A capillary extended channel model of PEM fuel cells

Xiao Guang Yang*, Qiang Ye, Ping Cheng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Water flooding in porous electrodes and gas channels is the main issue hampering the performance of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Since most traditional numerical models are based on "Mist-flow" assumption, which will greatly underestimate the liquid saturation within the cell, it is of vital importance to develop a model accounting for liquid evolution in gas channels. In light of that, we propose a capillary extended channel model and carry out a series of simulations focusing on heat and mass transport within the cell under low gas velocities. It can be drawn from the results that this model can not only overcome the setback of underestimation in liquid saturation of traditional models, but also can account for the effects of different wettability of channel walls.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)501-504
Number of pages4
JournalKung Cheng Je Wu Li Hsueh Pao/Journal of Engineering Thermophysics
Volume32
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Capillary pressure
  • Numerical modelling
  • Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
  • Two-phase flow
  • Water flooding

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Yang, X. G., Ye, Q., & Cheng, P. (2011). A capillary extended channel model of PEM fuel cells. Kung Cheng Je Wu Li Hsueh Pao/Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 32(3), 501-504.