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Modeling and analysis of water droplet dynamics in the dead-ended anode gas channel for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

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  • Shao, Heng
  • Qiu, Diankai
  • Peng, Linfa
  • Yi, Peiyun
  • Lai, Xinmin

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells usually operate in dead-ended anode mode due to a comparatively simple system. Nevertheless, flooding in the anode channels in dead-ended mode is severe than that in flow-through configuration, which causes cell performance degradation and durability decrease. In this study, water droplet dynamics in the anode channel is investigated numerically using volume of fluid method to study water accumulation and drainage in the PEM fuel cell with the dead-ended anode. Simulations are divided into a dead-ended stage and a purge stage to study the two-phase flow behaviors. Impact of water accumulating volume is taken into consideration and, cases of different wettability of the gas diffusion layer surface and the bipolar plate surface are compared. The numerical results reveal that water droplets emerge from the water inlets and then accumulate and coalesce in the dead-ended stage. Most water droplets are drained out of the gas channel along the channel corners in the purge stage. It is found that larger water accumulating volume results in higher eliminating rate. The total purge time is mainly affected by the wettability of the bipolar plate surface.

Suggested Citation

  • Shao, Heng & Qiu, Diankai & Peng, Linfa & Yi, Peiyun & Lai, Xinmin, 2019. "Modeling and analysis of water droplet dynamics in the dead-ended anode gas channel for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 842-851.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:138:y:2019:i:c:p:842-851
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.02.028
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peng, Linfa & Mai, Jianming & Hu, Peng & Lai, Xinmin & Lin, Zhongqin, 2011. "Optimum design of the slotted-interdigitated channels flow field for proton exchange membrane fuel cells with consideration of the gas diffusion layer intrusion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 1413-1420.
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    1. Guo, Hang & Zhao, Qiang & Ye, Fang, 2022. "An experimental study on gas and liquid two-phase flow in orientated-type flow channels of proton exchange membrane fuel cells by using a side-view method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 603-618.
    2. Yin, Yan & Li, Yu & Qin, Yanzhou & Li, Mengjie & Liu, Guokun & Zhang, Junfeng & Zhao, Jian, 2022. "Ex-situ experimental study on dynamic behaviors and detachment characteristics of liquid water in a transparent channel of PEMFC," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 1037-1049.
    3. Xu, Sheng & Yin, Bifeng & Li, Zekai & Dong, Fei, 2023. "A review on gas purge of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Mechanisms, experimental approaches, numerical approaches, and optimization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).

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