Through-Plane Water Distribution in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell at Various Operating Temperatures

A multi-dimensional mathematical model is formulated for simulating the transport and electrochemical reaction phenomena in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The model describes the two-phase flows, electrochemical reaction kinetics, species transport, and heat transfer, as well as their intrinsic couplings within a PEFC. Two-dimensional model predictions are computed for the two typical operating temperatures at 40 and 80 °C. Computed results reveal that liquid water level may be lower at the higher temperature operation due to water vapor phase diffusion. Detailed water and temperature distributions are displayed to explain the water and heat transport and their interaction. The computed water-content profiles are compared with available experimental data obtained by neutron imaging.