Analysis of Wettability Effect on Liquid Water Behavior in PEFC Gas Diffusion Layer

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (0) ◽  
pp. J03110P
Author(s):  
Satoki ARISAWA ◽  
Enes Muhammet CAN ◽  
Yutaka TABA ◽  
Takemi CHIKAHISA
Author(s):  
Yutaka Tabe ◽  
Takamichi Ochi ◽  
Kazushige Kikuta ◽  
Takemi Chikahisa ◽  
Hideki Shinohara

In a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, the condensed water in the separator-channel prevents the supply of reactants to electrodes, which deteriorates the cell performance. The Lattice Boltzmann simulation has been conducted to understand the behavior of condensed water in the separator-channels. The scheme for the two-phase flow with large density difference was applied and the boundary condition for wettability at the corner inside the channel was examined. The present simulation demonstrates the effects of the cross-sectional shape, the wettability of channel and the volume of condensed water on the liquid water behavior. In the hydrophilic separator-channels, the liquid water spreads along the channel wall to form film and, in a specific condition, the water draws away from the gas diffusion layer, which suppresses the flooding. On the other hand, the liquid water forms sphere, covering larger area of the surface of gas diffusion layer in the hydrophobic separator-channels, but the drain performance of liquid water is superior.


Author(s):  
Angelo Esposito ◽  
Cesare Pianese ◽  
Yann G. Guezennec

In this work, an accurate and computationally fast model for liquid water transport within a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) electrode is developed by lumping the space-dependence of the relevant variables. Capillarity is considered as the main transport mechanism within the gas diffusion layer (GDL). The novelty of the model lies in the simulation of the water transport at the interface between gas diffusion layer and gas flow channel (GFC). This is achieved with a phenomenological description of the process that allows its simulation with relative simplicity. Moreover, a detailed two-dimensional visualization of such interface is achieved via geometric simulation of water droplets formation, growth, coalescence and detachment on the surface of the GDL. The accomplishment of reduced computational time and good accuracy makes the model suitable for control strategy implementation to ensure PEM fuel cells operation within optimal electrode water content. Furthermore, the model is useful for optimization analysis oriented to both PEMFC design and balance of plant.


Author(s):  
Joshua Preston ◽  
Richard Fu ◽  
Xiaoyu Zhang ◽  
Ugur Pasaogullari

An investigation of the liquid water saturation across the cross-section of an operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell is performed to analyze the saturation discontinuity predicted by numerical models. Numerical models have predicted a discontinuity in the liquid water saturation at the interface of the micro-porous layer and the coarser macroporous region of the gas diffusion layer. High-resolution through plane neutron radiography is used to acquire the water content distribution across the thickness of the gas-diffusion layer and study the effects of the interface. The measured liquid water profiles indicate no obvious discontinuity in the liquid water saturation across the cross-section of the bi-layer gas diffusion layer when large areas are averaged spatially. Evidence of the discontinuity is found when small spatial averaging is used in certain locations. Other locations show no evidence of the discontinuity. Scanning electron microscopy is used to examine the microstructure of two types of the bi-layer diffusion media. The images show that the approximation of the interface as a sudden, distinct feature may not be appropriate. The results suggest that a model that considers the existence of an interfacial region in the diffusion media may be appropriate, in which the properties vary continuously.


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