Three-dimensional numerical simulation of water droplet emerging from a gas diffusion layer surface in micro-channels

2010 ◽  
Vol 195 (21) ◽  
pp. 7278-7288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Ding ◽  
H.T. Bi ◽  
D.P. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Layer Surface ◽  
Micro Channels

Lattice Boltzmann Modeling of Water Cumulation at the Gas Channel-Gas Diffusion Layer Interface in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Maggiolo ◽  
Andrea Marion ◽  
Massimo Guarnieri
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Lattice Boltzmann ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Vapor Condensation ◽  
Relative Height ◽  
Gas Channel

Several experiments have proved that water in liquid phase can be present at the anode of a PEM fuel cell due to vapor condensation resulting in mass transport losses. Nevertheless, it is not yet well understood where exactly water tends to cumulate and how the design of the gas channel (GC) and gas diffusion layer (GDL) could be improved to limit water cumulation. In the present work, a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann based model is implemented in order to simulate the water cumulation at the GC–GDL interface at the anode of a PEM fuel cell. The numerical model incorporates the H2–H2O mixture equation of state and spontaneously simulates phase separation phenomena. Different simulations are carried out varying pressure gradient, pore size, and relative height of the GDL. Results reveal that, once saturation conditions are reached, water tends to cumulate in two main regions: the upper and side walls of the GC and the GC–GDL interface, resulting in a limitation of the reactant diffusion from the GC to the GDL. Interestingly, the cumulation of liquid water at the interface is found to diminish as the relative height of the GDL increases.

Measurements of Water Droplet Behavior in Gas Diffusion Layer of PEFC using X-Ray CT and Substance Microscope

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (24) ◽  
pp. 133-140
Author(s):  
Ippei Suzuma ◽  
Eiji Ejiri ◽  
Masaki Hirono ◽  
Masato Takimoto ◽  
Masakazu Yoneda
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Droplet Behavior

Three-dimensional graphene as gas diffusion layer for micro direct methanol fuel cell

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 1850145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingli Zhu ◽  
Xiaojian Zhang ◽  
Jianyu Li ◽  
Gary Qi
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

The gas diffusion layer (GDL), as an important structure of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), provides a support layer for the catalyst and the fuel and the product channel. Traditionally, the material of GDL is generally carbon paper (CP). In this paper, a new material, namely three-dimensional graphene (3DG) is used as GDL for micro DMFC. The experimental results reveal that the performance of the DMFC has been improved significantly by application of 3DG. The peak powers increase from 25 mW to 31.2 mW and 32 mW by using 3DG as the anode and cathode GDL instead of CP, respectively. The reason may be the decrease of charge and mass transfer resistance of the cell. This means that the unique 3D porous architecture of the 3DG can provide lower contact resistance and sufficient fuel diffusion paths. The output performance of the cell will be further improved when porous metal current collectors is used.

scholarly journals Ex-situ characterisation of water droplet dynamics on the surface of a fuel cell gas diffusion layer through wettability analysis and thermal characterisation

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 4404-4414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwamayowa A. Obeisun ◽  
Donal P. Finegan ◽  
Erik Engebretsen ◽  
James B. Robinson ◽  
Oluwadamilola O. Taiwo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Droplet Dynamics

Estimation of Flooding in PEMFC Gas Diffusion Layer by Differential Pressure Measurement

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Ito ◽  
Kensuke Ashikaga ◽  
Tomohiko Miyazaki ◽  
Hiroki Ohshima ◽  
Yasushi Kakimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pressure Measurement ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Optimization Design ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Packed Bed ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Differential Pressure ◽  
Impedance Method

The flooding, especially in gas diffusion layer (GDL), is one of the critical issues to put PEMFC to practical use. However, the experimental data of the flooding in GDL is so insufficient that the optimization design to solve the flooding problem in GDL has not established until now. In this study we show a method to estimate the water saturation, namely the water droplet occupation for unit volume in GDL. We fabricated a simple interdigitated cell where the supply gas is enforced to flow under rib. This structure made it possible to capture the water droplet in GDL with the measurement of differential pressure through the cell. We operated the cell and measured the differential pressure, and estimated the water saturation with assuming that the flow in GDL is Darcy flow and that the GDL can be treated as sphere packed bed. In addition to deferential pressure measurement, we measured the ionic resistance in polymer electrolyte membrane by AC impedance method. We evaluated the effect of the water saturation on the decrease of cell voltage.

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