Three-dimensional numerical simulations of water droplet dynamics in a PEMFC gas channel

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

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.03.005

Cited by 141 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…When it emerges from the pores into the gas channels it may form droplets, films or slug flow depending on the working conditions [2]. The present study improves previous models used to understand the formation of droplets on the GDL surface [3], [4], [5], [1], [6], [7].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 64%

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A semi-analytical model for droplet dynamics on the GDL surface of a PEFC electrode

Jarauta

Secanell

Pons‐Prats

et al. 2015

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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Water management is one of the key factors in Proton Exchange Fuel Cell (PEFC) performance. The water produced within the fuel cell is evacuated through the gas channels, but at high current densities water can block the channel, thus limiting the current density generated in the fuel cell. A semianalytical model of a water droplet emerging from a gas diffusion layer pore in a PEFC channel is developed. The transient model contains a detailed adhesion and drag force estimation model. Results show that the predicted values for both drag and surface tension force are higher than the results found in literature. The results for the detachment force are consistent with the experimental data available. Higher air velocity values lead to more deformation of the droplet and oscillation with lower frequency but higher amplitude. Similar effects have been identified when the liquid mass flow is increased, leading to faster detachment of the droplet.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Water management is a key limiting factor of PEFCs performance [1]. Water and heat are produced in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the cathode catalyst layer (CL) of the PEM fuel cell.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A semi-analytical model for droplet dynamics on the GDL surface of a PEFC electrode

Jarauta

Secanell

Pons‐Prats

et al. 2015

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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“…The mesh independency study is also done by increasing and decreasing the cell size by 20% and 40%, respectively. 15 The obtained results for water dynamics and flow field are found to be quite similar.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…However, to reduce computational efforts and stabilize calculations, arbitrary values have been used for both water density and viscosity in previous numerical studies, 31,32 which may impact interpretations of obtained numerical results. Hence, most researchers [15][16][17] simply "planted" certain number of droplets inside GCs or imposed a water inlet boundary condition at a small region of GDL surface. They did not include the GDL in their simulations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct Simulation of Liquid Water Dynamics in the Gas Channel of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

Qin

Rensink²,

Hassanizadeh

et al. 2012

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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For better water management in gas channels (GCs) of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), a profound understanding of the liquid water dynamics is needed. In this study, we propose a novel geometrical setup to conduct a series of direct simulations of the liquid water dynamics in a GC. The conducting pathways in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) are simplified by three cylindrical pipes connected to a liquid water reservoir representing the catalyst layer (CL). The droplet dynamics, corner film dynamics, and the competition between the film and droplet flows in the GC are explored in detail. The results show that the three-phase contact line plays an important role in resisting the gas drag force for a droplet movement in the GC. The gas drag force can dominate the film flow along the GC corners, and a proper selection of the contact angle of the GC sidewalls is necessary to balance two requirements: increasing the film removal ability and removing the water clogging fast. The competing mechanisms of the droplet and film flows give us the possibility to regulate liquid water flow into GCs, and maybe lead to a better water management in GCs. Finally, the results from this work also serve to provide insights into the development of a phenomenological model for the liquid water flooding in GCs.

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“…However, a hydrophilic side walls are more beneficial to gas transportation from the channel into the MEA for both wettability scenarios, hydrophobic and hydrophilic, of the MEA from a qualitative point of view. On the other hand, Zhu et al (13)(14)(15) tracked the gas-liquid interface in a three-dimensional flow that included the water emergence into the channel. In their simulation, the MEA layer was neglected and they focused on a straight gas channel with a single pore in the bottom surface to inject liquid water and represent a GDL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Numerical Study on the Effects of Gas Channel Wettability in PEM Fuel Cells

et al. 2014

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A numerical study on the effects of gas channel wettability in PEM fuel cells his item ws sumitted to voughorough niversity9s snstitutionl epository y theGn uthorF Citation: everwexsD wFD grixD F nd sferswD FD PHIPF e numeril study on the effets of gs hnnel wettility in iw fuel ellsF snX ondr¡ kD tFD xov¡ kD F nd f § D F @edsFAF roeedings of PHIP IQth snterntionl gonferene on edvned ftteriesD eumultors nd puel gells @efep IQAD frnoD gzeh epuliD PTEQH eugustF Additional Information:• he iletrohemil oietyD snF PHIRF ell rights reservedF ixept s provided under FF opyright lwD this work my not e reproduedD resoldD distriutedD or modified without the express permission of he iletrohemil oiety @igAF he rhivl version of this work ws pulished inX ig rnstionsD PHIRD RV @IAD ppF VIEWPF

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Three-dimensional numerical simulations of water droplet dynamics in a PEMFC gas channel

Cited by 141 publications

References 41 publications

A semi-analytical model for droplet dynamics on the GDL surface of a PEFC electrode

A semi-analytical model for droplet dynamics on the GDL surface of a PEFC electrode

Direct Simulation of Liquid Water Dynamics in the Gas Channel of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

A Numerical Study on the Effects of Gas Channel Wettability in PEM Fuel Cells

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