Effect of the Phase Change on the Flow Distribution in the Manifold of Fuel Cell Stack

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Fuel Cell Technology Research Laboratory, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Freydounkenar, Iran.

3 Fuel Cell Technology Research Laboratory, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Fereydounkenar, Iran.

4 Fuel Cell Technology Research Laboratory, Malek Ashtar University of Technology

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of water vapor phase change on the distribution of oxygen flow in the cathode side of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack with 26 cells is investigated by using computational fluid dynamics. For this purpose, a code is developed in OpenFOAM software and validated with experimental data for the single-phase flow distribution. Three different boundary conditions are applied to the walls of the manifold: constant temperature, free and forced heat convection. The results indicate that water generated from condensation on the lower wall of the inlet manifold enters the first cell. Also, the accumulation of water in this area reduces the flow velocity at the entrance of the first cell. The condensed water vapor on the upper wall of the inlet manifold moves to the end of the stack. Part of the water enters into the last four cells, and the other part returns to the manifold due to the vortex. Therefore, the first cell and the last four cells receive less reactant than other cells. The non-uniform flow distribution parameter increases by up to 1425% on using saturated oxygen and under the forced convection condition.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 52, Issue 9
December 2020
Pages 2491-2506

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