding condition. Among all the top and side wall contact angles considered, the hydrophobic contact angle of 120 degrees shows the best results. Among the three GDL contact angles of 90, 110 and 140 degrees, the hydrophobic GDL contact angle of 140 degrees provides the most favorable water removal characteristics in a channel flooding situation. For all cross-sectional shapes, the water removal rate increases and the liquid water interface shows more complex patterns as the air inlet velocity increases.

show abstract

Numerical investigation of water droplet dynamics in a low-temperature fuel cell microchannel: Effect of channel geometry

Cited by 109 publications

References 33 publications

Water droplet accumulation and motion in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell mini-channels

Water droplet accumulation and motion in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell mini-channels

Water Transport and Removal in PEMFC Gas Flow Channel with Various Water Droplet Locations and Channel Surface Wettability

Comparison of Liquid Water Dynamics in Bent Gas Channels of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell with Different Channel Cross Sections in a Channel Flooding Situation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About