scholarly journals Simulation of 3D Porous Media Flows with Application to Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 851-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. I. Prasianakis ◽  
T. Rosén ◽  
J. Kang ◽  
J. Eller ◽  
J. Mantzaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Effective Diffusivity ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Porous Media Flows ◽  
Media Flows

AbstractA 3D lattice Boltzmann (LB) model with twenty-seven discrete velocities is presented and used for the simulation of three-dimensional porous media flows. Its accuracy in combination with the half-way bounce back boundary condition is assessed. Characteristic properties of the gas diffusion layers that are used in polymer electrolyte fuel cells can be determined with this model. Simulation in samples that have been obtained via X-ray tomographic microscopy, allows to estimate the values of permeability and relative effective diffusivity. Furthermore, the computational LB results are compared with the results of other numerical tools, as well as with experimental values.

Numerical Modeling of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells With Analytical and Experimental Validation

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Zhang ◽  
U. Reimer ◽  
Y. Rahim ◽  
S. B. Beale ◽  
W. Lehnert
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Transport Phenomena ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layers ◽  
Diffusion Layers ◽  
Electrochemical Processes

A computational fluid dynamics model for high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) is developed. This allows for three-dimensional (3D) transport-coupled calculations to be conducted. All major transport phenomena and electrochemical processes are taken into consideration. Verification of the present model is achieved by comparison with current density and oxygen concentration distributions along a one-dimensional (1D) channel. Validation is achieved by comparison with polarization curves from experimental data gathered in-house. Deviations between experimental and numerical results are minor. Internal transport phenomena are also analyzed. Local variations of current density from under channel regions and under rib regions are displayed, as are oxygen mole fractions. The serpentine gas channels contribute positively to gas redistribution in the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) and channels.

scholarly journals Modeling Gas Diffusion Layers in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Using a Continuum-Based Pore-Network Formulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 615-626
Author(s):  
Pablo A. García-Salaberri ◽  
Iryna V. Zenyuk ◽  
Jeff T. Gostick ◽  
Adam Z. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Pore Network ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layers ◽  
Diffusion Layers

Fabrication and Characterization of Tuneable Flow-Channel/Gas-Diffusion-Layer Interface for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepashree Thumbarathy ◽  
Gaurav Gupta ◽  
Mohamed Mamlouk ◽  
Prodip K. Das
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Surface Morphology ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Flow Channel ◽  
Surface Wettability ◽  
Selective Wetting

Abstract Gas diffusion layer (GDL) and its interfaces with the flow-channel and microporous layer or catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) play a significant role in water management and heat removal from the cells. Both surface morphology and surface wettability of GDL influence and control the water transport in PEFCs. Thus, the surface morphology and selectivity of its surface wettability are critical for PEFCs to provide optimum outputs. In this study, we have reported the fabrications of GDLs with a selective wetting pattern. Sigracet® GDLs were used as a substrate and two different monomers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) added with fumed silica (Si) and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), were used to print a selective pattern on the GDL surfaces. The evaluations of printed GDL surfaces, by means of static contact angle, sliding angles, and scanning electron microscopy image show that superhydrophobicity was achieved with both FEP and PDMS-Si coatings. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the successful introduction of the functional groups in both the coatings. Finally, pore size distributions, sliding angle measurements, and adhesion forces were used to investigate the interactions between the water droplets and GDL surfaces. The results of this study demonstrate that the present approach provides a novel but simple way to tune GDL surfaces with selective wetting properties and obtain superhydrophobic interfaces. The electrochemical results showed that an improvement can be achieved for the performance of PEFCs with patterned GDL/flow-channel interfaces.

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