Simultaneous Simulation of Gas Diffusion Layer and Air Channel in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell: Pore-Scale Modeling of Water Flooding

Document Type : Research Article

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Abstract

In this study, Lattice Boltzmann method is used to investigate liquid water transport in a carbon paper gas diffusion layer and gas channel of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The effects of gas diffusion layer wettability on the removal process and liquid water distribution are investigated. In addition, liquid water dynamic behaviors and liquid water saturation within the gas diffusion layer in two case of steady and transient are explored. This study focuses on the effects of surface wettability on the number of effective clusters, merging of clusters, and the required time for reaching the steady-state water distribution. The results show that the wettability of surface affects on the saturation of liquid water in the gas diffusion layer and in  100lu<Y<160lu, this effect is noticeable. The steady-  water distribution is observed at time step of 1590000 and 1500000 (lattice unit) for the contact angles of 115° and 145°, respectively. Thus the simulation results show that by increasing the contact angle of fibers in gas diffusion layer, the required time to obtain a steady state water distribution is reduced. Therefore, if the solid surface becomes more hydrophobic, water management will be improved in the gas diffusion layer.

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