A Three-Dimensional Model of Single PEM Fuel Cell Having Triple-Serpentine Flow Channel Developed with CFD

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 155 - 163, 25.02.2017

Elif Eker Kahvecı

Abstract

In this
investigation, a three dimensional, single-phase proton exchange membrane (PEM)
fuel cells with triple-serpentine flow channel was studied numerically,
evaluating reactant gas humidification, water management and cell performance.
The model equations were solved using CFD software ANSYS Fluent® 16.2 with
Gambit® (2.4.6) as a pre-processor. This 3-D model with 19x50 mm2 active layer
used to investigate the performance of fuel cell by determining the current
density, oxygen, hydrogen and water molar concentration distributions took into
account the mass, momentum, energy, species, charge conservation equation as
well as combines electrochemistry reaction inside the fuel cell. The simulation
results were illustrated polarization curves including I–V and I–P curves.
Various properties of the GDL such as permeability, porosity, tortuosity and
the hydrophobic texture can affect the flooding at flow channels. In this
study, the effect of GDL porosity on flooding was investigated with different
operating conditions. From the results, for lower operating voltages, as the
cathode and anode relative humidity increases, the cell performance is enhanced
because the cell performance is mainly dependent on the cathode mass transport
limitations due to the liquid water blockage effect. As decreases, the oxygen
concentration in the reactants increases and the water concentration on the
cathode side decreases, this reduces flooding and improves the cell
performance. Also, analysing the polarization curve it can be said the
performance of the PEM fuel cell was improved by increasing the reactant gases
humidification.

Keywords

Flooding, Gas Diffusion Layer, Humidification, PEM Fuel Cell, Performance

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