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Numerical Simulation of Water Transport in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Flow Channel

Author

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  • Jun Shen

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Zhichun Liu

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Fan Liu

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Wei Liu

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

Abstract

Water management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is crucial to maintain high performance and stable operation. The flow channel is an indispensable part of PEMFCs, which allows the reactant gases to flow into the system, and the liquid water to be removed from the fuel cells. A transient 3D model based on volume of fluid methodology is used to study the dynamic characteristics of gas-liquid two-phase flow in a PEMFC flow channel. The structure of the flow channel, the wettability of channel surfaces, the air inlet velocity, the dimensions of the water droplets, and the effect of phase transition are considered to obtain the optimal solution. The results show that the water droplet transport process is seriously affected by the wettability of the channel surfaces. A modified surface design with varied static surface contact angle could perform the detachment without external force with an appropriate initial velocity. Besides, phase transitions could seriously influence the form and the distribution of water existing in the channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun Shen & Zhichun Liu & Fan Liu & Wei Liu, 2018. "Numerical Simulation of Water Transport in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Flow Channel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:7:p:1770-:d:156440
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Carsten Cosse & Marc Schumann & Florian Grumm & Daniel Becker & Detlef Schulz, 2020. "Numerical Investigation of PEMFC Short-Circuit Behaviour Using an Agglomerate Model Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-25, August.
    2. Ikechukwu S. Anyanwu & Yuze Hou & Wenmiao Chen & Fengwen Pan & Qing Du & Jin Xuan & Kui Jiao, 2019. "Numerical Investigation of Liquid Water Transport Dynamics in Novel Hybrid Sinusoidal Flow Channel Designs for PEMFC," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Ikechukwu S. Anyanwu & Zhiqiang Niu & Daokuan Jiao & Aezid-Ul-Hassan Najmi & Zhi Liu & Kui Jiao, 2020. "Liquid Water Transport Behavior at GDL-Channel Interface of a Wave-Like Channel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, May.
    4. N. Ibrahim-Rassoul & E.-K. Si-Ahmed & A. Serir & A. Kessi & J. Legrand & N. Djilali, 2019. "Investigation of Two-Phase Flow in a Hydrophobic Fuel-Cell Micro-Channel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-32, May.

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